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Kool Moe Dee

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Kool Moe Dee

Mohandas Dewese (born 1962), better known as Kool Moe Dee, is an American Hip Hop MC prominent in the late 1970s, throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. He was born in Manhattan, New York. He was one of the first rappers to earn a Grammy award and he was the first to perform at the Grammys. In addition to this he was also the first Hip Hop artist to receive the NAACP Image Award.

Early career

In the late 1970s, he met Special K and DJ Easy Lee. Kool Moe Dee joined with other rappers Special K and L.A. Sunshine as well as DJ Easy Lee to form the influential old school hip hop group the Treacherous Three. It is with The Treacherous Three that Kool Moe Dee performed his freestyle on-stage roast of old school party rapper Busy Bee Starski, a performance frequently cited as a pivotal moment in the development of the battle rap. In 1981, they moved to Sugar Hill Records along with another Enjoy act Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The Treacherous Three became well known for their singles Feel the Heart Beat and Whip It. They were featured in the 1984 film the breakdance cult-movie Beat Street performing the song Xmas Rap with Doug E Fresh, but disbanded shortly afterwards.

Solo career

In 1985 the Treacherous Three disbanded with each member pursuing solo careers. After leaving the group he attended college in NY and received a degree in communications. In 1986, Kool Moe Dee went solo, releasing a self-titled album, which ranked 83 on Billboard. He co-operated with the young producer Teddy Riley which contributed greatly to the New Jack Swing movement that would gain popularity in the years to follow. Kool Moe Dee released his second album, How Ya Like Me Now which was his most successful album commercially, achieving platinum status. He then went on to release his third album, Knowledge Is King in 1989, which went Gold. The single from this album, "I Go To Work" is considered by some to by the pinnacle of his work, with high speed delivery and superior lyrical content. He was chosen in 1990 to appear on Quincy Jones' album Back on the Block along with fellow rappers Melle Mel, Big Daddy Kane and Ice T. The album gained considerable critical and financial success and winning the 1991 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. In 1991 the release of his album Funke Funk Wisdom signaled his downfall and eventual decline. Moe Dee himself has stated that this was his worst album(1). He induced his release from Jive Records in 1992. After a two year lay off he released his greatest hits album which gained some of his former success and acclaim. In 1994 his album Interlude was released and failed to gain Moe Dee much of his former success on the mid 80's. In 1993 he re-united with his fellow ex members of the Treacherous Three to release the album Old Skool Flava on DJ EasyLee's record label Ichiban. His last commercially released was the single Love Love/What You Wanna Do which was released onSpoiled Brat Entertainment inc Kool Moe Dee was also known for his great butt sex. He never used lube, which made things better

Feud with LL Cool J

Main article: LL Cool J vs. Kool Moe Dee feud

Kool Moe Dee is perhaps most well known for his long running rivalry with fellow New York rapper LL Cool J, he, among other rappers such as MC Shan, claimed that LL had stolen their rap styles. He also felt that LL was disrespecting the reigning MCs at the time, himself, Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz by proclaiming that he was the greatest without paying due respects to those who came before him. He challenged LL on his platinum selling album How Ya Like Me Now on the single of the same name. He also took a shot at LL by appearing on his album cover with a jeep in the background with the wheel crushing one of LL's trademark red Kangol hats. The feud continued on with both MCs proclaiming themselves the victor.

Other appearances

Kool Moe Dee appeared on Will Smith's #1 pop hit "Wild Wild West" from Smith's 1999 motion picture, Wild Wild West, on which he re-performs the chorus to his 1988 single also named "Wild Wild West".

In 2003 he authored a book called There's A God On The Mic (ISBN 1-56025-533-1). The book breaks down his 50 favorite MCs in terms of originality, concepts, versatility, vocabulary, substance, flow, flavor, freestyle, vocal presence, live performance, poetic value, body of work, industry impact, social impact, longevity, lyrics and battle skills, where he ranked himself as number #5, ahead of MCs such as The GZA, and Tupac (ironically, he placed LL Cool J at #7, despite the past beef that the two had, even referring to him as an "unbreakable master").

In 2007 he appeared on the remix to Nas' "Where are They Now Remix", with fellow old school artists. On his Myspace page he has released some new tracks and a video to accompany one of the songs. He also appeared on the Ice T track 'Fight Club' and re-recorded several of his more popular songs.

In 2008 he took the job of hosting a new Hip Hop talk show called "SpitFire with Kool Mo Dee". The show contains discussion on issues relating to both Hip Hop culture and general issues that affect the world. Each show has a different panel of guests, including; Xzibit, Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, DMC and many others. The show is broadcasted on www.iamhiphop.com.

2009 Comeback

In a recent interview with www.houseofhiphop.nl, Kool Moe Dee stated that he would be releasing a new album in 2009. 'I will be the first oldschool artist in 2009 to have a very relevant record in stores. That’s right, Kool Moe Dee is coming out with a new album, for the first time in fifeen years! And I will be doing more albums in the future. That’s the paradigm shift right there. The next album is called Immortality, and it’s coming out in August. As far as production goes, I got some stuff from Teddy Riley, I’m also reaching out to Pharrel. I actually have some young guys that gave me some nice beats too. It’s as good as finished right now. It’s just a matter of what single I’m coming out with, and what direction I want to promote it in. Even with all the development and growth in hiphop I just described, I feel like we still don’t have grown man hiphop. I’m not going to be gangster, baller or player, it’s just going to be beats and rhymes. It will be interesting to see how people respond to everything, from the dresscode to what I’m actually talking about. I will be talking about topics from an older perspestive. Come on, I’m in my forties, haha! I’m not in a club behind the bar, you know? This is grown men stuff.' [1] He has also confirmed that he is releasing a new album in an interview with Davey D on 9th October where he stated that he has 'cracked what should be expected from a 40 plus MC' [2]

Acting career

Kool Moe Dee had a brief cameo appearance in the movie Wild Style and appeared in the film Beat Street with the Treacherous Three and Doug E. Fresh. Since then, he has appeared in a total of 17 Movies and TV shows as an actor and 21 as himself. He also had a role as a bartender in Crossraods with Britney Spears.

Trivia

  • Kool Moe Dee's Trademark sunglasses are Porsche 5620

Discography

Year Title Sales[3] Chart positions[4]
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip hop albums
1986 I'm Kool Moe Dee 83 23
1987 How Ya Like Me Now Platinum 35 4
1989 Knowledge Is King Gold 25 2
1991 Funke, Funke Wisdom – 72 19
1993 Greatest Hits – – –
1994 Interlude – – –
1995 Jive Collection Vol. 2 – – –
2009 TBA – – –

Appears On

  • The Isley Brothers "Come Together" on the album Spend the Night (Warner Bros - 1988)
  • Quincy Jones w/ Melle Mel & Big Daddy Kane & Ice T "Back On the Block" from the album Back On the Block (Qwest Records - 1989)
  • Quincy Jones w/ Ice T Big Daddy Kane "Jazz Corner of the World" from the album Back On the Block (Qwest Records - 1989)
  • Stop the Violence Movement "Self Destruction" (Jive/ RCA Records - 1989)
  • HEAL w/ various artists Civilization Vs. Technology (Elektra - 1991)
  • Zebrahead "Good Time" from the album Zebrahead Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Ruffhouse - 1992)
  • CB4 w/ Daddy-O & Hi-C "Rapper's Delight" CB4 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (MCA - 1993)
  • Regina Bell "Tango In Paris" from the album Passion (Columbia - 1993)
  • Babydol "I Want You Back" (Miracle - 1993)
  • "Keep It Real" from the album Raiders Of the Lost Art (Scotti Bros - 1994)
  • w/ Treacherous Three "Raiders Of the Lost Art" from the album Raiders Of the Lost Art (Scotti Bros - 1994)
  • Animaniacs Hip-Hopera Christmas (Rhino - 1997)
  • The Spinners "I'll Be Around" from the album At Their Best (Intersound - 1999)
  • "I Go To Work" from the album Bad Boy Bill's Vocal Mix" (Jive - 1999)
  • Will Smith w/ Dru Hill "Wild Wild West" from the album Willenium (Columbia - 1999)
  • Pablo "Next Level" (Howlin - 2003)
  • Nas w/ various artists "Where Are They Now (80's Remix)" (Ill Will Records - 2007)
  • Ice T "Darc Fight Club" EP also features "Revolution" 2009

References

  1. ^ http://www.houseofhiphop.nl/?action=VIEW_MORE&ID=147
  2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw-qqWNU8Og
  3. ^ "RIAA certification". RIAA. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  4. ^ "Albums chart history". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-11-18.


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