Jadakiss
Jadakiss |
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Jadakiss (born Jason Phillips May 27, 1975 in Yonkers, New York) is a popular American rapper. He is also part of D-Block, formerly The L.O.X.
Interest in rap
Jadakiss became a popular freestyler, engaging in competitions by the time he was twelve. He and some of his early friends were given the opportunity to compete in the Jack the Rapper Competition in Florida, where Jadakiss was noticed for his battle rap ability. He met Dee and Wah of the Ruff Ryders, then a management company, and began hanging out and battling outside of the Ruff Ryders' studio where artists like DMX made their first hits.
Early career
Kiss formed the rap group the Warlox in 1994 with friends Sheek Louch and Styles P. The trio signed to Bad Boy Entertainment later on, where it was suggested they change their name simply to the LOX, which came to stand for Living Off eXperience. They were first featured on Biggie's second album Life After Death, where Jadakiss garnered his first dose of national attention with his verse on the song "Last Day".
The group, especially Jadakiss, developed a close relationship with Big, during which time Kiss was taken under B.I.G.'s wing. Thus, after Biggie's shooting death, the group released their first multi-platinum hit in the tribute "We'll Always Love Big Poppa" (the B-side to Puff Daddy's "I'll Be Missing You") in 1997. In 1998, the LOX released Money, Power, Respect. Following this album, they left Bad Boy Records.
Albums
Jada's debut solo album, Kiss the Game Goodbye, was released in August of 2001 under the Ruff Ryders/Interscope label. The album featured popular guests and producers such as Snoop Dogg and Swizz Beatz, but was written off as repetitive and uninspired.
His second album, Kiss of Death, was released in June of 2004. Before the release, Kiss asked advice of his fans in the form a poll; most claimed the rapper wasn't personal enough in his lyrical stylings, and he released a single with the purpose of bearing his inner thoughts. The song, "Why?", was produced by Havoc of Mobb Deep and became one of the biggest hits of that year, spawning a remix featuring Styles P, Common, Nas, and Anthony Hamilton.
Kiss of Death did not reflect the popularity of its lead single, and though it was better-received than his first effort, but still did not see excessive sales. In the past, Jada has been the victim of criticism, suggesting that he can perform flawlessly as a guest artist but cannot create a captivating album.
His next album, supposedly titled Kiss My Ass, is rumored to be coming out later this year. [citation needed]
Controversy
Bill O'Reilly
Jadakiss attracted some controversy and condemnation from well-known commentator Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly labeled him a "smear merchant" due to the song "Why?", specifically lyrics stating Jada's belief that George W. Bush coordinated the September 11, 2001 attacks. O'Reilly took the position that the President should be allowed to sue Jadakiss for slander. The track was eventually banned on some radio stations or played, with the lyrics in question censored.
Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z
In the early 2000s, Jadakiss was drawn into a beef with Roc-a-Fella Records artist Beanie Sigel when he made comments about artists from Sigel's hometown of Philadelphia. "Beans", as many refer to him, took exception to this and the two began trading disses, even getting the rest of the LOX and Jay-Z involved.
Eventually, Jay-Z apologized to Jada and backed out of the beef; Russell Simmons created an enforced truce between the two artists, which was broken when Sigel started contesting that he won the beef. Kiss dissed back, and the beef was back on until Sigel released "Put Ya Hands Up", after which disses finally stopped. Shortly before Beans went to jail, he and Kiss made up definitively, performing together at a show; after his release from jail, the two did a remix of a Sheek Louch song and have expressed interest in working further together.
Ras Kass
When Ras Kass was recording his doomed album Van Gogh, he enlisted the help of infamous hip-hop producer The Alchemist. Ras Kass recorded the song "Home Sweet Home," produced by The Alchemist. However, when Jadakiss began recording Kiss Tha Game Goodbye, the Alchemist sold Jadakiss the same beat that Ras Kass had already used to record his single, "Home Sweet Home." Priority Records, Ras Kass' then record label, failed to act on this conflict and Jadakiss was able to release the Kiss Tha Game Goodbye album. Ras Kass was bitter about being double-crossed by the Alchemist, and released a few diss tracks, but the conflict was soon squashed.
P.Diddy
When they left Bad Boy, the group's and each of its members' publication was still owned by label head P.Diddy. The group fought with him over royalties, debt issues and other things until 2005 when they briefly put their differences aside to perform with Jay-Z at his I Declare War concert. Afterward, they went on New York radio station Hot 97 to plead for their publication, which was given to them by Diddy.
G-Unit
In 2005, Jada was featured on a song by gangsta rapper Ja Rule called "New York", along with the New York rapper Fat Joe. Shortly after, 50 Cent - Ja Rule's nemesis - dissed both of them. Jada retaliated, and the beef has expanded to include all of D-Block and G-Unit. 50 Cent mocked Jadakiss in a music video for his song "Piggy Bank", suggesting that Jadakiss looks like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Jadakiss then released the song "Checkmate", and with 50 Cent's reply "I Run New York" featuring Tony Yayo, and then Jadakiss and fellow D-block representatives released a song called "I'm Sorry Ms Jackson" (using OutKast's original "Ms. Jackson" beat). Jadakiss has also made mention of 50 Cent in subsequent songs, which has convinced G-Unit member Lloyd Banks to release the diss song "Death Wish" on his upcoming album "Rotten Apple". After a year or so since the feud between 50 cent and Jadakiss escalated, the beef is still continuing. Jadakiss's Beef with 50 cent is also mentioned on the diss song "Don't Body Ya Self" by the legendary rapper Nas
On April 6 2006, a song called "Shots Fired" that was originally meant for release on Time is Money was leaked on the internet. The song features Jadakiss and Styles P rapping back and forth and is a diss song against 50 Cent and G-Unit. It is rumored that the song will not feature on Time is Money because of the attacks on Interscope label mate G-Unit. The release most probably signifies that Time is Money will either be further pushed back or will not be released.
Technique
Jadakiss has been known most for his gritty subject matter, such as selling drugs and robbing, much like that of the Notorious B.I.G. He also is known for his ongoing tendency to draw similarities between the color of his vehicles and random objects, such as dandruff ("Made You Look" remix), pink lemonade ("Sexy"), pecans ("Why"), hot sauce ("Hot Sauce To Go"), Pepsi Blue ("Time's Up"), eggnog ("Carry Your Casket"), milk ("Calmate (Calm Down)") and Heineken beer bottles ("Bring You Down"). He gained acclaim early on with his propensity for punchlines with a two-bar setup line and delivery line structure, and usually involves a three-syllable rhyme scheme wherein only three syllables of a line will rhyme with three syllables of the next one (usually the end syllables):
- Yo, If I miss your head and your neck, I'll hurt your chest
- if you from the streets betrayal is worse than death
- and I'm known for gettin money, not known for wildin
- but I'm real I could rock both phones in the island
Kiss also is getting of a distinctive, raspy voice that he exhibits with a trademark cough-laugh "Ahaah!" sound at the beginning of some of his verses.
Discography
Solo
- 2001: Kiss Tha Game Goodbye [Certified: Gold]
- 2004: Kiss Of Death [Certified: Platinum]
- 2006: Kiss My Ass (working title)
The Lox
- 1998: Money, Power & Respect [Certified: Platinum]
- 2000: We Are The Streets [Certified: Platinum]