Jesse West facts for kids

Jesse West (born December 4, 1967), also known by his stage name 3rd Eye, is an American rapper and record producer. He is famous for his work in the world of hip-hop. He was a key member of The Hitmen, a team of producers who created hit songs for Puff Daddy's famous music label, Bad Boy Records.

A record producer is like a director for a song. They help the artist shape the sound, music, and overall feel of a track to make it a hit.

A Pioneer in Hip-Hop

Jesse West, who was born Jesse Williams III in the South Bronx, New York, started his career in the late 1980s. He was one of the first rappers to sign with the legendary Motown Records, and he released his first album, "No Prisoners," in 1989.

After his own album, West became a go-to producer for many famous artists. He created hit songs for stars like GZA, Xzibit, Heavy D, and KRS-One. As one of the original "Hitmen" for Bad Boy Records, he played a huge role in shaping the sound of 90s hip-hop. He even recorded the first demo tape for the legendary rapper Biggie Smalls and produced remixes for Mary J. Blige's classic album, What's the 411?.

The Origin of "Bling"

Have you ever heard the word "bling" to describe shiny jewelry? Many people believe Jesse West, as the rapper 3rd Eye, was the first person to use it on a song. He said the word on Super Cat's 1993 hit "Dolly My Baby (Remix)." West produced this track, which also featured Puff Daddy and a young Biggie Smalls.

Jesse West is still active in the music world today, creating new tracks and producing for other artists.

Notable Work and Discography

Jesse West has a long history of creating music, both as a solo artist and as a producer for others. Here are some of his most important projects.

Solo Albums and Singles

Famous Production Credits

As a producer, Jesse West has worked with some of the biggest names in music. Here is a small selection of the well-known songs he helped create.

• 1991: "Come Do Me" by GZA
• 1992: "Slow Down" and "Silky" by Heavy D & The Boyz
• 1993: "Reminisce (Bad Boy Remix)" by Mary J. Blige
• 1994: "Jam Session" by Heavy D, Troo-Kula & Notorious B.I.G.
• 1997: "Step Into a World" by KRS-One
• 1998: "What U See Is What U Get" by Xzibit
• 2014: "Losing My Mind" by Pharoahe Monch

Famous Remixes

A remix is a new version of a song, often with a different beat or style. West was known for his creative remixes.

• 1993: "Dolly My Baby" by Super Cat (featuring 3rd Eye, Puff Daddy, and Biggie Smalls)
• 1993: "What's the 411" and "Reminisce" by Mary J. Blige

The Art of Sampling

In hip-hop, sampling is when a producer takes a small piece of an existing song and reuses it to create a new beat. Jesse West was skilled at this technique. Here are a few examples of songs he sampled from:

• For his song "For James," he used parts of "Funky Drummer" and "Soul Power" by James Brown.
• For his song "The Master," he sampled "Once in a Lifetime" by the Talking Heads and "Slave to the Rhythm" by Grace Jones.