Last Emperor (rapper)
Encyclopedia
The Last Emperor is the recording name of Jamal Gray, Philadelphia-born hip-hop artist. Gray took his stage name from the Bernardo Bertolucci
film epic of the same name (The Last Emperor
). He attended and graduated Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)
then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science/International Relations from Lincoln University
.
He moved to New York and began performing at open mic nights. The Last Emperor was featured in a verse on KRS-One
's "C.I.A. (Criminals in Action)" with Zack De La Rocha
. Two years after moving to New York he was signed to Aftermath Entertainment
, and became a protégé of Dr. Dre
. In 2003 it was announced that The Last Emperor had signed to Rawkus Records. A few singles were released in a period of 6 months, but the label unexpectedly stopped releasing any music. The Last Emperor then formed Red Planet Music to release his debut album, Music, Magic, Myth. Red Planet's releases are distributed by Raptivism.
He has opened for such acts as the former Def Squad
(Redman, EPMD
, Das EFX
and K-Solo
), Common
, The Roots
, and KRS-One
. He has performed at the Lyricist Lounge. He’s traveled around the world performing in places like Denmark (Roskilde Festival
), London (Jam in the Park), and Norway (Quart Festival
). He also appeared as the guest MC for the Gorillaz
.
The Last Emperor released his debut album Music, Magic, Myth (Palace of the Pretender in Europe) in 2003. A single, "Black Apache", was released on Red Planet in September 2006.
The Last Emperor's new upcoming album is titled 'Wizards Wardrobe', a music video for the first single "Fine Art" was released 27 June 2010.
Mixtapes
Singles
Bernardo Bertolucci
Bernardo Bertolucci is an Italian film director and screenwriter, whose films include The Conformist, Last Tango in Paris, 1900, The Last Emperor and The Dreamers...
film epic of the same name (The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor is a 1987 biopic about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, whose autobiography was the basis for the screenplay written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci. Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was directed by Bertolucci and released in 1987 by Columbia Pictures...
). He attended and graduated Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)
Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)
Overbrook High School is an inner-city, public, four-year secondary school in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-School:...
then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science/International Relations from Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...
.
He moved to New York and began performing at open mic nights. The Last Emperor was featured in a verse on KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
's "C.I.A. (Criminals in Action)" with Zack De La Rocha
Zack de la Rocha
Zacarías Manuel "Zack" de la Rocha is an American rapper, musician, poet, and activist best known as the vocalist and lyricist of Rage Against the Machine.-Early life and childhood:...
. Two years after moving to New York he was signed to Aftermath Entertainment
Aftermath Entertainment
Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by Dr. Dre. It operates as a subsidiary of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records. Current acts include Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent and Slim da Mobster, with former acts including Busta Rhymes, Game, Raekwon,...
, and became a protégé of Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
. In 2003 it was announced that The Last Emperor had signed to Rawkus Records. A few singles were released in a period of 6 months, but the label unexpectedly stopped releasing any music. The Last Emperor then formed Red Planet Music to release his debut album, Music, Magic, Myth. Red Planet's releases are distributed by Raptivism.
He has opened for such acts as the former Def Squad
Def Squad
Def Squad is a rap supergroup consisting of Erick Sermon, Redman & Keith Murray. Mally G is considered an honorary member of the Def Squad. Before officially forming as a group to release an album in 1998, they had each been featured on tracks by each other...
(Redman, EPMD
EPMD
EPMD is an American hip hop group from Brentwood, New York. The group's name is a concatenation of the members' name "E" and "PMD" or an acronym for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars", referencing its members, emcees Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith...
, Das EFX
Das EFX
Das EFX is an American hip hop duo. It consists of emcees Skoob and Dray...
and K-Solo
K-Solo
K-Solo is an American rapper from Central Islip, New York who, along with EPMD, Redman, Das EFX, and Keith Murray, was part of the Hit Squad in 1990s.-Late years:...
), Common
Common (rapper)
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....
, The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
, and KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
. He has performed at the Lyricist Lounge. He’s traveled around the world performing in places like Denmark (Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the six biggest annual music festivals in Europe . It was created in 1971 by two high school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, and promoter Carl Fischer...
), London (Jam in the Park), and Norway (Quart Festival
Quart Festival
The Quart Festival was an annual popular music festival that took place in Kristiansand, Norway in the beginning of July. It was the most visited music festival in Norway....
). He also appeared as the guest MC for the Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
.
The Last Emperor released his debut album Music, Magic, Myth (Palace of the Pretender in Europe) in 2003. A single, "Black Apache", was released on Red Planet in September 2006.
The Last Emperor's new upcoming album is titled 'Wizards Wardrobe', a music video for the first single "Fine Art" was released 27 June 2010.
Discography
Albums- 2000: The Legend of Bigfoot (Unofficial, internet leak of early demos)
- 2003: Music, Magic, Myth
- 2003: Palace of the Pretender (European release of Music, Magic, Myth)
Mixtapes
- 2006: Hidden Treasures
- 2009: Science Team...Go!
Singles
- 1997: Bums / Monumental / Secret Wars Part 1
- 1999: Echo Leader / Charlie / Rap Tyranny
- 2000: Fo'rel / Heavyweight Invincible / The Dozen
- 2001: The Banger / The Umph
- 2003: Who’s That / Prisoner
- 2003: Secret Wars Part 2 / Some Love, Some Hate
- 2003: Here We Are
- 2006: Black Apache / Gangsta Groove
- 2010: Fine Art
- 2011: Pots and Pans