Percy Lee Chapman (born August 13, 1971), known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi (formerly Intelligent Hoodlum), is an American rapper and record producer. Chapman hails from the Queensbridge Housing Projects in Queens, New York City,[2] and helped spawn other hip hop artists such as Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, Nas.[citation needed] He is documented to be the first to use the phrase "illmatic" in 1988 on a record called "The Rebel", from the Marley Marl album In Control, Volume 1, which was an inspiration and influence on fellow New York rapper Nas.[3]
Khadafi began his career as one half of the duo Super Kids, along with Queensbridge producer DJ Hot Day. This output caught the attention of Marley Marl, who in 1986 produced the duo's single "The Tragedy (Don't Do It)", and "Stunt of the Block".[4][5] Chapman was then made a junior member of the Juice Crew[2][6] alongside artists such as Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, and MC Shan. In 1987, he appeared as MC Percy on the B side of the 12" "Juice Crew All Stars"[7] and on the last Super Kids single, "Hot Day Master Mix" appearing on tracks "Hip Hop Kids Live At U.S.A" and "Go Queensbridge".[8] After a conviction that year (he was only 16 years old) for robbery charges followed by serving time in the Elmira Correctional Facility.[9] In 1988, he appeared alongside fellow Juice Crew members on the Marley Marl compilation album In Control Vol.1, on the solo tracks "The Rebel" and "Live Motivator".[10] Whilst in prison Chapman became a Five Percenter and began working under the alias "Intelligent Hoodlum",[6] and released the self titled album Intelligent Hoodlum on A&M Records. The album was produced by Marley Marl (with co-production by Large Professor) and contained the singles "Back to Reality", "Black and Proud" and "Arrest the President".[11][12]
Chapman continued to record throughout the remainder of the 1990s releasing a follow-up Intelligent Hoodlum album titled Tragedy – Saga of a Hoodlum for A&M Records in 1993.[13] The album spawned two singles "Street Life/Mad Brothers Know his Name" and "Grand Groove/Get Large".[12] One of his last recordings as Intelligent Hoodlum was the title cut for the motion picture soundtrack of Posse, a Hollywood Western that told the story of an African-American gunslinger posse. This song marked the end of Chapman's overt focus on Conscious hip hop, Black history and political commentary in his verses. Working with Capone, Noreaga and Mobb Deep, recording "L.A L.A" a response to Tha Dogg Pound's "New York, New York", Intelligent Hoodlum then began working under the name Tragedy Khadafi in 1997 and created a group called "CNN" and ended up getting them signed to Penalty Records .[6] He also executive produced the group Capone-N-Noreaga's debut album, The War Report, on which he appeared more on the album than Capone. When the latter returned to prison, Noreaga severed ties with Tragedy. In 1998, Khadafi formed the group Iron Sheiks along with his lifelong friend, Michael Butler a.k.a. Imam T.H.U.G., who was also from Queensbridge, releasing an EP, which contained the underground classic "True Confessions".[citation needed]
Khadafi's third album, Against All Odds, was scheduled for release in 1999, but conflict with his label stalled the release, finally being released in 2001, which was also the first appearance of emcee HeadRush Napoleon, who continued to work with Khadafi on future recordings. On the album, Khadafi dissed Noreaga and accused him of stealing his rhyming style on tracks like "Crime Nationalist" or "Blood Type".[6] Noreaga kept the animosity going with his track "Halfway Thugs Pt. II."[6] This was followed by Still Reportin'... in 2003. In 2005, he released Thug Matrix independently and also released an album as a member of the group Black Market Militia. Khadafi's latest releases, Blood Ballads and Thug Matrix 2, were both released in 2006.[citation needed]
He also starred in a documentary known as Tragedy: The Story of Queensbridge about his life and his struggles, growing up, his being a junior member of the Juice Crew, the numerous times he was incarcerated, and the toll a hard life has on a poor African-American child growing up without a father and with a mother addicted to heroin.[14]
On December 27, 2007, Khadafi was convicted of selling narcotics and sentenced to a maximum of four years in prison.[15] Although originally scheduled to be released on January 21, 2011, Tragedy was granted early parole, and released on June 23, 2010.[16][17]
In a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session in 2014, Tragedy Khadafi claimed he was "hurt" by the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi and calling it "an embarrassing blotch on America's history."[18]
In 2021, Tragedy reunited with N.O.R.E on the track "We Still Here" off his Hidden Files album.[19] The project also featured Raekwon and Planet Asia.
Additionally, Tragedy Khadafi has made a variety of guest appearances on other rap artists’ projects, especially in the 25 years since The War Report. In 2013, Canadian producer Marco Polo, known for his extensive work with Pharoahe Monch and Masta Ace, invited Khadafi to appear on “Astonishing”, a posse cut that also featured Large Professor, O.C., and Inspectah Deck. 2017 saw him appear on “I Cried”, a song by a group of producers known as the Recordkingz. Further, WiseRap, Zicc, DJ Midnite, and E-Ratic Beats, who are all British hip hop artists, featured him on their collaborative song “In Too Deep (London 2 Queens)” in 2021.
In the 2020s, Khadafi made guest appearances on two songs by Canadian hip hop artists. In December 2021, he appeared on “Gates of Abbadon” by the Greek Orthodox Christian artist Nec Nymbl. Then, in July 2022, he appeared with Guilty Simpson, Thirstin Howl III, Bonshah, Fraction, and Ultra Magnus on “We Gon’ Stomp Shit”, a posse cut by a Bahá’í rapper from Toronto named The Mighty Rhino.
As of May 2023, Khadafi’s most recent guest appearances are on “Leviathan” and “Casino”, two songs from Billy, the most recent solo album by the Jewish rapper Ill Bill of Non Phixion and La Coka Nostra, who is from Canarsie.
2016: "Be About It" (from the Discourse album Megalomaniac)
2016: "Holding Back" (from the Blaq Poet & Comet album Mad Screwz)
2016: "New York Gangsters" (from the 5 boroughs Project Official Track)
2017: “I Cried” (with the Recordkingz)
2017: "High Quota" (from the GQ Nothin Pretty album Animation LP)
2017: "Back to Basics" (from the DJ Rybe album Channel Zero)
2017: "Hit" (from the Ju Muny album Unorthodox)
2017: "Omnipotent" (from the Endemic Emerald & Skanks the Rap Martyr album Rapsploitation)
2019: "TNT" (Prod. By DJ Doom from Truth album, The Fight for Survival)
2019: "TNT" (REMIX) (Prod. By Large Professor from Truth album, The Fight for Survival)
2019 "Extreme Measures" (Prod. By PF Cuttin feat. Royal Flush from Truth album, The Fight for Survival)
2021: "Real Headz" (from the collaborative single Real Headz with Sauveur Eloheem)
2021: “In Too Deep (London 2 Queens)” with WiseRap, Zico, DJ Midnite, and E-Ratic Beats
2021: “Gates of Abbadon” (with Nec Nymbl)
2022: "Entourage" feat. Ras Kass, Treach, Large Professor, Joe Fatal from Truth album, For All Intents and Purposes (Prod. By Da Beatminerz)
2022: “We Gon’ Stomp Shit” (also featuring Guilty Simpson, Thirstin Howl III, Bonshah, Fraction, and Ultra Magnus, from The Mighty Rhino’s album To Relieve The Sorrow-Laden Heart)
2023: "Leviathan" (with Ill Bill, Produced by Brenx Beats, from the Ill Bill album Billy)
Marlon Lu'Ree Williams, better known by his stage name Marley Marl, is an American DJ, record producer, rapper and record label founder, primarily operating in hip hop music. Marlon grew up in Queensbridge housing projects located in Queens, New York. He performed in local talent shows during the early days of rap music, further fueling his interest.
Shawn Moltke, better known by his stage name MC Shan, is an American rapper, singer and record producer from New York City. He is best known for his guest appearance and production on Canadian singer Snow's 1993 single "Informer", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100. Shan is also known for his 1986 single "The Bridge," which was produced by Marley Marl and entered the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Queensbridge Houses, also known simply as Queensbridge or QB, is a public housing development in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York City. Owned by the New York City Housing Authority, the development contains 96 buildings and 3,142 units accommodating approximately 7,000 people in two separate complexes. The complex opened in 1939 and is the largest housing project in North America.
Capone-N-Noreaga is an American hip hop duo formed in 1995 from Queens, New York. The duo features East Coast rappers Capone and N.O.R.E.
Nas & Ill Will Records Presents QB's Finest, commonly known as simply QB's Finest, is a compilation album released on November 21, 2000 and the second release from rapper Nas' new Ill Will Records imprint, distributed by Columbia Records. It featured Nas and a number of other rappers from the Queensbridge housing projects, including Mobb Deep, Nature, Nashawn, Littles, Bravehearts and Cormega, who had briefly reconciled a longtime feud with Nas.
The Bridge Wars was a hip hop music rivalry during the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s, that arose from a dispute over the true birthplace of hip hop music and retaliation over the rejecting of a record for airplay. The Bridge Wars originally involved the South Bronx's Boogie Down Productions, led by KRS-One, and Marley Marl's Juice Crew, hailing from Queensbridge. KRS-One and Marley Marl have since officially retired the feud, with the release of their collaborative 2007 album Hip Hop Lives.
The Juice Crew was an American hip hop collective made up largely of Queensbridge, New York–based artists in the mid-to-late 1980s. Founded by radio DJ Mr. Magic, and housed by Tyrone Williams' record label Cold Chillin' Records, the Juice Crew helped introduce New School artists MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shante, Masta Ace, Tragedy, Craig G and Kool G Rap. The crew produced many answer records and engaged with numerous "beefs" – primarily with rival radio jock Kool DJ Red Alert and the South Bronx's Boogie Down Productions, as well as the "posse cut", "The Symphony".
Lamont Dorrell, known as Ayatollah, is a hip hop record producer. He has mainly produced music for New York–based rappers, including Mos Def, Talib Kweli, R.A. the Rugged Man, Tragedy Khadafi, Wordsworth, Vast Aire, Afu-Ra, Guru, M.O.P., Inspectah Deck, Cormega, and Ghostface Killah.
The War Report is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga (C-N-N). The album features the singles "L.A., L.A.", "T.O.N.Y.", "Illegal Life" and "Closer". Tragedy Khadafi appears on more than half of the album's songs and served roles as both producer and executive producer. The success of the album managed the group to make a sequel titled The War Report 2: Report the War. The album was originally scheduled to be released on June 15, 2010, almost exactly 13 years to the original, but it was pushed back a month later to July 13, 2010.
Intelligent Hoodlum is the debut studio album by the American rapper Intelligent Hoodlum, later known as Tragedy Khadafi. It was released on A&M Records in 1990.
Infamous Mobb, also known as IM3, is a hip hop group from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, composed of members Ty Nitty, Twin Gambino aka Big Twin and G.O.D. Part III aka Godfather Part III. They are an integral part of the Queensbridge Hip Hop scene, which includes rappers like Nas, Tragedy Khadafi, Mobb Deep, Cormega, Capone-N-Noreaga, whose legacy originated mid 80's in Marley Marl's studio and with him and his protegés on Cold Chillin' Records, known as the Juice Crew.
Screwball is an American underground hip hop quartet from New York City, composed of rappers Hostyle, KL, Blaq Poet and Solo. The group has released two studio albums, Y2K: The Album in 1999 and Loyalty in 2001, and a compilation album Screwed Up in 2004.
Screwed Up is a compilation album by American hip hop quartet Screwball. The double disc project was released on July 19, 2004, via Hydra Entertainment. It is primarily composed of songs from the group's two previous albums Y2K: The Album and Loyalty, as well as new tracks, remixes, and songs from member Hostyle's One Eyed Maniac album. The album's title came from the group's 1996 single "Screwed Up" b/w "They Wanna Know Why". After the release of Screwed Up, member Blaq Poet pursued a solo career. Member Kenneth "KL" Lewis died on March 28, 2008, of an asthma attack, and member Fredrick "Hostyle" Ivey died in January 2020. The compilation was re-issued for digital download shortened to fifteen tracks.
"The Bridge Is Over" is a 1987 song by Boogie Down Productions from their debut album Criminal Minded, performed by rapper KRS-One and produced by DJ Scott LaRock and KRS-One. The song's intro samples "The Bridge" by MC Shan.
The following is a discography of production credited to Marley Marl.
"L.A., L.A." is a song about Los Angeles by American hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga, featuring guest appearances from fellow American rappers Mobb Deep and Tragedy Khadafi. It was released in early 1996, as the second single from their debut album The War Report (1997).
Tragedy: The Story of Queensbridge is a 2005 documentary film directed by Booker Sim for Juju Films. The film documents the streets of the Queensbridge Housing Projects of New York City, following the issues and struggles of Tragedy Khadafi aka Intelligent Hoodlum. Queens rappers Havoc, Prodigy, Capone and N.O.R.E., as well as producer Marley Marl among others appeared in the film.
"It's a Demo" is the 1986 debut single by American hip hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo. Originally a non-album single with "I'm Fly" as a B-side, a remix of the track was featured on the duo's 1989 album Road to the Riches and later on the compilation albums Killer Kuts (1994), The Best of Cold Chillin' (2000), Greatest Hits (2002) and Street Stories: The Best of Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (2013).
Lessons is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga. The album was released on July 24, 2015, by Thugged Out Militainment and Penalty Records. The album features guest appearances from fellow American rappers Tragedy Khadafi, Royal Flush, The LOX and Raekwon. The album includes production from American record producers Ayatollah, Jahlil Beats, Large Professor, Scram Jones and Statik Selektah, among others.
American hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga have released five studio albums, one compilation album, two mixtapes, sixteen singles and five music videos.
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