Brand Nubian
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Brand Nubian is a hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, consisting of three MCs; Grand Puba (born Maxwell Dixon, March 4, 1966), Sadat X (formerly Derek X, born Derek Murphy) and Lord Jamar (born Lorenzo Dechalus, September 17, 1968); and two DJs, DJ Alamo and DJ Sincere. They are one of the more popular and acclaimed Alternative hip hop groups of the 1990s, known for socially conscious and politically charged content inspired by the teachings of the Five Percent Nation of Islam.
History
1989-1992: One for All to \"Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down\"
Brand Nubian formed in 1989 after Grand Puba's original group, Masters Of Ceremony, split up. The crew signed a deal with Elektra Records and released their first single "Brand Nubian" in '89. Their debut album, One For All, was released in 1990. Generally acclaimed, the album drew fire for militant rhetoric on tracks like "Drop the Bomb" and "Wake Up". The controversy helped sales, though the album was still not a great commercial success. To date, the album has sold 350,000 units. The video for the single "Wake Up" was banned from MTV, due to its portrayal of white people as devils. The singles "Slow Down", "All For One" and "Wake Up" all became hits on Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1991.Shortly after their debut release, Sadat X and Lord Jamar began having problems with Grand Puba, causing him to leave the group, along with DJ Alamo, to pursue a solo career. Lord Jamar and Sadat X enlisted DJ Sincere to join the group in 1992. The same year, Puba released his solo debut, Reel to Reel, which featured the single "360 Degrees ".
Later in 1992, Brand Nubian released a hit single of their own, "Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down". The track was met with controversy over apparently homophobic content, referencing the Sadat X line "Though I can freak, fly, flow, fuck up a faggot / don't understand their ways, I ain't down with gays". Despite the controversy, the single charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 77.
1993-2000: In God We Trust to \"Rockin' It\"
In February 1993, the crew released their second album, In God We Trust. "Punks Jump Up" was included on this release, as well as the number 92 Hot 100 single, "Love Me Or Leave Me Alone". The effort sold moderately well, fueled by the crew's continuing controversy. Also in 1993, the group contributed a track for the Menace II Society soundtrack, entitled "Lick Dem Muthaphuckas".
Their next group release, Everything is Everything, was issued in November 1994. The controversy kept growing, with further accusations of music being analogous to hate speech. The album received very mixed reviews and mediocre sales, despite the top 40 Hot Rap Tracks singles "Word Is Bond" and "Hold On". In 1995, the group broke up and launched solo careers in music and television. That year, Puba released his second solo effort 2000, featuring another Billboard Hot 100 single, "I Like It (I Wanna Be Where You Are)". Sadat X released his first solo effort, titled Wild Cowboys, in 1996.
The original members reunited in 1997, contributing a song to the Soul in the Hole soundtrack, titled "A Child Is Born". In 1998, the four original members returned with the album Foundation. The album received wide acclaim and featured contributions from a larger group of producers, including DJ Premier, Buckwild, Lord Finesse and Diamond D. The lead single "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" became, at number 54, Brand Nubian's highest-charting single on the Hot 100. In 2000, the crew released an the underground single "Rockin' It", then continued their individual pursuits. Sadat X released a solo EP in 2000, The State of New York vs. Derek Murphy.
2001-present: Solo projects
Puba released his third solo effort. Understand This, in 2001, which received little attention despite featuring his fellow Brand Nubian members. The original members reunited once again in 2004 for the release of their fifth group album, Fire in the Hole, their first release on an independent label, Babygrande Records. The album received mixed reviews and sold below expectations. Sadat X released another solo effort in 2005, titled Experience & Education, receiving mostly positive reviews. Jamar has also furthered his acting career, recently appearing on an episode of The Sopranos, as well as episodes of Oz, Third Watch and Law & Order. Lord Jamar will release his first solo album, The 5 Percent Album, on June 27 on Babygrande Records.Discography
- 1990 One For All
- 1993 In God We Trust
- 1994 Everything is Everything
- 1998 Foundation
- 2004 Fire in the Hole
External links
- [Brand Nubian biography]
- [Brand Nubian discography]
- [Brand Nubian: Hip-Hop Icon Series Interview (http://www.halftimeonline.com)]
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