Chi-Ali Griffith (born May 27, 1976), better known by his stage name Chi-Ali, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York City, best known for his debut album, ''

The Fabulous Chi-Ali ''The Fabulous Chi-Ali'' is the only studio album by American rapper and the Native Tongues member Chi-Ali. It was released on March 24, 1992, via Relativity Records. Recording sessions took place at Calliope Studios in New York City. Production w ...

'', released in 1992, and as a member of hip-hop collective Native Tongues.

Music career

Chi-Ali made his first appearance on

Black Sheep In the English language, black sheep is an idiom that describes a member of a group who is different from the rest, especially a family member who does not fit in. The term stems from sheep whose fleece is colored black rather than the more comm ...

's debut album, '' A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing'', on the

posse cut A posse cut is a popular form of song in hip hop music that involves successive verses by four or more rappers.Edwards, Paul, 2009, ''How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC'', Chicago Review Press, p. 221. Tracks described as posse cuts ...

"Pass the 40". Chi Ali at the time was a core member of Native Tongues, a New York City-based hip-hop collective, and also had connections with the Legion family, along with Showbiz and A.G. In 1992, Chi-Ali released his first solo single, "Age Ain't Nothing But a #", which was a moderate hit and reached #6 in the US Hot Rap Singles chart. The song was popular on urban radio stations, and the music video received good rotation on '' Yo! MTV Raps'' and ''Rap City''. The album in which the song was featured, ''

'', was released shortly thereafter, which yielded two other singles: "Roadrunner" and "Funky Lemonade," which were both remixed and re-recorded. Chi-Ali seemingly disappeared from the hip hop industry until the late 1990s, when he appeared on Dres's solo album, ''

Sure Shot Redemption ''Sure Shot Redemption'' is the debut solo album by the Black Sheep member Dres. It was released in 1999 through Ground Control Records. Critical reception ''Exclaim!'' wrote that Dres's "voice still boasts a suave demeanour and shines on jazzy ...

'', and began occasionally appearing on the work of other artists. Chi Ali collaborated with Jadakiss on a song entitled "G-Check". A documentary chronicling Chi's life titled ''The Fabulous Chi Ali'' was released in 2019.

Manslaughter conviction

On January 14, 2000, Griffith shot and killed Sean Raymond during an argument in the Throggs Neck area of The Bronx, New York City.Demby, Eric.
Ex-Rapper Chi-Ali Arrested A Year After Fleeing Murder Charge
, MTV.com, March 14, 2001. Raymond was the brother of Griffith's girlfriend at the time. Griffith fled New York City and was charged with first degree

manslaughter Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th cen ...

as well as various lesser charges. An extensive manhunt resulted, with Griffith twice featured on the TV program ''

America's Most Wanted ''America's Most Wanted'' (often abbreviated as ''AMW'') is an American television program whose first run was produced by 20th Television, and second run is under the Fox Alternative Entertainment division of Fox Corporation. At the time of i ...

''. Griffith hid in numerous

East Coast East Coast may refer to: Entertainment * East Coast hip hop, a subgenre of hip hop * East Coast (ASAP Ferg song), "East Coast" (ASAP Ferg song), 2017 * East Coast (Saves the Day song), "East Coast" (Saves the Day song), 2004 * East Coast FM, a ra ...

cities until he was apprehended on March 5, 2001, in New York City, and was subsequently convicted of the killing of Sean Raymond, and served 12 years of a 14-year sentence at Sing Sing Correctional Facility.

Discography

References

Publications

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chi-Ali 1976 births Living people American prisoners and detainees Native Tongues Posse Five percenters Rappers from the Bronx Relativity Records artists 21st-century American rappers American people convicted of manslaughter 21st-century African-American musicians