Jadakiss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jadakiss
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Jadakiss in 2024
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jason Terrance Phillips |
| Also known as | Montega Jada |
| Born | May 27, 1975 Yonkers, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | East Coast hip-hop |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
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Jason Terrance Phillips (born May 27, 1975), known as Jadakiss (jay-DUH-kiss), is an American rapper. He is from Yonkers, New York. He started his music journey in the 1990s.
Jadakiss is a member of the hip hop group The Lox. He formed the group in 1994 with his friends Styles P and Sheek Louch. The Lox signed with Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records. They released their first album, Money, Power & Respect, in 1998. Their second album, We Are the Streets, came out in 2000. Both albums were very popular and received good reviews.
After The Lox's second album, Jadakiss started his solo career. He released his first two solo albums, Kiss tha Game Goodbye (2001) and Kiss of Death (2004). Kiss of Death was a huge success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It also featured his most famous song, "Why?" (with Anthony Hamilton).
Jadakiss has released several other successful albums. These include The Last Kiss (2009) and Top 5 Dead or Alive (2015). He also released a joint album, Friday on Elm Street (2017), with rapper Fabolous. His fifth solo album, Ignatius, came out in 2020.
Contents
Early Life
Jadakiss was born on May 27, 1975, in Yonkers, New York. He loved hip hop from a young age. When he was 12, he started rapping for money. He would freestyle, which means making up rhymes on the spot. While freestyling, he met his friends Sheek Louch and Styles P.
Career Highlights
Jason Phillips quickly gained fans in the underground music scene. At age 12, he entered a freestyle competition in Florida. There, he caught the attention of the owners of Ruff Ryders. He formed a group called The Warlox with Styles and Louch.
They later met singer Mary J. Blige. She was impressed by their lyrics. She gave their demo tape to Puff Daddy. He then signed the group to his label, Bad Boy. Phillips first used the name J. Ski. The name "Jadakiss" came from a playful mispronunciation of his name.
The Lox's Early Success (1994–2000)
After signing with Bad Boy, Puff Daddy shortened the group's name to The Lox. They quickly began writing and performing on hit songs for other artists. These included Puff Daddy, Mase, Mariah Carey, and Mary J. Blige. They also worked closely with The Notorious B.I.G.. Jadakiss especially learned a lot from him.
The Lox's first big hit was a tribute song. It was for The Notorious B.I.G. after he passed away in 1997. The song was called "We'll Always Love Big Poppa." It was very popular and sold many copies. This success helped them release their own music.
In 1998, The Lox released their first album, Money, Power & Respect. The album was a big hit. It reached number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. It also went platinum, meaning it sold over a million copies. However, The Lox felt that Bad Boy's music style was too pop-friendly. They wanted a grittier, more street-focused sound. So, they left Bad Boy and signed with Ruff Ryders.
They released their second album, We Are The Streets, in 2000 through Ruff Ryders. This album was also very successful. It reached number 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Jadakiss's Solo Journey (2001–2007)
Jadakiss started his solo career in 2001. His first album, Kiss Tha Game Goodbye, came out in August 2001. It was released on the Ruff Ryders/Interscope label. The album featured many popular artists and producers. It sold well, becoming certified gold. This means it sold over 500,000 copies. Some critics felt the album was a bit repetitive. Jadakiss later said he made it quickly to fulfill his record deal. The album had three singles: "We Gonna Make It", "Knock Yourself Out", and "Put Ya Hands Up".
He followed this with Kiss of Death in June 2004. This album had guest appearances from many famous artists. These included Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Kanye West. His song "Why?", featuring Anthony Hamilton, became one of the year's biggest hits. It reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Another single, "U Make Me Wanna" with Mariah Carey, reached number 21.
Kiss of Death was a big success. It received better reviews than his first album. It debuted at number 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums charts. In late 2007, Jadakiss signed with Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records.
New Albums and Collaborations (2009–2015)
In 2009, Jadakiss released his third album, The Last Kiss. The first single, "By My Side" featuring Ne-Yo, came out in October 2008. Other singles included "Can't Stop Me" and "Death Wish" with Lil Wayne. In 2010, Jadakiss left Roc-A-Fella records.
In 2011, he was featured on two songs by DJ Khaled. One was "It Ain't Over Til It's Over" with Mary J. Blige and Fabolous. The other was a remix of "Welcome to My Hood" with many other rappers. On April 26, 2012, Jadakiss released a mixtape called Consignment.
On June 4, 2013, Jadakiss released "Big Boy Dialogue". This was the first single from his fourth album, Top 5, Dead or Alive. The album was released on November 20, 2015, after some delays. It featured many guest artists like Akon, Future, Nas, and Wiz Khalifa. The album reached number 4 on the Billboard 200 and received good reviews.
The Lox Reunion and Recent Success (2016–Present)
In 2016, The Lox released their first album in 16 years. It was called "Filthy America…It's Beautiful". The album featured Fetty Wap and Gucci Mane. It reached number 42 on the Billboard 200.
On February 29, 2016, Fabolous hinted at a joint project with Jadakiss. It was first called Freddy vs. Jason. They released a freestyle together. On October 31, 2017, they released the single "Stand Up" featuring Future. The album title was changed to Friday on Elm Street. It was released on November 24, 2017.
On March 6, 2020, Jadakiss released his fifth solo album, Ignatius. Later that year, Jadakiss won a "Verzuz" battle against Fabolous. "Verzuz" is a popular online music battle series. The following year, Jadakiss and The Lox battled The Diplomats (DipSet) live at Madison Square Garden. The Lox were widely seen as the winners. Jadakiss's performance was especially praised.
After their victory, streams of The Lox's music increased a lot. Jadakiss was even called "Mr. Verzuz" for winning two battles. He was also able to get a better contract with his record label, Def Jam. A year after the battle, Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch received special championship rings for their success.
Business Ventures
Jadakiss is also a smart businessman. With his friend Jay Jackson, he started SoRaspy. This is an online company that includes a publication, a record label, and a YouTube channel.
Jadakiss and Styles P also opened juice bars. They wanted to help their community. In 2014, they opened "Juices For Life" in Yonkers, New York. They have since opened two more locations in The Bronx and one in Brooklyn.
In October 2022, Jadakiss launched a coffee company. It is called Kiss Café. He started it with his father and son, making it a family business.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Kiss tha Game Goodbye (2001)
- Kiss of Death (2004)
- The Last Kiss (2009)
- Top 5 Dead or Alive (2015)
- Ignatius (2020)
Collaboration Albums
- Friday on Elm Street (with Fabolous) (2017)
See also
- The Lox
- Ruff Ryders
