Kwamé
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kwamé | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kwamé Holland |
| Also known as | K-1 Million, K1 Mil |
| Origin | East Elmhurst, Queens, New York, USA |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, Producer |
| Years active | 1989–1994, 2002–present |
Kwamé Holland (pronounced KWAH-may, born in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York, USA) was an American emcee 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 |
[edit] Biography
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 debut album Kwamé the Boy Genius Featuring A New Beginning in 1989, which was produced by Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor. A New Beginning was his backing band and Kwamé was one of the rare emcees 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 singles "Oneovdabigboiz" and "Ownlee Eue." Holland is a cousin of Vin Diesel, who danced in some of his early music videos.[1]
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[2]
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.[3] 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. New R&B/Hip Hop singer Jamie Jones started a form of introduction to Kwame's production by whispering 'Shh, Kwame did it', which Jesse McCartney took for his song Makeup which will appear on his album Departure.
He holds music workshops for children and has worked with various youth organizations including the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.
He can be frequently heard uttering the words 'Kwamé did it' at the beginning of certain songs produced by him such as Fantasia's Not The Way I Do, Raven-Symoné's That Girl or Jesse McCartney's Make Up.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Kwamé the Boy Genius Featuring A New Beginning (1989)
- A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure (1990)
- Nastee (1992)
- Incognito (1994, Ichiban Records)
[edit] 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 |
[edit] Production
- 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"
- 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-Symoné "That Girl" and "Green"
- Jesse McCartney "Makeup" and "Think About It"
