Amir Ali Said

Black Ivory is a soul trio from Harlem, New York who mainly recorded in the '60s and the '70s.  The trio is comprised of Leroy Burgess, Stuart Bascombe, and Russell Patterson.  For most of their career they primarily recorded with producer…

Black Sheep was a hip hop duo from New York who primarily recorded in the '90s.  The duo featured two members: rapper Dres and DJ/Producer Mista Lawnge.   Dres was from Queens and Mista Lawnge was from Brooklyn, but they met in Sanford,…

Joni Haastrup was a Nigerian bandleader and a singer who performed in the '60s and the '70s.  He started his career as a singer in his brother's band Sneakers.  Then, Haastrup joined the Nigerian band Orlando Julius & His Modern Aces. …

The Choice Four was a soul group from Washington, D.C. that recorded in the '70s.  The group featured four singers, Bobby Hamilton, Charles Blagmon, Pete Marshall, and Ted Maduro.  In 1974, they released their debut album, The Finger…

Canibus is a rapper from New York who came up in the '90s.  At the beginning of his career, he was known for freestyling.  Later, he formed a short-lived hip hop duo called T.H.E.M. (The Heralds of Extreme Metaphors) with Atlanta rapper…

Meiko Kaji is a Japanese actress and singer who starred in several films and television shows during the '60s and the '70s.  She also recorded theme songs for some of her projects, and she released her own music outside of film.  In 1972,…

Jeru the Damaja is a rapper from East New York, Brooklyn who came up in the '90s.  He made his recording debut on Gangstarr's song "I'm The Man."  "I'm The Man" was featured on Gangstarr's third album, Daily Operation (1992).  In 1993, Jeru…

Bola Johnson was a Nigerian bandleader and trumpeter who recorded in the '60s and the '70s.   He started his career as a maraca player in Eric Akaeze's band.  Eric Akaeze was a highlife musician who led a house band at a local Nigerian…

Gene Redding was a soul singer from Anderson, Indiana who recorded in the '70s.  He was discovered by Etta James at a USO Club event in Anchorage, Alaska.  The United Service Organization (USO) is an organization that provides entertainment…

Rah Digga is a rapper from Newark, New Jersey who came up in the '90s and the 2000s.  She started her ascension when she joined the New Jersey based group The Outsidaz.  Their first big appearance was on "Cowboys," a record from The Fugees…