Jadakiss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jadakiss
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Jadakiss in 2024
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| Birth name | Jason Terrance Phillips |
| Also known as | Montega Jada , Kiss Eastwood |
| 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 by his stage name Jadakiss, is a famous American rapper. He started his career in the 1990s. In 1994, he formed the hip hop group The Lox with his friends Styles P and Sheek Louch.
The Lox signed with Puff Daddy's record label, Bad Boy Records. Their first album, Money, Power & Respect (1998), was a big success. Their second album, We Are the Streets (2000), was released under a different label, Ruff Ryders Entertainment. Both albums were very popular and reached the top five on the Billboard 200 music chart. The group later released more successful albums with Jay-Z's company, Roc Nation.
After The Lox's second album, Jadakiss began a solo career. His first two albums, Kiss tha Game Goodbye (2001) and Kiss of Death (2004), were well-received. Kiss of Death even reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It included his most popular single, "Why?" featuring Anthony Hamilton. He continued to release hit albums, including The Last Kiss (2009) and Top 5 Dead or Alive (2015).
Contents
Early Life
Jason Terrance Phillips was born on May 27, 1975, in Yonkers, New York. He loved hip hop music from a young age. When he was 12, his parents encouraged him to earn his own money. He saw people freestyle rapping on street corners and decided to try it himself to earn money.
While freestyle rapping, he met his longtime friends Sheek Louch and Styles P. Together, the three friends would later form the famous hip-hop group, The Lox.
Music Career
As a young rapper, Phillips gained a small group of fans. At age 12, he entered a freestyle competition in Florida. His talent caught the attention of the owners of the music company Ruff Ryders. He, Styles, and Louch created a group called The Warlox and started rapping together.
They later met the singer Mary J. Blige, who was very impressed with their lyrics. She gave their demo tape to Puff Daddy, who signed them to his record label, Bad Boy.
1994–2000: The Lox
After signing with Bad Boy, Puff Daddy changed the group's name from The Warlox to The Lox. They first appeared on the Main Source album ... What You Think in 1994. Soon, they were writing and performing on hit songs with other Bad Boy artists like Puff Daddy, Mase, Mariah Carey, and The Notorious B.I.G.. Jadakiss became very close with The Notorious B.I.G., who became a mentor to him.
After The Notorious B.I.G.'s death in 1997, The Lox's first hit song was a tribute to him called "We'll Always Love Big Poppa." This song became very popular and helped them start writing more of their own music. In 1998, they released their first album, Money, Power & Respect. It was a huge success, reaching number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Even though the album was successful, The Lox felt that the pop-friendly style of Bad Boy Records didn't match their own street style. They decided to leave the label and sign with Ruff Ryders. In 2000, they released their second album, We Are the Streets. It was another hit, featuring production from famous producers like Swizz Beatz and Timbaland.
2001–2007: Going Solo
In 2001, Jadakiss launched his solo career. His first album, Kiss tha Game Goodbye, was released in August 2001. It featured famous artists like DJ Premier, DMX, and Snoop Dogg. The album sold over 200,000 copies in its first week. Jadakiss later said he made the album to fulfill his contract, not because he was inspired.
His second solo album, Kiss of Death, came out in June 2004. This album was a huge success with both fans and critics. It featured guest artists like Eminem, Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams. The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
One of the album's songs, "Why?", became one of the biggest hits of the year. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song caused some controversy because of a lyric where Jadakiss questioned if President George W. Bush was connected to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Jadakiss said the line was meant to make people think. Some radio stations banned the song or played a censored version.
In 2007, Jadakiss signed with Jay-Z's record label, Roc-A-Fella Records. This was a big move that Jay-Z had wanted for a long time.
2009–2015: More Successful Albums
In 2009, Jadakiss released his third album, The Last Kiss. It featured popular singles like "By My Side" with Ne-Yo and "Who's Real" with Swizz Beatz and OJ Da Juiceman.
On June 4, 2013, Jadakiss released the first single from his next album, Top 5 Dead or Alive. The album came out on November 20, 2015. It included guest appearances from many famous artists, such as Akon, Future, Jeezy, and Nas. The album was another success, debuting at number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.
2016–Present: Reunions and New Projects
In 2016, The Lox reunited to release their first album in 16 years, titled "Filthy America…It's Beautiful." The album was well-received by fans.
In 2017, Jadakiss teamed up with fellow rapper Fabolous for a joint album called Friday on Elm Street. The album was released on November 24, 2017, and featured artists like Future, Jeezy, and French Montana.
Jadakiss released his fifth solo album, Ignatius, on March 6, 2020. Later that year, he participated in a popular online music battle series called Verzuz, where he competed against Fabolous and won.
The following year, Jadakiss and The Lox competed in another Verzuz battle against the group The Diplomats (DipSet). The event was held live at Madison Square Garden. The Lox's performance was seen as a clear victory. Jadakiss's freestyle over The Notorious B.I.G.'s song "Who Shot Ya?" was a standout moment. After the win, he was nicknamed "Mr. Verzuz" for being the first artist to win two battles.
Business Ventures
Jadakiss is also a successful businessman. He co-founded an online media company called SoRaspy. The company includes a record label, a clothing line, and a YouTube channel.
He also gives back to his community. In 2014, Jadakiss and his friend Styles P opened a juice bar in their hometown of Yonkers, New York, called Juices For Life. They have since opened more locations in The Bronx and Brooklyn.
In October 2022, Jadakiss started a family coffee company called Kiss Café with his father and son.
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
In Spanish: Jadakiss para niños
- The Lox
- Ruff Ryders
