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Ayatollah (record Producer)
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. Career Ayatollah first received mainstream recognition after producing Rawkus rapper Mos Def's 1999 single "Ms. Fat Booty", the first single off his ''Black on Both Sides'' album.Strock, Owen (2005)Ayatollah ''Now Playing'', ''CMJ New Music Monthly'', Issue 137, 2005, p. 40, retrieved February 5, 2010 He went on to produce Cormega's "Rap's a Hustle", from the 2001 album ''The Realness'', and Styles P's "The Life (Styles P song), The Life", featuring Pharoahe Monch (2002), among others. Ayatollah has also released numerous solo albums, starting with his 2003 debut, ''So Many Reasons to Rhyme''. In 2015, he formed the trio COLOSSUS with the hip hop production team Widowmaker (record production ...
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Hip Hop
Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip-hop includes rapping often enough that the terms can be used synonymously. However, "hip-hop" more properly denotes an entire subculture. Other key markers of the genre are the disc jockey, turntablism, scratching, beatboxing, and instrumental tracks. Cultural interchange has always been central to the hip-hop genre. It simultaneously borrows from its social environment while commenting on it. The hip-hop genre and culture emerged from block parties in ethnic minority neighborhoods of New York City, particularly Bronx. DJs began expanding the instrumental breaks of popular records when they noticed how excited it would make the crowds. The extended instrumental breaks provided a platform for break dancers and rappers. These breakbeats ...
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The Life (Styles P Song)
"The Life" (also known as "My Life") is a song by American rapper Styles featuring American rapper Pharoahe Monch. It is the second single from the former's debut studio album ''A Gangster and a Gentleman'' (2002) and previously appeared on Rawkus Records' compilation album '' Soundbombing III'' (2002). The song was produced by Ayatollah. "The Life" was interpolated in the song " My Life" (2021) by rappers J. Cole, 21 Savage and Morray. Composition M.F. DiBella of AllMusic described the song as a "soulful memoir". The production contains a vocal sample. The chorus is performed by Pharoahe Monch. Critical reception The song was well received by music critics. Steve 'Flash' Juon of ''RapReviews'' called it a "welcome inclusion" to ''A Gangster and a Gentleman''. Brett Berliner of ''Stylus Magazine'' wrote, "Easily the best track overall album, Ayatollah's soulful beat, laced with a mesmerizing vocal sample similar to that on his earlier work, Ms. Fat Booty, brings out the best in ...
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Screwball (group)
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 (Screwball album), Loyalty'' in 2001, and a compilation album ''Screwed Up'' in 2004. Their first album, ''Y2K'', released by Tommy Boy Records, was a minor success, reaching number 50 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It featured contributions from Godfather Don, Big Noyd, Capone (rapper), Capone, Cormega, MC Shan, Mobb Deep, Nature (rapper), Nature, Pete Rock and Marley Marl among others, and included two chart singles: "H-O-S-T-Y-L-E" produced by Mike Heron and "F.A.Y.B.A.N. (Fuck All You Bitch Ass Niggas)" produced by DJ Premier. The follow-up album, ''Loyalty'', released by Landspeed Records, had more success than its preceder, peaking at number 185 on the US Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200 and number 44 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It featured contributions f ...
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Disposable Arts
''Disposable Arts'' is the second solo and fourth overall studio album by American rapper Masta Ace. It was released on October 16, 2001 via JCOR Entertainment. Production was handled by Domingo, Luis Tineo, Xplicit, Ayatollah, Deacon the Villain, DJ 3D, DJ A. Vee, DJ Rob, Gerrard C. Baker, Koolade, Paul Nice, Rodney Hunter and Ace himself. It features guest appearances from eMC, MC Paul Barman, Jane Doe, Mr. Lee G, Apocalypse, Greg Nice, Jean Grae, J-Ro, King Tee, Leschea, Rah Digga, Young Zee and Tonedeff. The concept of the album follows a young Brooklyn man's release from prison, his return home, and his life at "The Institute of Disposable Arts", a school in which Ace enrolls after realizing how bad the situation in Brooklyn is. The album sold poorly compared to his previous albums, due to JCOR Entertainment folding a month after its release but it was generally well received by critics and fans alike. The cover art is an ironic nod to his " Sittin' on Chrome" days ...
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Jean Grae
Tsidi Ibrahim (born November 26, 1976), known professionally as Jean Grae, is a multidisciplinary artist and writer. She emerged in New York City's underground hip-hop scene and developed an international following. Throughout her music career, her distinctive style and lyricism gained recognition, with artists such as Talib Kweli, Jay-Z, and Black Thought of The Roots expressing admiration for her work. Early life Jean Grae was born Tsidi Ibrahim, in Cape Town, South Africa, on November 26, 1976. The child of South African jazz musicians Sathima Bea Benjamin and Abdullah Ibrahim, Grae was raised in The Hotel Chelsea, Manhattan where the family moved after her birth. Grae studied Vocal Performance at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, before briefly studying in Music Business at New York University. Career 1996–1998: Career beginnings Grae joined a hip hop group called Natural Resource along with rapper Ocean and disc jockey James "AGGIE" Barrett. In 1996, they released two ...
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Masta Ace
Duval Clear (born December 4, 1966), better known by his stage name Masta Ace, is an American rapper and record producer from New York City. A lead member of Mr. Magic's hip hop collective Juice Crew, he is best known for his guest appearance alongside Kool G Rap, Craig G and Big Daddy Kane on the group's 1988 posse cut "The Symphony (song), The Symphony". He is noted for his distinct voice and rapping proficiency.Shapiro, Peter, 2005, ''The Rough Guide To Hip-Hop, 2nd Edition, Penguin'', p. 247. Biography 1988–1994 Clear graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1988, after meeting Marley Marl in 1987 during his summer break. Ace made his recording debut on the Juice Crew posse-cut "The Symphony (song), The Symphony", along with fellow Juice Crew members Craig G, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane, released on Marley Marl's ''In Control'' album. The album also featured two additional Ace tracks, "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" and "Simon Says". In 1989, he released his fir ...
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Against All Odds (Tragedy Khadafi Album)
Percy Lee Chapman (born August 13, 1971), known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi (formerly Intelligent Hoodlum), is an American rapper and record producer. Hailing from the Queensbridge Housing Projects in Queens, New York City,Brown, Marisa." Tragedy Khadafi Biography, ''AllMusic'', Macrovision Corporation. he is documented with coining the term "illmatic" during his appearance on Marley Marl's album ''In Control, Volume 1'' (1988). The word was the inspiration for fellow New York rapper Nas' debut album of the same name. Biography 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". Chapman was then made a junior member of the Juice CrewShapiro, Peter (2005) ''The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop'', Rough Guides, , p.181 alongside artists such as Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, and MC Shan. In 1 ...
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The Last Shall Be First (Dwellas Album)
''The Last Shall Be First'' is the second and final album released by rap group, The Dwellas (Formally Cella Dwellas). It was released on September 26, 2000, and like the group's previous album was released through Loud Records and mostly produced by Nick Wiz, with additional production by Rockwilder, Large Professor and Ayatollah. The album was met with positive reviews, but it was not a commercial success, not making it to any Billboard charts. "Main Aim" was originally a track on the Soul in the Hole ''Soul In The Hole'' is a 1997 documentary film about aspiring basketball coach Kenny Jones, his playground dream team "Kenny's Kings," the relationship between him and his players (particularly playground phenom 18-year-old Ed "Booger" Smith) and ... soundtrack, but was also included as a bonus track on this album. Track listing References {{DEFAULTSORT:Last Shall Be First 2000 albums Albums produced by Ayatollah Albums produced by Large Professor Albums produced by ...
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Cella Dwellas
Cella Dwellas are an underground hip hop duo from Flatbush, Brooklyn, consisting of emcees UG and Phantasm. The group is largely known for their dark beats and lyricism. In 1997, the duo shortened their name simply to The Dwellas. Recording history In 1994, the Cella Dwellas signed to prominent hip hop label Loud Records, and released their debut single, "Land of the Lost" which showcased UG’s lyrical skills, as he laid down a verse that is still regarded as classic. The following year, the duo made one of their earliest appearances on the Masta Ace Incorporated album ''Sittin' on Chrome'', featured on the track "4 Da Mind" which featured a verse by Phantasm. Also in 1995, the Dwellas released a pair of singles, "Good Dwellas" and "Perfect Match", which were the duo's only charting singles. "Land of the Lost", a sequel to "Good Dwellas" and "Perfecto Match" were included on the duo's 1996 debut ''Realms 'N Reality''. The album was a moderate underground success, debuting at # ...
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Lyricist Lounge 2
''Lyricist Lounge 2'' is the fourth hip hop compilation album by American record label Rawkus Records. It was released on November 28, 2000, as the second installment of ''Lyricist Lounge'' album series, based on New York's ''Lyricist Lounge'' showcases. Recording sessions took place at Chung King Studios, Battery Studios, Mirror Image Recorders, Right Track Recording, Rezonant Productions, D-Lo Studio, Ablosute Audio, Electric Lady Studios, Cutting Room, Studio A, Sound on Sound Studios, Sound Castle, Rick N' Reel, D&D Studios, Base Line, Tree Sound Studios and Lyricist Lounge Studios. Production was handled by Hi-Tek, Erick Sermon, The Alchemist, Ayatollah, DJ Mighty Mi, DJ Premier, DJ Roddy Rod, J Dilla, Madlib, Rockwilder and Scott Storch, with Danny Castro, Ant Marshall, Perry Landsberg and Jacob Septimus serving as executive producers. It features contributions from Mos Def, Q-Tip, Beanie Sigel, the late Big L, Big Noyd, Cobra Red, C-Town, dead prez, Dilated Peoples, Eric ...
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Moka Only
Daniel Denton (born November 14, 1973), better known by his stage name Moka Only, is a Canadian hip hop artist and producer . He is originally from Langford, British Columbia, where he cultivated a deep passion for hip hop. Later, moving to San Diego to progress his career. In his late teens, he started out as a graffiti artist before switching to music. In 1995, along with Madchild and Prevail, the trio formed the hip hop group Swollen Members, Moka conceiving the name. Though, he left soon after to pursue solo efforts (eventually joining again shortly in the early 2000s). As a part of the group, he won three JUNO Awards, five MuchMusic Video Awards, and was nominated for 11 Western Canadian Music Awards. He was also very briefly featured in the band LEN, even making a cameo appearance in the music video for the groups hit song "Steal My Sunshine". In addition to these groups, he also paired with fellow B.C native Ishkan to create Nowfolk. Their first album together, ''Style ...
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