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(Redirected from Kwamé (rapper))
:''This article is about the rapper. For the basketball player, see Kwame Brown.''
'Kwamé Holland' (born Queens, New York, USA) was an American rapper who enjoyed brief popularity in the late-1980s and early-1990s. He is currently a music producer sometimes credited as 'K-1 Million' or 'K1 Mil'.
As a child, Holland was mentored by Stevie Wonder, Lionel Hampton, and Abdullah Ibrahim who were family friends.
He was sixteen when he released his self-produced debut album, ''Kwamé the Boy Genius Featuring A New Beginning'' in 1989. A New Beginning was his backing band and Kwamé was one of the rare rappers at the time to use a live band. The album spawned the singles "The Man We All Know and Love" and "The Rhythm". The accompanying music videos featured a polka-dot motif in the costumes and production design. This was to become Kwamé's trademark and started a hip hop fashion trend as fans began wearing polka-dotted clothing. In 1990, his second album ''A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure'' was released. It was a concept album about a day in the life of a high school student. The album spawned the hit single "Ownlee Eue".
In 1992, he released his third album ''Nastee''. Now 18, Kwamé tried an image change by discarding the polka-dots and writing more sexually-charged lyrics in contrast to his previously playful, intellectual persona. The title track was a minor hit but the album quickly fell from the charts. His fourth album, 1994's ''Incognito'' failed to chart and Kwamé was dropped from his record label. That same year, Kwamé became a punch line in The Notorious B.I.G.'s popular song "Unbelievable":
''You see I smoke a lot
''Your life is played out like Kwamé, and them fuckin' polka-dots''[1]
The lyric was a major blow to Kwamé's esteem and career as he suddenly became an object of ridicule in the hip-hop community.[2] But in 2002, Kwamé reemerged as a music producer named "K-1 Million". He worked for many artists such as LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige and Dru Hill. In 2004, he had a major success as the co-producer (with Eminem) of Lloyd Banks' smash hit song "On Fire". He continues to work steadily as a producer with his current artists Beyond Belief and Profit and has since returned to using his real name.
He holds music workshops for children and has worked with various youth organizations including the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.
Holland is a cousin of Vin Diesel, who danced in some of his music videos.[3]
★ ''Kwamé the Boy Genius Featuring A New Beginning'' (1989)
★ ''A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure'' (1990)
★ ''Nastee'' (1992)
★ ''Incognito'' (1994)
★ Lady May featuring Blu Cantrell, "Round Up"
★ Mary J Blige, "L.O.V.E."
★ LL Cool J, "10 Million Stars", "Throw Ya L’s Up", "And The Winner Is"
★ Dru Hill, "No Doubt"
★ Nick Cannon, "Scared of You"
★ Lloyd Banks, "On Fire" (co-produced by Eminem)
★ JoJo, "Breezy"
★ Jin, "So Afraid Of"
★ Tweet, "Turn Da Lights Off", "We Don’t Need No Water"
★ Joe Budden, "Roll Your Backyard"
★ Red Cafe, "All Night Long", "Rap Chic"
★ Will Smith, "Switch"
★ Teairra Marí, "New Shit", "No Daddy (Remix)"
★ The Pussycat Dolls, "Bite the Dust"
★ Christina Aguilera, "Understand"
★ Chingy "Let's Ride," "Relax"
★ Method Man "Fall Out", "OD", "4 Ever"
★ Yung Joc featuring 3LW "Bout It"
★ Talib Kweli "Listen!!!"
★ Mýa "I Am"
★ Fantasia "Not The Way I Do"
★ Raven Symone "Got It Girl"
1. Notorious B.I.G.: Unbelievable Lyrics
2. Kwame: Nobody’s Laughing
3. In Tha Background: Kwame - Once dissed by Biggie... But Now?
★ Interview with MTV.com
:''This article is about the rapper. For the basketball player, see Kwame Brown.''
'Kwamé Holland' (born Queens, New York, USA) was an American rapper who enjoyed brief popularity in the late-1980s and early-1990s. He is currently a music producer sometimes credited as 'K-1 Million' or 'K1 Mil'.
| Contents |
| Career |
| Family |
| Discography |
| Albums |
| Singles |
| Production credits |
| References |
| External links |
Career
As a child, Holland was mentored by Stevie Wonder, Lionel Hampton, and Abdullah Ibrahim who were family friends.
He was sixteen when he released his self-produced debut album, ''Kwamé the Boy Genius Featuring A New Beginning'' in 1989. A New Beginning was his backing band and Kwamé was one of the rare rappers at the time to use a live band. The album spawned the singles "The Man We All Know and Love" and "The Rhythm". The accompanying music videos featured a polka-dot motif in the costumes and production design. This was to become Kwamé's trademark and started a hip hop fashion trend as fans began wearing polka-dotted clothing. In 1990, his second album ''A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure'' was released. It was a concept album about a day in the life of a high school student. The album spawned the hit single "Ownlee Eue".
Kwamé's album ''A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure''
In 1992, he released his third album ''Nastee''. Now 18, Kwamé tried an image change by discarding the polka-dots and writing more sexually-charged lyrics in contrast to his previously playful, intellectual persona. The title track was a minor hit but the album quickly fell from the charts. His fourth album, 1994's ''Incognito'' failed to chart and Kwamé was dropped from his record label. That same year, Kwamé became a punch line in The Notorious B.I.G.'s popular song "Unbelievable":
''You see I smoke a lot
''Your life is played out like Kwamé, and them fuckin' polka-dots''[1]
The lyric was a major blow to Kwamé's esteem and career as he suddenly became an object of ridicule in the hip-hop community.[2] But in 2002, Kwamé reemerged as a music producer named "K-1 Million". He worked for many artists such as LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige and Dru Hill. In 2004, he had a major success as the co-producer (with Eminem) of Lloyd Banks' smash hit song "On Fire". He continues to work steadily as a producer with his current artists Beyond Belief and Profit and has since returned to using his real name.
He holds music workshops for children and has worked with various youth organizations including the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.
Family
Holland is a cousin of Vin Diesel, who danced in some of his music videos.[3]
Discography
Albums
★ ''Kwamé the Boy Genius Featuring A New Beginning'' (1989)
★ ''A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure'' (1990)
★ ''Nastee'' (1992)
★ ''Incognito'' (1994)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot R&B | US Hot Rap | |||
| 1989 | "The Man We All Know and Love" | 33 | 2 | ''Kwamé the Boy Genius Featuring A New Beginning'' |
| "The Rhythm" | - | 7 | ''Kwamé the Boy Genius Featuring A New Beginning'' | |
| 1990 | "Hai Love" | - | 21 | ''A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure'' |
| "Ownlee Eue" | 40 | 3 | ''A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure'' | |
| 1991 | "Oneovdabigboiz" | 94 | 17 | ''A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure'' |
| 1992 | "Nastee" | - | 16 | ''Nastee'' |
| "Can U Feel It" | - | - | ''Nastee'' | |
| 1994 | "? It Like" | - | - | ''Incognito'' |
Production credits
★ Lady May featuring Blu Cantrell, "Round Up"
★ Mary J Blige, "L.O.V.E."
★ LL Cool J, "10 Million Stars", "Throw Ya L’s Up", "And The Winner Is"
★ Dru Hill, "No Doubt"
★ Nick Cannon, "Scared of You"
★ Lloyd Banks, "On Fire" (co-produced by Eminem)
★ JoJo, "Breezy"
★ Jin, "So Afraid Of"
★ Tweet, "Turn Da Lights Off", "We Don’t Need No Water"
★ Joe Budden, "Roll Your Backyard"
★ Red Cafe, "All Night Long", "Rap Chic"
★ Will Smith, "Switch"
★ Teairra Marí, "New Shit", "No Daddy (Remix)"
★ The Pussycat Dolls, "Bite the Dust"
★ Christina Aguilera, "Understand"
★ Chingy "Let's Ride," "Relax"
★ Method Man "Fall Out", "OD", "4 Ever"
★ Yung Joc featuring 3LW "Bout It"
★ Talib Kweli "Listen!!!"
★ Mýa "I Am"
★ Fantasia "Not The Way I Do"
★ Raven Symone "Got It Girl"
References
1. Notorious B.I.G.: Unbelievable Lyrics
2. Kwame: Nobody’s Laughing
3. In Tha Background: Kwame - Once dissed by Biggie... But Now?
External links
★ Interview with MTV.com
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