Mad Lion
Encyclopedia
Oswald Priest, better known as Mad Lion, is a dancehall
, ragga
musician and rapper. He frequently collaborates with fellow hip hop
artist KRS-One
— most recently on a DVD promoting the Temple of Hiphop. The recipient of the 1994 Source award as Reggae Artist of the Year, he has inspired similar-sounding recordings by such artists as Ini Kamoze, Capleton, and Rayvon.
at Super Power Records. At Super Cat's suggestion, he adopted his professional name, an acronym for Musical Assassin Delivering Lyrical Intelligence Over Nations. He blended ragga and hip-hop, and went on to work with KRS-One, with whom he worked throughout the 1990s. His earliest success came in the mid-1980s when he applied his hip hop rhythms to Shabba Ranks' hit single "Jam". His début single "Shoot to Kill" was successful in New York and he reached a wider audience with "Take It Easy", which became the title track of his début album in 1994. He later appeared, along with Queen Latifah
, on Salt-N-Pepa
's 1997 album Brand New
. In 1997 he topped the US reggae chart with "Carpenter".
Launching his own label, Spinners Choice, Mad Lion was working on his debut album when he met and convinced KRS-One to work with him. The collaboration proved fruitful as Lion's single, "Shoot to Kill", sold more than 1,000,000 copies. His next single "Take It Easy", did even better, exceeding the 3,000,000 sale mark.
After releasing the album Real Ting in 1993, Mad Lion made countless guest appearances on such albums as The New Jersey Drive and D&D Project, compilations, and produced a tune for Born Jamericans
. His second album Ghetto Gold & Platinum Respect was released in 1997. Three years later, his third album Predatah or Prey, which also included an interactive game, arrived.
He also appeared in the music video for Craig Mack
feat. Notorious B.I.G., Rampage
, LL Cool J
and Busta Rhymes
- "Flava In Ya Ear
".
Mad Lion's other collaborative projects consist of working with Puerto Rican producers DJ Playero, DJ Tony Touch, DJ Nico Canada & other Puerto Rican Reggaeton artists that were flourishing around 1996. Mad Lion was featured on a track in which he did a duet with Puerto Rican Reggaeton artist Mexicano 777 on the track titled "Guerreros" which was a Dancehall fused Hip-Hop track that was featured on the "Boricua Guerrero: First Combat" album produced by DJ Playero & DJ Nico Canada. Mad Lion also collaborated with Puerto Rican Reggaeton artist Rey Pirin on the track titled "Guerrillero Borincano" which was a gritty Hip-Hop track that was also featured on "Boricua Guerrero: First Combat". Not being the only Jamaican Dancehall artist to be featured on "Boricua Guerrero: First Combat", Mad Lion was joined by Jahdan & the Black Hearted Skavengerz who did a solo on a Reggaeton riddim titled "Many Many More", & the duo Curly Valentino & Demos Demarco made an appearance on the Hip-Hop track titled "Razor Sharp" with Mexicano 777. Mad Lion soon lent his rapping skills to that of the DJ Tony Touch & DJ Nico Canada produced mixtape titled "Guatauba", where he laid down a freestyle on a Reggaeton riddim. Again, Mad Lion was joined by other Jamaican Dancehall artists such as Mad Cobra, who did a freestyle on a Hip-Hop riddim, & The Black Hearted Skavengerz appeared doing a freestyle on a Reggaeton riddim.
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
, ragga
Ragga
-Origins:Ragga originated in Jamaica during the 1980s, at the same time that electronic dance music's popularity was increasing globally. One of the reasons for ragga's swift propagation is that it is generally easier and less expensive to produce than reggae performed on traditional musical...
musician and rapper. He frequently collaborates with fellow hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
artist KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
— most recently on a DVD promoting the Temple of Hiphop. The recipient of the 1994 Source award as Reggae Artist of the Year, he has inspired similar-sounding recordings by such artists as Ini Kamoze, Capleton, and Rayvon.
Biography
Priest was born in London. Shortly after moving to Brooklyn, New York, he met reggae performer Super CatSuper Cat
Super Cat is a deejay most popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s dancehall movement. Super Cat was born in Jamaica and was nicknamed Wild Apache. His nickname, the "Wild Apache" was given to him by his mentor Early B...
at Super Power Records. At Super Cat's suggestion, he adopted his professional name, an acronym for Musical Assassin Delivering Lyrical Intelligence Over Nations. He blended ragga and hip-hop, and went on to work with KRS-One, with whom he worked throughout the 1990s. His earliest success came in the mid-1980s when he applied his hip hop rhythms to Shabba Ranks' hit single "Jam". His début single "Shoot to Kill" was successful in New York and he reached a wider audience with "Take It Easy", which became the title track of his début album in 1994. He later appeared, along with Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
, on Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop trio from Queens and Brooklyn, New York, that was formed in 1985. The group, consisting of Cheryl "Salt" Renee James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, and Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper, was one of the first all-female rap crews....
's 1997 album Brand New
Brand New (Salt-n-Pepa album)
Brand New is the fifth and final studio album by rap trio Salt-n-Pepa. It was released on October 21, 1997 by Red Ant Entertainment. Red Ant filed bankruptcy before the album was officially released. Salt-n-Pepa toured to support the album, despite the fact the album had no other promotion whatsoever...
. In 1997 he topped the US reggae chart with "Carpenter".
Launching his own label, Spinners Choice, Mad Lion was working on his debut album when he met and convinced KRS-One to work with him. The collaboration proved fruitful as Lion's single, "Shoot to Kill", sold more than 1,000,000 copies. His next single "Take It Easy", did even better, exceeding the 3,000,000 sale mark.
After releasing the album Real Ting in 1993, Mad Lion made countless guest appearances on such albums as The New Jersey Drive and D&D Project, compilations, and produced a tune for Born Jamericans
Born Jamericans
Born Jamericans was a reggae/hip hop duo formed in Washington, D.C., popular in the 1990s.The group comprised Norman "Notch" Howell and Edley "Shine" Payne. Notch's voice is smooth and melodic, while Shine's is rougher and tends more toward rapping...
. His second album Ghetto Gold & Platinum Respect was released in 1997. Three years later, his third album Predatah or Prey, which also included an interactive game, arrived.
He also appeared in the music video for Craig Mack
Craig Mack
Craig Mack is an American Grammy nominated rapper, who gained fame on Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Entertainment record label in the 1990s. Although his first single was released under the name MC EZ in 1988, he is best known for his 1994 hit single "Flava In Ya Ear", which was released under his real name...
feat. Notorious B.I.G., Rampage
Rampage (rapper)
Rampage, is an American rapper who is a member of the Flipmode Squad. He was born as Roger McNair in Brooklyn, New York City to Katherine McNair and Roger Williams...
, LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
and Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
- "Flava In Ya Ear
Flava in Ya Ear
"Flava in Ya Ear" is a single by Craig Mack. The original single was released first and the remix was followed soon after. It featured performances by labelmate The Notorious B.I.G. , Rampage, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes. It also contains Puff Daddy as a promoter and brief appearances by Keisha Epps...
".
Mad Lion's other collaborative projects consist of working with Puerto Rican producers DJ Playero, DJ Tony Touch, DJ Nico Canada & other Puerto Rican Reggaeton artists that were flourishing around 1996. Mad Lion was featured on a track in which he did a duet with Puerto Rican Reggaeton artist Mexicano 777 on the track titled "Guerreros" which was a Dancehall fused Hip-Hop track that was featured on the "Boricua Guerrero: First Combat" album produced by DJ Playero & DJ Nico Canada. Mad Lion also collaborated with Puerto Rican Reggaeton artist Rey Pirin on the track titled "Guerrillero Borincano" which was a gritty Hip-Hop track that was also featured on "Boricua Guerrero: First Combat". Not being the only Jamaican Dancehall artist to be featured on "Boricua Guerrero: First Combat", Mad Lion was joined by Jahdan & the Black Hearted Skavengerz who did a solo on a Reggaeton riddim titled "Many Many More", & the duo Curly Valentino & Demos Demarco made an appearance on the Hip-Hop track titled "Razor Sharp" with Mexicano 777. Mad Lion soon lent his rapping skills to that of the DJ Tony Touch & DJ Nico Canada produced mixtape titled "Guatauba", where he laid down a freestyle on a Reggaeton riddim. Again, Mad Lion was joined by other Jamaican Dancehall artists such as Mad Cobra, who did a freestyle on a Hip-Hop riddim, & The Black Hearted Skavengerz appeared doing a freestyle on a Reggaeton riddim.
Discography
- Take It Easy (1994), Nervous
- Real Ting (1994), Nervous
- Real Lover (1995), VPVP RecordsVP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
- Ghetto Gold and Platinum Respect (1997), Nervous
- Predatah Or Prey (2001), Warner Bros