A+ (rapper)

A+
Birth name Andre Levins
Also known as A+, Young Plus
Born (1981-08-29) August 29, 1981
Origin Hempstead, New York, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Years active 1996–present
Labels Kedar Entertainment
Universal Records, Motown Records
Website myspace.com/youngplus

Andre Levins, also known as A+ (born August 29, 1981,[1] Hempstead, New York) is an American rapper. As a teenager he released albums in 1996 and in 1999.

Career

A+ began his music career in 1995, after winning a national talent competition sponsored by Def Jam Records.[2] He was the first act signed to Kedar Massenburg's record label, Kedar Entertainment.[2] According to Massenburg, the A+ moniker "means that he's striving for perfection, and he's not really talking about the same things as other young rappers."[2] In 1996, at the age of 14, A+ released his first album, The Latch-Key Child, which featured contributions from AZ, Mobb Deep and Q-Tip.[3] "All I See" was chosen as the lead single,[2] and it peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[4] staying for 14 weeks.[5]

His second and final album, Hempstead High, was released on March 23, 1999.[6] Guest appearances on the album included DeBarge, the Lost Boyz and Canibus.[6][7] The single "Enjoy Yourself", which sampled the 1976 Walter Murphy song "A Fifth of Beethoven,"[8] reached the top five of the UK Singles Chart,[9] number 63 of the U.S. Hot 100[4] for three weeks,[5] and was also commercially successful in Germany and Japan.[7]

Discography

Albums

Year Album Peak chart positions[10]
US Hip-Hop Heatseekers
1996 The Latch-Key Child 36 17
1999 Hempstead High 60 19

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions
AUS AUT BEL FRA GER NLD NOR NZ SWE SWI UK[9] US[4] US R&B[4]
1996 "All I See"
66
29
1999 "Enjoy Yourself"
26
25
5
27
30
4
6
8
19
19
5
63
50
1999 "It's On You"
1999 "Bet She Don't Love You (feat. Joe)"
88
2009 "Who Stole Hip-Hop"
2012 "I'm Right Here"

References

  1. Mills, Brad. "A+ - Biography". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hopkins, Tracy (1996-06-08). "A+ is a Perfect Score for Kedar". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 108 (23): 19. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  3. Mills, Brad. "Latch-Key Child - Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "A+ - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  5. 1 2 Top Pop Singles 1955-1999. Joel Whitburn. 2000. Record Research Inc. p. 3. ISBN 0-89820-139-X
  6. 1 2 Conaway, Matt. "Hempstead High - Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  7. 1 2 Nathan, David (1998-12-19). "A+ Makes Grade at Hempstead". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 110 (51): 23. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  8. Kim, Hyun (February 1999). "Revolutions". Vibe. Time Inc. 7 (1): 139. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  9. 1 2 "'Enjoy Yourself' - Chart history". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  10. "A+ - Charts & Awards - Billboard Albums". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-20.
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