Showbiz and A.G.

Last updated

Showbiz & A.G.
Also known asShow & AG
Origin The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Years active1989–present
Labels
MembersShowbiz
A.G.

Showbiz and A.G. (also shortened as Show and AG) is an American hip hop duo from The Bronx borough of New York City, composed of record producer Rodney "Showbiz" Lemay (born July 7, 1969) and rapper Andre "A.G." Barnes (born September 26, 1970). The duo formed soon after their debut on the song "Back to Back Rhyming" from Lord Finesse's Funky Technician album and joined the hip hop collective D.I.T.C. along with Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild and Big L.

Contents

Career

1990s

The duo's first release was an extended play Soul Clap , self-released in late 1991 via their own independent record label, Showbiz Records. [1] [2] The EP included a song "Diggin' in the Crates" with verses from Diamond D and Lord Finesse, which became the name of a bigger group called D.I.T.C. [3] They signed with Payday/London Records and re-released the EP on March 17, 1992, as "Party Groove"/"Soul Clap" (also known as Showbiz & A.G.). On September 22, 1992, the duo released their debut studio album, Runaway Slave , with guest appearances from Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Dres, and the first album appearance of Big L. [4] In 1993, Showbiz became popular for producing KRS-One's single "Sound of da Police".

In 1994, Showbiz and A.G. had a guest spot on Black Sheep's second album Non-Fiction , on the track "E.F.F.E.C.T.". Showbiz soon shortened his name to Show, changing the group name to 'Show & A.G.'. 1995 saw the release of their second studio album, Goodfellas , which featured a darker sound than their debut, as well as the absence of Showbiz rapping. It featured contributions from artists who were on Runaway Slave, plus the Ghetto Dwellas (D Flow and Party Arty), Big Cathy, Roc Raida, Method Man, Wali World and DJ Premier. The most successful song from the album was DJ Premier's 'Nyte Time' remix of the track "Next Level", an instrumental version of which was later featured in the 2002 film 8 Mile .

Following the release of EP-turned-LP Full Scale project in 1998, the duo began concentrating on their work with D.I.T.C., as well as solo projects. In 1999, the duo appeared on A.G.'s first solo studio album, The Dirty Version , which also featured contributions from seven out of eight D.I.T.C. members (Big L was the only absent member due to being murdered on February 15 later same year), as well as the Ghetto Dwellas, Gang Starr, KRS-One and Big Pun. Showbiz was one of the executive producers on D.I.T.C.'s self-titled group album, which was released in 2000 via Tommy Boy Records.

2000s

After a hiatus between the release of the D.I.T.C.'s 2001 Wild Life EP and 2005, Show released his first solo album D.I.T.C. Presents Street Talk in November 2005. The album featured 18 new tracks performed by the likes of O.C., Party Arty, Milano, Fat Joe, Sean Price, and late Big Pun and Big L over Show's productions. It also saw A.G. and Show reunite as A.G. was featured on 2 of the album's songs, "Chase Game" and "You Ain't a Killer". A.G.'s second solo album titled Get Dirty Radio was released October 31, 2006, through Look Records, which featured a Show-produced song "The Struggle". In 2007, they released a new EP entitled Live Hard on D.I.T.C. Records, their first new material in nearly a decade. Showbiz teamed up with fellow producer Eric "E-Blaze" Blaze forming a production duo Born Lords. Following 2008's D.I.T.C.'s compilation album The Movement , members O.C. and A.G. released a collaborative album called Oasis in 2009, which also featured production from Born Lords.

2010s

Following the deaths of fellow artists Big L (1999), Party Arty (2008) and Roc Raida (2009), A.G. joined his protégé duo 950 Plus to release a mixtape The 25th Hour in 2010. Later that same year of 2010, he released an album titled Everything's Berri and co-founded a small label Red Apples 45 with Ray West. In 2011, Showbiz teamed up with KRS-One for tha Godsville album. On September 9, 2012, Show and AG released the album Mugshot Music, and in 2017, they released the EP Take It Back.

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitlePeak chart positions
US R&B US Heat
1992 Runaway Slave 78
1995 Goodfellas
  • Released: May 30, 1995
  • Label: Payday/FFRR
  • Format: Cassette, CD, LP
2310
2012Mugshot Music
  • Released: September 9, 2012
  • Label: D.I.T.C.
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP

Extended plays

List of extended plays, showing year released
TitleDetails
Soul Clap
  • Released: 1991 (Re-released: March 17, 1992)
  • Label: Showbiz/Payday/London
  • Format: Cassette, CD, EP
Full Scale
  • Released: May 24, 1998
  • Label: D.I.T.C.
  • Format: Cassette, CD, EP, LP
Live Hard
  • Released: December 2007
  • Label: D.I.T.C.
  • Format: CD, digital download, EP
Take It Back
  • Released: 2017
  • Label: D.I.T.C.
  • Format: CD, digital download, EP

Guest appearances (in toto)

Showbiz production credits

NameArtistYearAlbum
Back to Back Rhyming; Just a Little SomethingLord Finesse & DJ MIke Smooth1990The Funky Technician
Return of the Funky Man (Clean Remix)Lord Finesse1991
Lord Finesse Intro {co-produced by Lord Finesse}; Return of the Funky Man; Yes You May; Party Over Here1992 Return of the Funky Man [8]
Set It Off TroopClass Act (soundtrack)
Tennessee (Remix)Arrested Development [9]
Step to Me {co-produced by Diamond D}Diamond & the Psychotic Neurotics Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop
Sally Got a One Track Mind (Remix)1993
Bounce ta This (Remix)Showbiz & A.G.
You Been Played (Showbiz Street Mix)Smooth [10]
I Got a Man (Hip Hop Mix)Positive K
I'ma Hit That; I Got This in a SmashFat Joe da GangstaRepresent
Sound of da PoliceKRS-One Return of the Boom Bap [11]
Mic Mechanism; Fine Tune da Mic; Bring It On (Remix)Maestro Fresh-Wes1994 Naaah, Dis Kid Can't Be from Canada?!! [12]
Who's It On Part 1The LegionTheme + Echo = Krill
Do Whatcha Gotta; BluntsNice & Smooth Jewel of the Nile
Breakfast @ Denny's (Showbiz Remix)Buckshot Lefonque [13]
North South East West (Remix)Black Sheep1995
No Endz No Skinz; I Don't Understand ItBig L Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Stone to the Bone (Remix)Big JazThe D&D Project [14]
Represent the Real Hip-HopKRS One & Das EFx KRS-One / Hold It Down [15]
Stages and LightsSadat X1996 Wild Cowboys
3ree (A Means To Be) (Showbiz Remix)Attica Blues1997Non-album single

[16]

The Ultimate (Showbiz Remix)The Artifacts That's Them
Wishful ThinkingBig Pun, Fat Joe, Kool G Rap, B-RealNon-album single
ConfrontationsOrganized Konfusion The Equinox [17]
A Friend; BloweKRS-One I Got Next
The CrowO.C. Jewelz
Parental DiscretionBig Pun1998 Capital Punishment
Mind I.C. MineScaramangaSeven Eyes... Seven Horns [18]
Be WithA.G.1999The Dirty Version
Get Yours; Way of Life; Where Ya At; Drop it Heavy; Stand Strong (Remix); Weekend NightsD.I.T.C.2000D.I.T.C.
The ClubTony Touch, D.I.T.C. The Piece Maker [19]
The TriboroBig L The Big Picture
FrontlineThe PharcydePlain Rap [20]
That's BlessTony Touch2002The Last of the Pro Ricans [21]
Rappin' ExerciseKhaleel2010DJ Premier Presents.... Get Used 2 Us
Everything to GainPapoose2015You Can't Stop Destiny
Bricks at the Pen.38 Spesh & Kool G Rap2018Son of G. Rap

References

  1. "Showbiz & A.G. | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  2. Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 306. ISBN   0-7535-0252-6.
  3. Ducker, Jesse (September 20, 2017). "Revisiting Showbiz & A.G.'s Debut Album 'Runaway Slave' (1992) | Retrospective Tribute". Albumism. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  4. Klosowski, Thorin (April 1, 2010). "Deferred Hat Tip: Runaway Slave by Showbiz and A.G." Westword. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  5. "Spotify – Web Player". Open.spotify. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  6. "Spotify – Web Player". Open.spotify. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  7. "Marco Polo (Ft. Andre the Giant, Bob McKenzie, Dion Jenkins, Doug McKenzie, Masta Ace & Posdnuos) – Glory (Finish Hard)". Genius.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  8. "Lord Finesse - Return Of The Funky Man". Discogs.com. August 26, 1992. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  9. "Arrested Development - Tennessee". Discogs.com. August 26, 1992. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  10. "Smooth - You Been Played". Discogs.com. August 26, 1993. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  11. "KRS-One - Return Of The Boom Bap". Discogs.com. September 28, 1993. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  12. "Maestro Fresh-Wes - "Naaah, Dis Kid Can't Be From Canada?!!"". Discogs.com. August 26, 1994. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  13. "Buckshot LeFonque - Breakfast @ Denny's". Discogs.com. August 26, 1994. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  14. "Various - The D&D Project". Discogs.com. August 26, 1995. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  15. "Das EFX - Hold It Down". Discogs.com. September 26, 1995. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  16. "Attica Blues - 3ree (A Means To Be)". Discogs.com. August 26, 1997. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  17. "Organized Konfusion - The Equinox". Discogs.com. August 26, 1997. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  18. "Scaramanga - Seven Eyes, Seven Horns". Discogs.com. August 26, 1998. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  19. "Tony Touch - The Piece Maker". Discogs.com. April 18, 2000. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  20. "Pharcyde - Plain Rap". Discogs.com. August 26, 2000. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  21. "Tony Touch - The Last Of The Pro Ricans". Discogs.com. August 26, 2002. Retrieved August 26, 2025.