A.M. Dre'

A.M. Dre' (from New Orleans, Louisiana) was a female rapper from the 90s. Not much information is given about her, but it appears this rapper was signed to Solar Records.

In 1994, A.M. Dre' released the album, "Get Right." It's unknown how or if the album made the charts at all.

The first single, "Don't Pimp Slap Her Bro" was released, but didn't appear to make the Billboard charts at all.

The follow-up single, "You Get's None" was also released, but failed to make any impact on the charts at all. After that, it seemed as if A.M. Dre' has faded into obscurity.

[There are no videos available for this entry.]



[updated on 06/20/13]

Hi-Town DJ's

Hi-Town DJ's were a hip-hop/rap group from Florida that consisted of rappers Derrick Rahming, Matt Young, & Teeze, record spinner DJ JP, singer Kalo and stage dancer Chyna Doll.

They rejected the gangsta approach to hip-hop and embraced the party-hearty vibe instead.

All of the members were from either Florida or Hawaii and were originally formed by Matt "xsdb" Young of the Icon Entertainment production company, who was looking to put together a band to introduce bass music to the rest of the world.

After they completed a demo, Hi-Town DJ's were signed to Restless Soul Records.

In 1998, the group released their debut album, "We Came 2 Groove" which didn't appear to make the Billboard album charts.

Their first single, "Ding-A-Ling" peaked at #56 on the Billboard Hot 100, #29 on Billboard's Rhythmic Top 40 chart, #10 on Billlboard's Hot Rap Singles chart, and #59 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks.

A promo single, "It's On" was released, but didn't make the charts.

After that, it seems as if the Hi-Town DJ's faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from them since the '90s.

To see a fan-made video for "Ding-A-Ling," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJIO7Dk2_os

Blast Zone

Blast Zone was a rap trio from Los Angeles, California that consisted of Byron Byrd, Tiffani Byrd, and Paul Lachman.

In 1988, they released their debut single, "Blast the Walls Out" on Blip Blop Records under the name "Blaztzone." It's unknown how or if the single made the charts.

Their second single, "Mary Had a Little Jam" peaked at #43 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 10 weeks.

After that, it seems as if Blast Zone has faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from them since.

To see a fan-made video for "Mary Had a Little Jam," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akv8qVA8SaA

Fu-Schnickens

Fu-Schnickens were a hip-hop music trio from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York known for their cartoonish lyrics, pop culture references and the first hip-hop artists to rap in backwards fashion.

The members consisted of Roderick "Chip Fu" Roachford, Joe "Moc Fu" Jones and Lennox "Poc Fu" Maturine.

In the group's name, "Fu" stood for "For Unity" and "Schnicken" was a made-up word that meant "coalition." After performing at a rap event at Howard University, the trio was signed to Jive Records.

In November of 1991, they released their debut single, "Ring the Alarm" which peaked at #6 on Billboard's Rap Singles chart by the next year.

In February of 1992, Fu-Schnickens released their debut album "F.U. Don't Take it Personal" which peaked at #64 on the Billboard 200, #13 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart and topped Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart.

The recording sessions for the album took place at Battery Studios in New York, New York. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA by late 1992, shipping 500,000 copies in the U.S.

The second single from the album "La Schmoove" featuring A Tribe Called Quest member, Phife Dawg, peaked at #3 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart, #36 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #30 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 11 weeks.

The last single from the album "True Fuschnick" peaked at #18 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart, #14 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, #45 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #97 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for a week.

In 1993, the trio started working on their follow-up album. They recorded a fast-paced song entitled "What's Up Doc?" which featured cartoon Bugs Bunny saying his famous catchphrase, but they couldn't get a sample clearance from Warner Bros. and ended up shelving the song.

Then-rookie NBA star, Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal talked about his love of hip-hop music and stated that Fu-Schnickens were his favorite rap group which prompted them to contact Shaq for a collaboration.

Shaq recorded a verse that was added on the already-recorded "What's Up Doc?" with the trio and Shaq saying, "What's up, doc?" to replace the Bugs Bunny sample.

Even though the album wasn't completed, the song was released quickly as a single to capitalize on Shaq's popularity.

The lead single from their soon-to-be second album entitled "What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock?)" became a hit, peaking at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100, #22 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart, #26 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, #16 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #56 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 13 weeks.

The song was also featured on Shaq's debut album "Shaq Diesel."

In 1994, Fu-Schnickens released their second album "Nervous Breakdown" which peaked at #81 on the Billboard 200 and #19 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

During that time, the rap music scene had changed dramatically and there wasn't much of an audience for their style of music.

The follow-up single "Breakdown" peaked at #67 on the Billboard Hot 100, #7 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart, #10 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, and #38 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks.

During that same year, Fu-Schnickens appeared on the finale of "The Arsenio Hall Show" with other artists such as KRS-One, the Wu-Tang Clan, Naughty by Nature, MC Lyte, Guru, Mad Lion, Yo-Yo, Das EFX, CL Smooth and A Tribe Called Quest.

In 1996, Fu-Schnickens' greatest hits compliation album was released. By that time, it seemed as if Fu-Schnickens faded into obscurity.

Today, Chip Fu is a solo artist and now goes under the name "Jungle Rock Jr." He continues to be active in the music business. It is unknown what Poc Fu and Moc Fu are up to today.

To see Chip Fu's official website, go to:
http://www.chip-fu.com/

To see the music video for "Ring the Alarm," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M60tICT4NAY

To see the music video for "La Schmoove," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XF_aZvcb-c

To see the music video for "True Fuschnick," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeTFKOsQ0Tw

To see the music video for "What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock?)," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDDGx9sJhZo

To see the music video for "Breakdown," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWwveAGRYcc

No Half

No Half was a hip-hop duo that consisted of Mark Sexx (born Mark Skeete) and Kavon Shah (born Shawn Tyrone). They merged social commentary hardcore with explicit party rap.

In 1990, the duo released their only album "Wake Your Daughter Up" which peaked at #73 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

Their first single "Strictly Rated X, Y'All" which didn't appear to make the Billboard charts at all.

The second single "Half" (featuring Ed Lover) peaked at #47 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.

The last single from the album "Fake Hair Wearin'" (featuring the 2 Live Crew) failed to make any impact on the Billboard charts at all.

No Half released two more singles: "Payback (Is a Mutha)" in 1993 and "No Brothas Allowed" in 1994 before fading into obscurity.

Kavon Shah worked with the Soul Society who remixed songs for artists such as En Vogue, Lil' Kim, Busta Rhymes, Noreaga, Ray J., Syleena Johnson, Old Dirty Bastard, Tweet and Yolanda Adams.

Kavon has also written songs for Public Enemy. Mark Sexx also wrote and produced songs during the early '90s.

To see the music video for "Half," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73VBuAqx_rw

To see the music video for "Fake Hair Wearin'," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FRZ_aZFClQ

To see the music video for "No Bruthas Allowed," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWhQVTZKzG8

Nonchalant

Nonchalant (born Tanya Pointer on October 18, 1970 in Washington, D.C.) was a female rapper\songwriter that was signed to MCA Records.

In 1996, Nonchalant released her debut single, "5 O'Clock" which peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100, topped Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart, #5 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, #33 on Billboard's Rhythmic Top 40 chart and #8 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks. In the U.K., the song managed to peak at #44 on the U.K. Singles chart.

In March of that same year, she released her debut album, "Until the Day" which peaked at #94 on the Billboard 200 and #20 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

The title song managed to peak at #25 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart and #88 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for only 4 weeks. After that, Nonchalant was featured on the "Dangerous Ground" movie soundtrack with female rappers MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, and Bahamadia with the track, "Keep on Pushin'."

In 1998, Nonchalant released the single, "Take It There" which peaked at #8 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart and #56 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 4 weeks. She made her last appearance on the "Half Baked" movie soundtrack with the song, "Flyin'" before fading into obscurity.

To see the music video for "5 O'Clock," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQy1knJmGXg

To see the music video for "Until The Day," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbQM9WFhin0

To see the music video for "Take It There," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68_KMl66ITg
 

Lois Lane

Lois Lane [not to be confused with Superman's girlfriend] (born in Memphis, Tennessee) was a female hip-hop/R&B artist from the 90s.

In 1998, Lois released her only album, "The Adventures of Lois Lane" which didn't appear to make the Billboard album charts at all.

The only single to chart was "Chinese Checkers" which peaked at #82 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 7 weeks.

To see a fan-made video for "Chinese Checkers," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gihXB4NxAX4

Craig Mack

Craig Mack (born on May 10, 1971 in Trenton, New Jersey) was a hip-hop rapper from the '90s.

As a teenager, Craig released his first single under the name "MC EZ" in 1988, but not a lot of success came out of it.

While working as a go-fer for hip-hop group EPMD, he hooked up with Sean "Puffy" Combs who offered him a spot on a remix version of Mary J. Blige's song "You Don't Have To Worry." Impressed with Craig's rapping skills, Puff Daddy signed him to a record deal with his record label, Bad Boy Entertainment.

In July of 1994, Craig released his debut single "Flava in Ya Ear" which became a hit, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 (making it his only highest appearance on the Hot 100), #4 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart (staying on the chart for 28 weeks) and topped Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart. It was also certified Platinum by the RIAA & sold 1,000,000 copies in the United States.

The remix version of "Flava in Ya Ear" featured late rapper The Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Rampage & Busta Rhymes. The song was even nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Rap Solo Performance."

On September 20, 1994, Craig released his debut album "Project Funk da World" which peaked at #21 on the Billboard 200 and #6 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart.

Although the album received good commercial feedback, it was overshadowed by the huge success of the Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album "Ready to Die" (which was also released in September of that same year as well).

The follow-up single from the album "Get Down" peaked at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart and Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #17 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks).

The last single released from the album "Making Moves With Puff" failed to make any impact on the charts at all. During the '90s, Craig was featured on remixes by artists such as Veronica, Brownstone, Boyz II Men and Gina Thompson. He was also featured on the Sound of Blackness' song "Spirit."

On June 24, 1997, Craig released his sophomore album "Operation: Get Down" which peaked at #46 on the Billboard 200 and #17 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart. Unlike his debut album, the album didn't generate a lot of success.

The only single from the album to make the charts was "What I Need" which managed to peak at #16 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart, #9 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #55 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart (staying on the chart for 13 weeks). 

After his second album flopped, Craig had left Bad Boy Records and his popularity began fading away.

In 2002, it was announced that he was working on a third album which was supposed to be released in 2007, but apparently, those plans never materialized (although he did release a single in 2006 called "Mack Tonight.") Craig would later leave the music scene for the next few years.

In 2012, a video was leaked on YouTube, saying that Craig had joined a Christian ministry in Walterboro, South Carolina. In November of that same year, Beazylife Distribution released a new Craig Mack mixtape called "Operation Why2K? – Hosted by B-Eazy" through music website, DatPiff.com.

In 2017, Craig released his last album "The Mack World Sessions." The album contains 18 tracks that were recorded between 2000 and 2006.

Sadly on March 12, 2018, Craig Mack died from heart failure at a hospital near his residence in Walterboro, South Carolina. He was 47 years old.

Following his death, rapper Erick Sermon had written on Twitter that he was completing work on Craig Mack's new album. It's currently unknown whether or not the album will be released posthumously.

Rest in Peace, Craig Mack. You will be missed.

To see the music video for "Flava in Ya Ear," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNFqMx0gY7I

To see the music video of the remixed version of "Flava in Ya Ear," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMbELEUfmIA

To see the music video for "Get Down," go to:
https://vimeo.com/155333072

To see the music video for "Making Moves with Puff," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7oqzZQGUa8

To see the music video for "What I Need," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKShV0dpNR8

To see the music video of the remixed version of "What I Need," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NniiEf9JouU




[Updated on 03\13\2018]

Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz

Lord Tariq (born Sean Hamilton) & Peter Gunz (born Peter Pankley) were a hip-hop\rap duo from the 90s.

Before becoming a duo, they were in a group called Gunrunners. Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz made an appearance on Whodini's 1996 album "Six" on the track "Can't Get Enough" and co-wrote two other tracks on the album.

In 1998, the duo released their only album, "Make it Reign" on Columbia Records. The album peaked at #38 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. It featured collaborations with rappers such as Fat Joe, Sticky Fingaz, Kurupt, Cam'ron, and the late Big Pun.

The first single, "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1998 and #4 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 41 weeks and topped Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart, becoming their biggest and only hit to date.

The song also peaked at #10 on Billboard's Rhythmic Top 40 chart and topped Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart. It also peaked at #21 on the U.K. Singles chart and #6 on the Canadian Singles chart. The song was certified platinum by the RIAA, selling over 1 million copies.

The follow-up single, "We Will Ball" peaked at #49 on Billboard's Hot R&B Airplay chart, staying on the chart for 8 weeks. The duo appeared on the remix to Mariah Carey's song, "My All/Stay Awhile" during that same year. In 1999, Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz broke up without releasing a sophomore album.

In 2004, Lord Tariq released his solo album "The Barcode" on the Team Saga Entertainment record label. It's unknown how or if the album was successful. Peter Gunz's son, Cory is a rapper who is currently signed to Young Money Entertainment.

To follow Peter Gunz on Twitter, go to:
https://twitter.com/IamPeterGunz

To see the music video for "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdVefG2xuKo

To see the music video for "We Will Ball," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7haOnZIicc


[updated on 06/20/13]

Luniz

Luniz were a rap duo from Oakland, California that consisted of friends Jerold "Yuckmouth" Ellis and Garrick "Knumskull" Husband that have known each other since junior high school. Their original name was Luni Tunz. They gained their first taste of fame when they appeared on Dru Down's "Explicit Game" album.

In 1994, they released the EP, "(Formally Known As The LuniTunes)" on C-Note Records. It's unknown how or if the EP was successful.

In 1995, Luniz released their debut album, "Operation Stackola" on Noo Trybe Records. The album peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200 and topped Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

Their first single, "I Got 5 on It" became a hit for the duo, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September of 1995 and #4 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart in August of 1995. The song was also successful internationally, even topping the charts in the Netherlands.

The song sampled Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad," Kool and the Gang's "Jungle Boogie," and Auto Two's "Top Billin'." It also featured vocals from Club Nouveau member, Michael Marshall. The success of "I Got 5 on It" helped make Luniz's debut album become their best-selling album.

The follow-up single, "Playa Hata" peaked at #51 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart and #13 on Billboard's Rap Singles chart.

In 1997, Luniz released their sophomore album, "Lunitik Muzik" which peaked at #34 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. The album sold roughly 500,000 copies and had appearances from rappers such as  Redman, Too Short and E-40. The album failed to produce any hit singles at all.

In 2002, Luniz released their last album to date, "Silver & Black" which peaked at #53 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart, but once again, it failed to produce any hit singles at all.

Since then, Yukmouth has released seven solo albums and is the CEO of Smoke-a-Lot Records and Knumskull has released two solo albums. According to research, the duo are "somewhat beefing" & "not getting along right now" and according to Knumskull, if the duo comes together to do something, it'll be for the money.

To see the music video for "I Got 5 On It," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSC9cgvtkRs

To see the music video for "Playa Hata," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiOBTLD76Rw


[Updated on 04\30\2016]