Terrance Cocheeks Kelly (born March 28, 1971), known professionally as Mr. Cheeks, is an American rapper from

Queens Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. He is best known for his 2001 single " Lights, Camera, Action!" (featuring

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1, 1971), also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began her musical career as a member of the Contemporary R&B, R&B girl group 4 All the Sistas Arou ...

, P. Diddy and Petey Pablo), which peaked at number 14 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Prior, he performed as a member of the hip hop group

Lost Boyz Lost Boyz are an American Hip hop music, hip hop group from Queens, New York (state), New York, consisting of Master of ceremonies, MC Mr. Cheeks, DJ Spigg Nice, Pretty Lou, and Freaky Kah, with the latter replacing his father Freaky Tah who w ...

from 1995 to 1999, and thereafter signed with

Universal Records Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...

to pursue a solo career. "Lights, Camera, Action!" preceded the release of his debut studio album '' John P. Kelly'' (2001), which was met with moderate critical and commercial reception along with its follow up, '' Back Again!'' (2003). He is also known for guest appearance on

Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper. She was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after ...

's 2003 single " The Jump Off," which peaked at number 17 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Biography

1991–2019: Lost Boyz

Mr. Cheeks, who was mentored by his uncle

Gil Scott-Heron Gilbert Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011) was an American Jazz poetry, jazz poet, singer, musician, and author known for his work as a spoken-word performer in the 1970s and 1980s. His collaborative efforts with musician Brian Jackso ...

, along with bandmates Freaky Tah (1971–1999), Spigg Nice and Pretty Lou made up

. The Lost Boyz practiced a sincere,

literate Literacy is the ability to read and write, while illiteracy refers to an inability to read and write. Some researchers suggest that the study of "literacy" as a concept can be divided into two periods: the period before 1950, when literacy was ...

, non-sensational style of New York

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. Hi ...

and produced a number of singles including; "Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless" (1994), "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz" (1995) and "Renee" (1996). Lost Boyz gained worldwide critical acclaim following the release of the albums; ''Legal Drug Money'' in 1996, ''Love, Peace & Nappiness'' in 1997, ''LB IV Life'' in 1999, ''LB Next Generation'' in 2019 and ''Legacy'' in 2020.

2001–09: Solo career

Mr. Cheeks became a solo artist in 2001. His debut solo album, '' John P. Kelly'', named for both his cousin and his grandfather, featured the hit single " Lights, Camera, Action!". The album also included a collaboration with longtime friend and business partner, Stephen Marley, (son of reggae artist

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...

) featuring the

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

"Till We Meet Again" (recorded in Freaky Tah's memory) and the

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

-flavored "Mama Say". In 2003, Mr. Cheeks released the follow-up album, ''Back Again!'' The single off the album was "Crush On You" and it featured

Mario Winans Mario Mendell Winans ( Brown; born August 29, 1974) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer from South Carolina. An extended member of the Winans musical family, he is best known for his 2004 single " I Don't Wanna Know" (f ...

. In the fall of 2003, Cheeks separated from Universal, forming his own label, Diane's Boyz. Cheeks was also featured on

's single, " The Jump Off."

Discography

Solo albums

*'' John P. Kelly'' (2001) *'' Back Again!'' (2003) *''Ladies and Ghettomen'' (2004) *''Raised'' (2015)

with Lost Boyz

*'' Legal Drug Money'' (1996) *'' Love, Peace & Nappiness'' (1997) *''

LB IV Life ''LB IV Life'' is the third studio album by American hip hop group the Lost Boyz. It was released on September 28, 1999, via Universal Music Group, Universal Records. Recording sessions took place at Heavy Hand Recordings and Soundtrack in New Yo ...

'' (1999) *''Next Generation'' (2019) *''Legacy'' (2020)

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

References

External links

* *
Mr. Cheeks
on

Facebook Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheeks, Mr. 1971 births African-American male rappers 20th-century American male rappers 21st-century American male rappers Living people Rappers from Queens, New York 21st-century American rappers 21st-century American male musicians American radio personalities 21st-century African-American musicians 20th-century African-American musicians