Jesse West, aka 3rd Eye is a producer/rapper. Born Jesse Williams III on December 4, 1967 in the South Bronx

South Bronx

The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....

, New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

, Jesse grew up in the Bronx River Projects, where the Master/Teacher DJ Afrika Bambaataa

Afrika Bambaataa

Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal...

 founded the Universal Zulu Nation

Universal Zulu Nation

|rightThe Universal Zulu Nation is an international hip hop awareness group formed and headed by hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. Originally known simply as the Organization, it arose in the 1970s as reformed New York City gang members began to organize cultural events for youths, combining local...

.

History

Jesse West was one of the first rappers signed to Motown Records

Motown Records

Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...

 and in 1989, released the album "No Prisoners". He then went on to produce hit songs with many artists including GZA

GZA

Gary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...

, Xzibit

Xzibit

Alvin Nathaniel Joiner , better known by his stage name Xzibit , is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He is known as the host of the MTV show Pimp My Ride, which brought him mainstream success...

, Heavy D and KRS-One

KRS-One

Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...

 among others. One of Bad Boy Records

Bad Boy Records

Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:...

' original "Hitmen", West recorded Biggie Smalls first demo as well as produced remixes for songs on Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige

Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...

's album, What's the 411?

What's the 411?

What's the 411? is the debut album by American recording artist Mary J. Blige, released July 28, 1992. Upon being signed to Uptown Records, she began working with record producer Puff Daddy. The album spawned six singles, including "You Remind Me" and "Real Love".What's the 411? peaked at number...

.

As rapper 3rd Eye, it has been argued that Jesse West was the first rapper to use the term "bling" on Super Cat

Super 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...

's 1993 hit "Dolly My Baby (Remix)" - a song that West produced, and also featured Puff Daddy and a young Biggie Smalls in his record debut.

Jesse West continues to create tracks and produce music for artists.

Discography

Solo Albums

Year	Song/Album	Label
1989	No Prisoners	Motown
1997	360° (single)	Sure Shot Records
1998	24/7 (single feat. NINE)	Loud Records
1999	Planets	DeClic & Alpha Entertainment

Production Credits

Year	Song	Artist	Album/Label
1988	"Come Do Me"	GZA	Words From A Genius/Cold Chillin' Records
1992	"Slow Down", "Silky", "A Bunch of Niggas"	Heavy D & The Boys/Uptown	Blue Funk/Uptown
1993	"Ease Up"	3rd Eye & Group Home	Who's The Man (soundtrack)/Uptown
1994	"What", "You Know My Name"	Top Quality	Magnum Opus/PMD Records
1994	"No Shorts and No Sleep"	PMD	Shade Business/PMD Records
1996	"Exclusive Debut"	Ill Biskits	Chronicles of Two Losers/Atlantic
1996	"Richman, Poorman"	Nine	Cloud 9/Profile Records
1997	"Step Into A World"	KRS-One	I Got Next/Jive Records
1998	"What U See Is What U Get"	Xzibit	40 Dayz & 40 Nightz/Loud Records
2001	"Supreme Alphabet"	Positive K	Creative Control Records
2004	"Lyrical High"	3rd Eye & Zone 7	Hit Squad-Zero Tolerance/Boondox Records
2006	(entire album)	Beans 'N' Apples	Come Fuk Wit Us/GLOK
2010	(3 tracks)	Krs-One & Greenie	"It's All Good"/Azoos

Remixes

Year	Song	Artist(s)	Label
1993	"Dolly My Baby"	Super Cat w/ 3rd Eye, Puff Daddy, Biggie Smalls, Mary J. Blige Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...	Columbia Records
1993	"What's the 411"	Mary J. Blige	Uptown Records
1993	"Reminisce"	Mary J. Blige	Uptown Records

External links

• Jesse West at MySpace
  MySpace
  Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....