The Music's Over

but the songs live on forever

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Subscribe

Archive for the ‘Rap’ Category

Died On This Date (December 31, 2015) Natalie Cole / R&B Great

Posted by themusicsover on December 31, 2015

Natalie Cole
February 6, 1950 – December 31, 2015

Natalie-ColeNatalie Cole was an American R&B singer who, over the course of a career that spanned 6 decades, sold over 30 million albums and earned nine Grammys.  Born into a show business family – her father was Nat King Cole and her mother was Maria Hawkins Cole, a one-time singer for Duke Ellington, Cole followed her parents into show business at a very early age.  When she was just six, she sang on her father’s iconic Christmas album, and within five years, she was performing on stage.  After graduating from college, Cole began singing in clubs and soon caught the ear of a couple of producers who recorded a few tracks and shopped them around.  Capitol Records signed her and released her first album, Inseparable, in 1975.  The album contained her first top 10 single, “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” which resulted in Cole’s first two Grammys, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best New Artist.  The balance of the ’70s were extremely prosperous for Cole as she released several more hit records; performed to sell-out crowds; and made numerous TV appearance including her own two specials.  The early ’80s were less kind to her as record sales dwindled and she battled her own personal demons.  But by 1987, Cole’s career was bouncing back.  Her 1987 dance album, Everlasting, brought her back to the charts with such hit singles as, “Everlasting,” “Jump Start,” “I Live For Your Love,” and her pop crossover version of Bruce Springsteen‘s “Pink Cadillac.”  The hits continued through the early ’90s and beyond, with Cole’s style maturing into that which made her father famous, jazz vocals/traditional pop.  She continued to record and perform to adoring fans over the next two decades, but in December of 2015, it was later revealed, she had to cancel several shows due to ongoing health problems.  On December 31, 2015, Natalie Cole died of congestive heart failure at the age of 65.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Click to find at amazon.com


Posted in Jazz, R&B, Rap, Singer | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Died On This Date (December 31, 2015) Natalie Cole / R&B Great

Died On This Date (December 20, 2013) Lord Infamous / Rapper For Three 6 Mafia

Posted by themusicsover on December 20, 2013

Lord Infamous (Born Ricky Dunigan)
November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013

lord-infamousLord Infamous was an American rapper and co-founding member of the popular rap group, Three 6 Mafia who is credited with coining “crunk” to describe the style of southern hip hop they came to exemplify.  Formed in 1991, the group built a sizable underground following for their music that some have labeled “horrorcore” due to its darker elements.  Lord Infamous’ lyrics in particular, generally revolved around the occult, murder, suicide and Satanism.   Three 6 Mafia’s fourth album, 2000’s  When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1, reached #6 on the Billboard Top 200 on its way to selling well over a million copies.  In 2006, Lord Infamous and Three 6 Mafia parted ways due to a contractual breach with their record label.  Lord Infamous went on to form a label, Black Rain Entertainment, with longtime friend, II Tone.  The company released numerous albums by Lord Infamous and other hip hop acts from the Memphis area.  Earlier in 2013, Lord Infamous with original Three 6 Mafia members, DJ Paul, Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca, and Gangsta Boo formed Da Mafia 6ix.  They released their first mix tape, 6ix Commandments in November of 2013 while working on a new studio album to be released in 2014.  On December 20, 2013, Lord Infamous died at the age of 40.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Click to find at amazon.com

 

Posted in Hip Hop, Rap, Singer | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Died On This Date (December 20, 2013) Lord Infamous / Rapper For Three 6 Mafia

Died On This Date (June 20, 2013) Lil Snupe / Aspiring Young Rapper; Protégé Of Meek Mill

Posted by themusicsover on June 20, 2013

Lil Snupe (Born Addarren Ross)
DOB Unknown – June 20, 2013

Lil-SnupeLil Snupe  was an 18 year old up-and-coming rapper who had recently signed with Meek Mill‘s label, Dream Chaser Records.  Born and raised in Louisiana, Lil Snupe started making a name for himself throughout the underground hip hop scene.  He was best known for his freestyle rap skills.  After listening to a 20-minute mixtape of the young rapper, Mill almost immediately called him to discuss joining his label.  According to local police, Lil Snupe was shot and killed at a Winnfield, Louisiana apartment complex at around 4:00 a.m. local time on June 20, 2013.  No further details were immediately released.

 

Posted in Hip Hop, Rap, Singer | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Died On This Date (June 20, 2013) Lil Snupe / Aspiring Young Rapper; Protégé Of Meek Mill

Died On This Date (May 1, 2013) Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly / Half Of ’90s Rap Duo, Kris Kross

Posted by themusicsover on May 1, 2013

Chris Kelly
June 11, 1978 – May 1, 2013

Chris Kelly on right.

Chris Kelly on right.

Chris Kelly is best remembered as one-half of the popular ’90s rap duo, Kris Kross.  Formed in 1990 with Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith when they were just 13 years old, the pair went on to have a major hit in 1992 with “Jump.”  That single, which appeared on their debut album, Totally Krossed Out, spent eight weeks at #1 on the Billboard singles chart and sold in excess of two million copies. The album from which it came sold upwards of four million copies in the US alone.  Kris Kross’ two follow-up albums went platinum and gold in the US respectively.  Kelly and Smith were also known for wearing their clothing backwards on stage.  Born in Atlanta, Kelly and Smith were discovered by Jermaine Dupri who helped land them a deal with Columbia Records’ Ruffhouse imprint.  In 1992, the duo hit the road with Michael Jackson, opening for his Dangerous World Tour.  They also appeared in Jackson’s video for “Jam.”  Throughout the ’90s, the guys made several cameos on various television shows and such.  They also recorded “Rugrats Romp” for the popular Nickelodeon program, Rugrats.  Kelly and Smith parted ways in 1998 but reunited for Dupri’s So So Def Recording’s 20th anniversary concert in 2013.  On May 1, 2013, Chris Kelly, age 34,  was found unresponsive in his Atlanta home and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.  Official medical reports concluded he died of a drug overdose.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Click to find at amazon.com



Posted in Hip Hop, Rap, Singer | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Died On This Date (May 1, 2013) Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly / Half Of ’90s Rap Duo, Kris Kross

Died On This Date (February 21, 2013) Kenny Clutch / Oakland Rapper

Posted by themusicsover on February 21, 2013

Kenny Clutch (Born Kenneth Cherry Jr.)
DOB Unknown – February 21, 2013

kenny-clutchMember of the 27 Club

Kenny Clutch was an up-and-coming rapper from Oakland, California.  He had recently moved to Las Vegas where he was releasing music videos on youtube in order to build a following.  In the early hours of February 20, 2013, Kenny Clutch was apparently involved in an altercation that resulted in being fired upon by occupant(s) of another vehicle on the Las Vegas Strip.  The shooting reportedly lead to a fiery collision involving Clutch and a taxi cab.  The driver of the cab, identified as Michael Bolden, and a passenger were killed in the explosion.  Four other vehicles were apparently damaged as the alleged assailant fled the scene in his or her car.  In all, six others, besides those killed, were injured.  It was not immediately clear if Clutch was killed by gunshot or the resulting crash.  Kenny Clutch was 27 years old when he died.

Posted in 27 Club, Hip Hop, Rap, Singer | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »