Kehinde LaVar Harper, better known by his stage name L.E.G.A.C.Y. is an American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...

from

Fort Bragg, North Carolina Fort Bragg (formerly Fort Liberty from 2023–2025) is a United States Army, U.S. Army Military base, military installation located in North Carolina. It ranks among the largest military bases in the world by population, with more than 52,000 m ...

, and former member of the

Justus League The Justus League was a hip hop collective from North Carolina founded in 1999. The collective consists of a total of 15 members (8 emcees, 5 producers, 1 DJ, and 1 consultant aka "Minister of Opinion". The emcees are: Cesar Comanche, Chaundon, ...

collective.

Biography

L.E.G.A.C.Y. is an acronym for Life Ends Gradually and Changes You.Cordor, Cyril "

L.E.G.A.C.Y. Biography Kehinde LaVar Harper, better known by his stage name L.E.G.A.C.Y. is an American rapper from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and former member of the Justus League collective. Biography L.E.G.A.C.Y. is an acronym for Life Ends Gradually and Changes ...

, ''

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

'', Macrovision Corporation He was born on the military base

Fort Bragg Fort Bragg (formerly Fort Liberty from 2023–2025) is a United States Army, U.S. Army Military base, military installation located in North Carolina. It ranks among the largest military bases in the world by population, with more than 52,000 m ...

, and grew up in

Fayetteville Fayetteville may refer to: *Fayetteville, Alabama *Fayetteville, Arkansas ** The Fayetteville Formation *Fayetteville, Georgia *Fayetteville, Illinois *Fayetteville, Indiana *Fayetteville, Washington County, Indiana *Fayetteville, Missouri *Fayette ...

, before moving to

Goldsboro, North Carolina Goldsboro, originally Goldsborough, is a city in and the county seat of Wayne County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 33,657 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina Me ...

. His often dark lyrics are informed by his earlier experiences in life, and he cites

Rakim William Michael Griffin Jr. (born January 28, 1968), better known by his stage name Rakim (), is an American rapper. He is one half of Golden age hip-hop, golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, with whom he released four albums: ''Paid in Full ...

and

Big L Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974February 15, 1999), known professionally as Big L, was an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Emerging from Harlem in New York City in 1992, Big L became known among underground hip-hop fans for his f ...

as influences, as well as rock musicians

Jim Morrison James Douglas Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer, songwriter, and poet who was the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band the Doors. Due to his charismatic persona, poetic lyrics, distinctive vo ...

and

Kurt Cobain Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – ) was an American musician. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and a founding member of the grunge band Nirvana (band), Nirvana. Through his angsty songwriting and anti-establis ...

. He joined the Justus League collective in 2001, having previously worked with its chief producer,

9th Wonder Patrick Denard Douthit (born January 15, 1975),
better known as 9th Wonder, is an American record producer, record ...

, booking reservations at a

Holiday Inn Holiday Inn by IHG is a chain of hotels based in Atlanta, Georgia and a brand of IHG Hotels & Resorts. The chain was founded in 1952 by Kemmons Wilson (1913–2003), who opened the first location in Memphis, Tennessee. The chain was a division ...

, neither knowing that the other was a rap musician at the time. Early collaborations with 9th Wonder appeared on the 2003 self-financed ''Legsclusives'' release. L.E.G.A.C.Y.'s debut album proper, ''Project Mayhem'' was released in 2005 odfn 6 Hole Records, including references to and samples from the film ''

Fight Club ''Fight Club'' is a 1999 American film directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. It is based on the 1996 novel ''Fight Club (novel), Fight Club'' by Chuck Palahniuk. Norton plays The Narrator (F ...

''. The album was produced by 9th Wonder and

Khrysis Christopher Frederick Tyson (born September 7, 1981), better known as Khrysis, is an American hip hop producer and occasional rapper. He is best known as a former member of the Justus League collective, being one half of the duo The Away Team ...

, and features guest appearances from Phonte from Little Brother,

Chaundon Finian C. St. Omer II (born September 6, 1976), better known by Chaundon, is an American hip-hop artist from South Bronx, New York City. In 2008, he released his debut album ''Carnage'' and has become well known on the internet due to his website ...

, Median, Joe Scudda,

Percy Miracles Phonte Lyshod Coleman, known mononymously as Phonte (born December 28, 1978), is an American rapper, singer, and producer. He is also a member of Team Supreme, that co-hosts the Questlove Supreme podcast. Phonte is a member of the North Caroli ...

, and Keisha Shontell.The Life Of A Rock Star
, ''MVRemix'' The album was positively received, with ''Exclaim!'' calling the lyrics "raw and razor sharp". ''Project Mayhem'' was included in the three-disc box set ''National Mayhem'' in 2005. L.E.G.A.C.Y. has also contributed to several Justus League-related compilations, including the ''Soldiers of Fortune'' album. His collaboration with LUNATIC The Messiah, "No Regrets", was picked out by ''

Independent Weekly ''Indy Week'', formerly known as the ''Independent Weekly'' and originally the ''North Carolina Independent'', is a tabloid-format alternative weekly newspaper published in Durham, North Carolina, United States, and distributed throughout the Re ...

'' as one of the forty best songs from local artists of 2008. He relocated to

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

in 2007, breaking away from the Justus League.Tullis, Eric (2009)
Former Justus League rapper L.E.G.A.C.Y. lives in Baltimore now, but his attitude is big enough to touch from here: The ego and the damage done
, ''

'', June 24, 2009, retrieved 2011-02-06 His latest album, ''Suicide Music'', was released in June 2009.Diamond, Jay (2008)
Features:L.E.G.A.C.Y.
, BritishHipHop.co.uk, 12 January 2008 The album was produced by

Discography

Albums

*''Project Mayhem'' (2005 - 6 Hole) *''Suicide Music'' (2009 - Hall of Justus)

Mixtapes

*''Legsclusives'' (2003) * ''Whut? Thee Mixtape: Chapter I'' (2006 - hosted by DJ Parydime) * ''The NC Chainsaw Massacre'' (2009 - hosted by DJ Flash) * ''Hopscotch Killer'' (2011)

Singles

*"Nice" (2003 -

Hall of Justus The Justus League was a hip hop collective from North Carolina founded in 1999. The collective consists of a total of 15 members (8 emcees, 5 producers, 1 DJ, and 1 consultant aka "Minister of Opinion". The emcees are: Cesar Comanche, Chaundon, ...

) *"I'm a Star" (2005 - 6 Hole) *"Bang" (2007) *"The Greatest" (2009)

References

External links

*Jones, Todd E. (2003)
L.E.G.A.C.Y. (from The Justus League) - "The Start Of A Hip-Hop Legacy"
, ''Hip Hop Elements'' *Chan, Nin

, ''RapReviews'' *Kennedy, John (2005)
L.E.G.A.C.Y. – ''Project Mayhem''
, ''Nobodysmiling'' *LaCroix, Mike (2005)
Project Mayhem
, ''ALARM'' magazine *Low Key (2005)
''Project Mayhem'' review
, ''MVRemix'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Legacy People from Goldsboro, North Carolina Rappers from North Carolina Justus League members