Grand Puba | |
---|---|
Birth name | Maxwell Dixon |
Also known as | Grand Puba Maxwell Grand P |
Born | New Rochelle, New York, U.S. | March 4, 1966
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 1985–present |
Labels | 4th & B'way/Island, Elektra, Arista, Koch, Babygrande |
Member of | Brand Nubian |
Formerly of | Masters of Ceremony |
Maxwell Dixon (born March 4, 1966), [1] [2] known professionally as Grand Puba, is an American rapper and record producer, best known as one of the members of the group Brand Nubian from New Rochelle, New York. [3]
He made his debut as Grand Puba Maxwell with the group Masters of Ceremony in 1984. [4] Its album Dynamite (1988) was hailed by critics, but because of lack of sales the group soon disbanded and Puba became the lead emcee of Brand Nubian. [4] After their debut album One for All (1990) — covering areas from reggae-influenced hip hop music to new jack swing — Puba left the group after disputes and began a solo career. [4] Around 1997 he rejoined the group, recording a few tracks for various soundtracks leading up to the full-length album Foundation in 1998. In 1992 Sean "Puffy" Combs tapped Grand Puba to collaborate with up & coming R&B singer Mary J. Blige on her debut album "What's the 411" The title song in which Puba co-wrote was the first time Blige incorporated her own rap technique which proved to be very successful. This was a rap/r&b hit record that went to number one on the R&B charts in the early spring of 1993. In 1999, Grand Puba and Sadat X performed on the track "Once Again" on Handsome Boy Modeling School's concept album So... How's Your Girl? Following Brand Nubian's 2004 record Fire in the Hole, Grand Puba appeared on tracks with Beanie Sigel ("Bread and Butter", also featuring groupmate Sadat X), Missy Elliott ("My Struggles", featuring his onetime collaborator Mary J. Blige), and Ugly Duckling ("Something's Going Down Tonight").
In 2009, Grand Puba released his fourth solo album, Retroactive , featuring production from Q-Tip, Large Professor, Kid Capri as well as fellow Brand Nubians. Puba also appeared on the heavy posse cut "Fresh" together with Cormega, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, DJ Red Alert and PMD.
On the song "Old School" by 2Pac, Grand Puba was sampled and used in the hook. The sample originates from Grand Puba's verse on the song "Dedication" by Brand Nubian.
Brand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, composed of three emcees, and formerly three DJs. Their debut studio album, One for All (1990), is one of the most popular and acclaimed alternative hip hop albums of the 1990s, known for socially conscious and political lyrics inspired by the teachings of The Nation of Gods and Earths. In 2008, About.com placed the group on its list of the 25 Greatest Rap Groups of All Time.
"Pop Goes the Weasel" is the best-selling single from hip hop trio 3rd Bass; it appears on their second album, Derelicts of Dialect (1991).
Lord Finesse is an American rapper and hip-hop record producer from The Bronx, New York best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. crew. About.com ranked him number 29 on its list of the Top-50 Hip-Hop Producers.
Positive K is an American MC and songwriter from the Bronx, New York City, New York, and one of the original artists of the First Priority Music camp. He is best known for his hits "I'm Not Havin' It" and his 1992 hit "I Got a Man".
One for All is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Brand Nubian, released on December 4, 1990, by Elektra Records. The album was highly acclaimed for its politically charged and socially conscious content. Sales never matched the wide acclaim — the album has only sold 350,000 copies as of May 2013 — but it has remained in print since its 1990 release. The album is mainly produced by Brand Nubian, but it also features production by Skeff Anselm, Stimulated Dummies, and Dave "Jam" Hall. The album's production contains many motifs of hip hop's golden age including James Brown-sampled breakbeats and funky R&B loops. The album is broken down track-by-track by Brand Nubian in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.
In God We Trust is the second album from hip hop group Brand Nubian. It was released on February 2, 1993, by Elektra.
Foundation is the fourth album by hip hop group Brand Nubian. It was released on September 29, 1998, via Arista. The album marked the reunion of the four original members, Grand Puba, Sadat X, Lord Jamar and DJ Alamo, who hadn't released an album together since their 1990 debut One for All.
Fire in the Hole is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Brand Nubian. It was released on August 10, 2004 via Babygrande Records. Recording sessions took place at State Street Studios in Brooklyn. Production was handled by members DJ Alamo, Grand Puba, Sadat X, and Lord Jamar, who also served as executive producer together with Chuck Wilson. It features guest appearances from Starr and Aisha Mike. The album made it to No. 57 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
Reel to Reel is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Grand Puba. It was released on October 20, 1992, through Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at Power Play Studios in Long Island City, at Chung King House of Metal and at The Hit Factory in New York. Production was handled primarily by Grand Puba, along with Stimulated Dummies, Anthony Latief King, DJ Shabazz, Kid Capri and The Brand New Heavies.
Derek Murphy, better known as Sadat X, is an American rapper, best known as a member of alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.
Black October is the third solo studio album by American rapper Sadat X. It was released on October 3, 2006 through Riverside Drive Records. Recording sessions took place at The Thingamajig Lab, The Dojo and The Dewgarde Crib Of Hits in New York, at Rum Blanc Recordings LLC, at Hills Have Eyes Studio, and at Clutch Recordings. Production was handled by Scotty Blanco, Ayatollah, Da Beatminerz, Diamond D, DJ Pawl, DJ Spinna, Gensu Dean, Greg Nice, J-Zone, Marco Polo, Spencer Doran, The Asmatik and Vin The Chin, with Peter Agoston serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Big Meg, Boss Money Gangstas, Brand Nubian, Greg Nice and Tommy Gibbs.
2000 is the second solo studio album by American rapper Grand Puba. It was released on June 20, 1995, through Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at Soundtrack Studios, Platinum Island Studios, Battery Studios, V. Dubbs Studios, Acme Recording Studios, Fiber Studios, and Chung King Studios in New York. Production was handled by Mark Sparks, Minnesota, DJ Alamo, Chris Liggio and Dante Ross. The album peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200 and at number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
Understand This is the third solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Grand Puba. It was released on October 23, 2001 through Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at Acme Recording Studios in Mamaroneck, New York. Production was handled by Grand Puba and Lord Jamar. It features guest appearances from Tiffany Johnson, Khadijah Mohammed, The Restless, and fellow Brand Nubian members Sadat X and Lord Jamar. The album did not reach the Billboard 200, however, it peaked at number 32 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 12 on the Independent Albums charts in the United States. The album produced three singles: "Understand This", "Up & Down", and "Issues".
Wild Cowboys is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Sadat X of Brand Nubian. It was released on July 15, 1996 via Loud Records. Recording sessions took place at Chung King Studios, at D&D Studios, at Platinum Island Studios and at Greene St. Recording in New York, and at Chris Biondo Studios in Washington, D.C. Production was handled by Diamond D, Buckwild, DJ Ogee, Ali Malek, Ant Greene Father Time, Da Beatminerz, Dante Ross, DJ Alamo, Minnesota, Pete Rock, Showbiz and Sadat X himself. It features guest appearances from Shawn Black, DV Alias Khrist, Deda, Grand Puba, Kool Chuck, Money Boss Players, Tec, Sha Sha and Regina Hall. The album peaked at number 83 on the Billboard 200 and number 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
Time's Runnin' Out is the sixth album by Brand Nubian. It was released on August 21, 2007, on Traffic Entertainment and featured production from Grand Puba, Lord Jamar, DJ Alamo, and Lord Finesse.
Brand New Bein' is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper Sadat X. It was released on May 5, 2009, through Ground Original/Cold Heat Entertainment. Production was handled entirely by DJ JS-1 and Johnny Walker. It features guest appearances from Jak Danielz, Craig G, Buckshot, CL Smooth, C-Rayz Walz, KRS-One, Okwerdz, Poison Pen, Rahzel, Twan, and fellow Brand Nubian members Grand Puba and Lord Jamar.
Retroactive is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Grand Puba. It was released on June 9, 2009 via Babygrande Records. Production was handled by DJ PhD, Billy Brick, Big Throwback, Elements, Grant Parks, Large Professor, Q-Tip, and Grand Puba himself. It features guest appearances from his fellow Brand Nubian groupmates Lord Jamar and Sadat X, Kid Capri, Big Phill, Khadijah Mohammed, Large Professor, Q-Tip, Rell, Sarah Martinez, Talee and Tiffani Davis. The album did not reach the Billboard 200, however, it peaked at number 97 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
"360° " is a song written, performed and produced by American rapper Grand Puba. It was released on July 16, 1992, through Elektra Records as the lead single from his debut studio album Reel to Reel. The song features a vocal sample of "What Goes Around " by Gladys Knight & the Pips. A remix version of the song was made by the Stimulated Dummies and also included in the album as a bonus track.
Black from the Future is the fifth solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Grand Puba from hip hop group Brand Nubian. It was released on April 15, 2016 through Babygrande Records with distribution via iHipHop Distribution. Production was handled by Big Sproxx, DJ PhD, Vance Wright and Grand Puba himself, with Chuck Wilson serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Isis Aja and Khadijah Mohammed.
This is the discography of American hip hop group Brand Nubian