Styles P

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Styles P

Background information
Birth name David Styles
Also known as Styles, Styles P, "P", Holiday Styles, S.P. The Ghost, Paniro, G-Host, The Phantom, Ya Favorite Rapper's Favorite Rapper, The Hardest Out,
Born November 28, 1974 (Age 33)
Origin Yonkers, New York
Genre(s) East Coast Hip Hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, Producer
Years active 1995 - present
Label(s) D-Block Records/Ruff Ryders/Koch Records
Associated acts Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, D-Block, Beanie Sigel, Ghostface Killah, DMX, Swizz Beatz, Supa Mario, Akon
Website Styles P MySpace page

David Styles (born November 28, 1974), better known as Styles P, is an American rapper. He was born to a Jamaican father and a South African mother. He is a member of Hip Hop group D-Block, which includes Jadakiss and Sheek Louch. He is known primarily for the hardcore lyrics and powerful messages in his music.


Contents

[edit] Music career

Born in Corona, Queens, and raised on Groshon Ave in Yonkers, Styles began rapping with Jadakiss and Sheek in 1994, as they all grew up in the same Yonkers, New York neighborhood. They eventually signed to Bad Boy Records, formed the rap group called "Lox" which stands for "Living Off Xperience", and recorded songs with Notorious B.I.G., Sean Combs and Darren Blackburn. In 1998, The Lox released Money, Power & Respect w/ the hit song "Money, Power, Respect" feat. fellow Bad Boy, "Lil Kim" and Ruff Ryder Earl "DMX" Simmons. Soon thereafter, Styles P led the LOX on the now infamous quest to leave Bad Boy Records. When they were finally released, the Lox signed to Interscope. Shortly thereafter, a new Lox album and Jadakiss' solo album Kiss Tha Game Goodbye were released.

Styles released A Gangster and a Gentleman in 2002, as his debut solo album. The album contained the song "The Life", featuring Pharoahe Monch which was originally recorded for Rawkus Records' Soundbombing 3 compilation album. The follow up hit was the song dedicated to marijuana use, "Good Times (I Get High)", which peaked at #22 in the US and was one of the most played songs of 2002[citation needed].

In 2003, Styles P. and Jadakiss appeared on the "Oz Soundtrack" with one of the harder edged songs "Some Niggas" about prison life. On a mixed album with several songs about the lifestyle behind bars, "Some Niggas" was one of the fiercest and most remembered songs on the street from that album[citation needed].

In 2004, Styles P. released the mixtape Ghost Stories in limited distribution form (NY only) -- the mixtape spread to other cities and onto the internet in the next year. He was featured on the hit song "Locked Up", by R&B artist Akon.

In 2005, Styles P. received local market airplay for his and Jadakiss' remix of Mariah Carey's mega-hit "We Belong Together", and on Miri Ben-Ari's album, The Hip-Hop Violinist; he features on the track "We Gonna Win". He released two stand-alone mixtapes in complete form: Ghost in the Shell in the spring of 2005 and Ghost in the Machine in the Fall.

Styles P. has been featured on many rappers' albums including Ghostface Killah, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Akon's albums. Styles is rumoured to appear on DMX's new album Walk With Me Now and You'll Fly With Me Later. He will also appear on the title track to The Roots' latest album, Rising Down. In adition, in 2008 Styles P. contributed vocals to the track 'I Like Music' by the Irish funk/soul band Republic of Loose. The track appears on the band's third album Vol IV: Johnny Pyro and the Dance of Evil.

[edit] Disputes

In 2001, Jadakiss implied in a Source Magazine interview that Philadelphia rappers were copying his style. Beanie Sigel of Roc-A-Fella fame took offense to this statement and the two released battle tracks aimed at each other. Styles along with the Lox released a freestyle dissing Beanie Siegel, Freeway, Jay-Z and the whole Roc-a-Fella.

Styles P., as a member of D-Block, is currently playing a leading role in D-Block's battle with 50 Cent. The origins and scope of the conflict are somewhat complex: In late 2004, Ja Rule, a rap artist with a history of feuds between himself and 50 Cent released an album entitled R.U.L.E.. A particular track on the album (New York) featured D-Block artist Jadakiss.

Trick-Trick the Detroit based rapper is known to have attacked Styles P when visited Detroit. Styles was "touched" by Trick's crew for evidently talking about the city in a manner Trick-Triick didn't appreciate.

50 Cent, claiming that he interpreted Jadakiss' presence on the R.U.L.E. album as a personal attack, responded by mildly -- albeit in a very widespread manner given the distribution of his album -- dissing Jadakiss in his 2005 album The Massacre on the track Piggy Bank.

Thus ensued a conflict between D-Block and G-Unit, into which Styles P. was rapidly drawn. Each of his mixtapes mentioned at the end of this article increasingly focus on the growing tension between the two groups of rappers -- indeed, the move from subliminal references to outright "disses" seems to have been completed by the fall of 2005 as evidenced by his most recent mixtape Ghost in the Machine, which features many tracks directly referring to 50 Cent, including an aptly named "Invite to 50" where 50 Cent is challenged to a physical confrontation. (Also "Snitching 101" and "Pussy Niggas" among others)

Outside of his own mixtapes, Styles P.'s best-known contributions to the conflict can be found in verses on the song "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye", featured on several mixtapes as well as the 2005 Sheek Louch album After Taxes and, most recently (February 2006), on the diss track "Ms Jackson", featured on the Sheek Louch mixtape Still A Wolf.

Styles recently had a phone conversation live on Hot 97 with 50 Cent that progressed into an awkward conversation that some perceive as them having made peace, while others viewed as being left unresolved.

Styles also recently addressed the situation regarding the departure of young rapper J-Hood from the D-Block stable. Styles calls J-Hood "small" & "fragile".

As of the week January 7, rumors are flooding the internet that J-Hood was stripped naked, beaten up, and robbed on camera in Yonkers. The video also demonstrates J-Hood being robbed of a necklace and watch. D-Block associates are the targeted group for this altercation. J-Hood is expected to speak on the incident in the near future.

[edit] Time is Money

The album has had its release date modified on more than one occasion: original release dates in the spring of 2005 were missed and scheduled releases within the summer months were similarly revised. Again, in the fall of 2005, the album was delayed from an October to a November date. Time is Money was finally released on December 19, 2006. [1].

The album's supposed lead single, "I'm Black" received a fair amount of radio play last year, as did the single "Can You Believe It" featuring Akon, for which a video was shot. The release boasts guest appearances by the late Gerald Levert, Akon, Jagged Edge, Jae Hood, Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius, Rashad, Talib Kweli and The Lox. The album's production will be handled by hit makers Scott Storch and Swizz Beatz among pussy ass others fuck darian reginald roberson.

[edit] Signing to Koch Records

In March 2007, Koch officially announced the signing of esteemed lyricist Styles P. In an Official Koch Statement it was written "KOCH Records is thrilled to announce the addition of Styles P to its burgeoning hip-hop roster". KOCH Records General Manager and Executive VP Alan Grunblatt added, “Styles is THE perfect KOCH Urban artist. He has a huge fanbase and is ready to go to the next level. We are absolutely thrilled to have him.” Styles P announced the deal during an interview on Angie Martinez’ show on New York’s Hot 97. Says Styles about this new venture, “I look forward to embarking on this exciting new phase of my career alongside KOCH Records, a company best known for their unyielding interest in supporting the vision of the artist. It feels good to be a part of a team that appreciates hip hop in its truest form. I am ecstatic about being in control of my own destiny.”

The much anticipated album "Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)" was released on December 4, 2007.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Solo Albums

[edit] The Lox

[edit] Other collaborations

[edit] Mixtapes

  • Fabio & Supa Mario - Ghost Stories: The World According To P
  • Randeezy & Supa Mario - Ghost Stories: The World According To P
  • Big Mike & Supa Mario - Ghost Stories: The World According To P
  • Big Mike & Supa Mario - Ghost In The Shell
  • Big Mike & Supa Mario - Ghost In The Machine
  • Big Mike & Poobs - The Phantom
  • Big Mike - The Phantom Menace
  • Pop-Off Productions & Styles P. - Rise Of The Phantom
  • DJ Diggz & DJ Rated R - Why I'm the Hardest"
  • Independence
  • The Ghost Sessions
  • DJ Drama & Don Cannon - The Ghost That Sat By The Door
  • Big Mike, Dj Thoro & Styles P. - Addicted To The Game Vol. 7
  • Big Mike, Dj Thoro & Styles P. - The Ghost That Should Leave The Game

[edit] Singles

Year Song (Top 100 Hot R&B Hot Rap UK Singles Album
2002 "Good Times" 22 6 8 - A Gangster & A Gentleman
2002 "The Life" (featuring Pharaohe Monch) - 66 - - A Gangster & A Gentleman
2002 "Jenny from the Block" (Jennifer Lopez featuring Jadakiss & Styles P) 3 - - 3 This is Me...Then
2004 "Locked Up [Remix]" (Akon featuring Styles P) 8 - - 5 Trouble
2005 "Can You Believe It" (featuring Akon) - 32 - - Time is Money
2005 "I'm Black" (featuring Marsha of Floetry) - 94 - - Time is Money
2006 "We Belong Together" [Remix]" (Mariah Carey featuring Jadakiss & Styles P) 1 1 1 3 The Emancipation of Mimi"
2006 "Who Want a Problem [Remix]" (featuring Swizz Beatz/Jadakiss/Sheek Louch) - - - - Time is Money
2007 "Blow Ya Mind" (featuring Swizz Beatz) - 51 19 - Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)

[edit] External links

v • d • e
D-Block
Members
Jadakiss • Sheek Louch • Styles P
Group albums
Jadakiss Albums
Styles P Albums
Sheek Louch albums
See also