Junior M.A.F.I.A.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Junior M.A.F.I.A. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Genre(s) | Hip hop, rap | |
| Years active | 1995 - 2005 | |
| Label(s) | Bad Boy, Undeas, Atlantic Records | |
| Associated acts |
The Notorious B.I.G. Lil' Kim Lil' Cease |
|
| Former members | ||
| The Notorious B.I.G. Lil’ Cease Chico Nino Brown Larceny Trife MC Klepto Lil' Kim |
||
Junior M.A.F.I.A. (Junior Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes) were an American hip hop group from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY. They were formed and mentored by New York rapper, The Notorious B.I.G., in the early 1990s and released their debut album, Conspiracy in 1995.
The success of the group's singles, "Player's Anthem" and "Get Money" helped launch the career of Lil' Kim as a solo artist. The group became defunct in 1997 following the death of The Notorious B.I.G. In 2005 and 2006, three of the original members released the album Riot Musik and two DVDs under the Junior M.A.F.I.A. name.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Formation
Junior M.A.F.I.A. met as childhood friends of The Notorious B.I.G. All the members were under the age of twenty when the group was formed.
The group was comprised of two separate groups and two individual artists: the 6s, or 666, (Lil’ Caesar, Chico, and Nino Brown) who claim to know right from wrong and practice it, the Snakes (cousins Larceny and Trife) who represent the enraged attitude expressed in a large number of America’s youth, MC Klepto, who offered insight on a life of “boostin' and hustlin'” and 47 MC Lil' Kim (a.k.a Big Momma or The Lieutenant), the only female in the group, who showed the ghetto life from a woman’s point of view. The Notorious B.I.G. acted as the "godfather" to the group.[1] It has been written in King Magazine that he reached out to Nas and Foxy Brown to join the group. However, they both had plans to start the Firm.
[edit] Debut
The group released their debut album, Conspiracy, in 1995, under the NYC-based Big Beat Records and Undeas labels. The album was produced in a similar style to The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut, Ready to Die "successful[ly] [replicating]... the earlier record's strengths".[2] B.I.G. featured on four of the album’s tracks. The rhyme topics were hard-hitting, mostly addressing guns, money, and sex. The album featured production by DJ Clark Kent, EZ Elpee, Daddy-O, Akshun, and Special Ed. Conspiracy gained some positive reviews, but received criticism for some of its group members not showing enough individuality.[2] It debuted at number eight on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and was certified gold.
The lead single “Player’s Anthem”, produced by DJ Clark Kent, and featuring the Notorious B.I.G went gold. The accompanying video showed the group flying on helicopters and Learjets whilst carrying out business under F.B.I. surveillance. The album also spawned the popular top twenty hit, "Get Money", a duet featuring The Notorious B.I.G and Lil' Kim and its remix "Gettin' Money". The single was certified platinum and helped Kim to start her own solo career.[3] "I Need You Tonight" (featuring Aaliyah) was the only single released from the album which didn't feature The Notorious B.I.G. The music video featured the members and Aaliyah holding a house party at Kim's house while she was away.
[edit] Post-Conspiracy
After the death of the Notorious B.I.G. in 1997, the crew became defunct. In an interview with the Notorious B.I.G, which was conducted in 1995 but appeared in a 2003 issue of XXL Magazine, he claimed he was planning to retire from rap music in the year 2000 to manage the careers of Junior M.A.F.I.A. In May 2005, three of the previous seven members of the group, continuing to go by the name Junior M.A.F.I.A, released an album by the name of Riot Music (Mega Media). The album failed to match their previous success, reaching #61 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart.
[edit] Solo careers
Lil' Kim went on to become a successful artist in her own right, releasing four albums as a solo artist. The M.A.F.I.A. were referenced on her debut album, Hard Core, on the song "Realms of Junior M.A.F.I.A." and featured on "Fuck You". Kim collaborated with Lil' Cease on her single "Crush On You (Remix)". Lil' Cease's solo effort The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo was released in 1999 peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200. The lead single, "Play Around", featured Bristal, Lil' Kim and Puff Daddy and peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart.
[edit] Compilations and conflict
In 2004, The Best of Junior M.A.F.I.A (Cleopatra) was released, as well as a DVD titled Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A; a candid documentary dealing with the controversy and conspiracies surrounding The Notorious B.I.G and the Junior M.A.F.I.A. It included unreleased footage of studio sessions and home videos of life with the Notorious B.I.G. and his crew. The DVD release included a free mix-tape. A follow-up titled The Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A. Part II: Reloaded was scheduled to be released in 2005, but was halted when Lil' Kim filed a $6 million lawsuit against Lil’ Cease, claiming she never granted permission for her name and image to be used.[4]
Lil' Cease and Banger (formerly known as Larceny) testified against Lil' Kim during a perjury trial in 2006, which resulted in Kim being sent to jail.[5][6] Following the case, Kim labeled the pair "snitches" on her 2005 album The Naked Truth. On June 27, 2006 a second DVD titled Reality Check: Junior Mafia vs Lil Kim was released featuring the pair explaining their side of the story on the case.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- 1995: Conspiracy (US #8)
- 2004: The Best of Junior M.A.F.I.A.
- 2005: Riot Musik (US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums #68)
[edit] Singles
- 1995: "Player's Anthem" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.) (US #13)
- 1995: "I Need You Tonight" (featuring Aaliyah) (US Hot Rap Singles #12)
- 1996: "Get Money" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.) (US #17)
- 1996: "Gettin' Money (The Get Money Remix)" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.)
[edit] Filmography
- Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A. (2004)
- Reality Check: Junior Mafia vs Lil Kim (2006)
[edit] References
- ^ Conspiracy Tower Records. Retrieved on 12-16-06
- ^ a b Conspiracy > Overview allmusic. Retrieved on 12-16-06
- ^ Lane, Lynda Junior M.A.F.I.A. > Overview All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-03-11
- ^ Lil' Kim Hits Lil' Cease With $6 Million Suit MTV News 06-05-05. Retrieved on 12-18-06
- ^ Lil' Cease Says He's No Snitch for Testifying Against Kim MTV News 03-21-05. Retrieved on 12-16-06.
- ^ Metro Briefing | New York: Manhattan: Testimony Against Lil' Kim NY Times 03-08-05. Retrieved on 12-16-06.
[edit] External links
- Junior M.A.F.I.A. profile provided by hiponline.com
