Ahmad (rapper)

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Ahmad
Birth name Ahmad Ali Lewis
Born October 12, 1975 (1975-10-12) (age 36)
Origin Los Angeles, California
Genres West Coast hip hop
Years active 1993–present
Labels Giant/Reprise/Warner Bros. Records
Interscope/Universal Records
Gotee/Lookalive Records/EMI Records
WeCLAP
Associated acts 4th Avenue Jones

Ahmad Ali Lewis, born October 12, 1975 in Los Angeles, California, is an American music artist, songwriter, motivational speaker and author. Credited simply as AHMAD, he is best known for the 1994 single "Back in the Day," a nostalgic song that became a signifier for nostalgia in hip-hop culture.

Ahmad is a former member and founder of the hip-hop fusion band 4th Avenue Jones.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Ahmad Ali Lewis was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. He made his recording debut in 1993 on the soundtrack of The Meteor Man with the song "Who Can." Released when Ahmad was only 18, "Back in the Day" the remix version (produced by Maurice Thompson & Jay Williams of Barr 9 Productions) hit #26 on the US pop charts and #19 on the U.S. R&B charts on the strength of its catchy hook, sung over a sample of the Teddy Pendergrass song "Love TKO." It also reached #64 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] It was the first single off his first album, Ahmad. The remix of "Back in the Day" is also featured on the soundtrack of The Wood, a 1999 motion picture. Ahmad secured his first recording contract while still a senior in high school and promptly earned a gold record for his chart-topping hit.

A second album was recorded for Revolution Records—a sub-label of Giant Records—but it was unreleased and he was dropped from the label. Ahmad later formed a hip-hop fusion band called 4th Avenue Jones, a collective with a sound he dubbed hiprocksoul. 4AJ secured a recording contract with Interscope Records, through Ahmad's imprint Lookalive Records. He has toured extensively as a solo artist and as a member of 4th Avenue Jones, visiting such places as France, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, the Netherlands, the UK, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Zimbabwe.

Fast-forward, and after a brief hiatus from music to focus on academia, Ahmad graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Sociology. Ahmad was accepted to Stanford University after graduating valedictorian from Long Beach City College and receiving the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, the largest private scholarship for two-year college transfer students in the United States. The Los Angeles Times ran a front-page article highlighting Ahmad's transition from rapper to scholar.

Ahmad is also a highly sought after speaker, whose topics encompass education, health and fitness, music business, creative imagination, winning, self-esteem and motivation. Ahmad speaks with candor and humor about dealing with life's challenges and overcoming adverse situations.

An accomplished songwriter, Ahmad penned the soul ballad Mistreating Me on Leela James’ debut LP A Change Is Gonna Come. Back in the Day has been interpolated by platinum selling artists such as The Dream & Mariah Carey on Candy Bling and Travie McCoy on Akidagain.

Ahmad continues to write and produce songs for major artists. He is currently completing work on his anticipated solo EP Good Meat Makes Gravy.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Solo
  • 1994: Ahmad (Giant/Reprise/Warner Bros. Records)
  • 2010: The Death of Me (WeCLAP)
With 4th Avenue Jones
  • 2000: No Plan B (Lookalive Records)
  • 2002: No Plan B pt. 2 (Lookalive/Interscope Records)
  • 2002: "Gumbo" (Lookalive Records)
  • 2003: "Hiprocksoul" (Lookalive Records)
  • 2004: "Respect" (Lookalive Records)
  • 2005: Stereo: The Evolution of Hiprocksoul (Lookalive/Gotee/EMI Records)

[edit] Singles

With 4th Avenue Jones:

  • 2000: "Respect"
  • 2002: "Move On"
  • 2005: "Stereo"

Videos:

  • 1994: "Back In The Day"
  • 1994: "You Gotta Be"
  • 1996: "Come Widdit'"
  • 2001: "Respect"
  • 2002: "Move On"
  • 2005: "Stereo"

[edit] Appearances

  • 1994: "Come Widdit" feat. Ras Kass, Saafir (from Street Fighter" (soundtrack))
  • 1995: "Only If You Want It" (from Pump Ya Fist)
  • 1999: "Back in the Day (Remix)" (from The Wood" (soundtrack))
  • 1999: "The Guest List" (from Something For Everyone To Hate" (Sackcloth Fashion album))
  • 2000: "Fresh Coast" (from Dust" (Sup The Chemist album))
  • 2004: "Give It Here" feat. Pep Love (from All Balls Don't Bounce" revisited (2LP) (Aceyalone album)
  • 2006: "Hard Hit" (from The Movement" (D.I.T.C. album)
  • 2006: "Fight Here" feat. Afrobots, DJ Vajra (from 5 Sparrows For 2 Cents" (The Procussions album))
  • 2006: "More" (from Pro Pain" (Mars ILL album))

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 17. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

[edit] External links

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