Jadakiss

Jadakiss began rapping in the early 1990s as a member of The Lox, with the group eventually signing to Puff Daddy’s record label Bad Boy Entertainment. After leaving Bad Boy in 2000, the group all signed to Ruff Ryders, where they embarked on solo careers, with Jadakiss releasing his debut solo album Kiss Tha Game Goodbye in 2001. Since the release of his first album in 2001, Jadakiss has gone on to release three more solo studio albums, as well as an album with The Lox and a joint album with Fabolous. In 2007, Jadakiss signed with Jay Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings, who both released his 2009 album The Last Kiss along with Ruff Ryders Entertainment.\n', ' Jadakiss was born Jason Terrance Phillips on May 27, 1975, in Yonkers, New York, and had an interest in hip hop from an early age. At the age of 12, he began selling drugs after his parents asked him to earn his own money. He soon stopped selling drugs, however, and instead began freestyle rapping for money after watching other people do it on the street corner. While freestyling, he eventually met longtime friends Sheek Louch and Styles P. Phillips quickly developed a small underground fanbase and at the age of 12, entered himself into a freestyle competition in Florida where he attracted the attention of the owners of Ruff Ryders Entertainment. Along with Styles and Louch, he formed a group known as The Warlocks, and the trio began rapping together. They eventually met Mary J. Blige, who, impressed with their lyrics, handed their demo to Puff Daddy, who signed the group to his label, Bad Boy Entertainment.\n', ' Upon signing with Bad Boy, Puff Daddy shortened the groups name from The Warlocks to simply "The LOX". They made their first appearance on The Main Source\'s 1994 LP Fuck What You Think on the track "Set it Off." They immediately began writing and performing on hit songs with fellow Bad Boy artists, including Puff Daddy’s "It\'s All About the Benjamins" and "I Got the Power", Mase\'s "24 Hrs. to Live", Mariah Carey\'s "Honey", Mary J. Blige\'s "Can’t Get You Off My Mind" and Notorious B.I.G.\'s "Last Day". The group developed a close relationship with B.I.G., during which time Jadakiss especially was taken under his wing. The LOX\'s first hit song was a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. in the wake of his 1997 death, titled "We\'ll Always Love Big Poppa". The song was chosen as the B-side to Puff Daddy\'s smash hit B.I.G. tribute song "I\'ll Be Missing You", and received widespread commercial success, achieving multi-platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The success and reception of the song opened the door for them to write more of their own songs, and in 1998, the LOX released their debut studio album, Money, Power & Respect. The album was both a commercial and critical success, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and went on to achieve platinum status. Though the record was successful, The Lox grew unhappy with Bad Boy Records and Puffy\'s glossy, radio friendly production, feeling it conflicted with their grimier street aestethic. Following the release of their debut album, the group left the label to sign with Ruff Ryders Entertainment. They released their second album, We Are The Streets in 2000, through Ruff Ryders. The album was once again a success, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. It featured production from Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, and spawned one single, Ryde or Die, Bitch featuring fellow Ruff Ryders artist Eve.\n', '