Biography

Kiss formed the rap group the Warlox in 1994 with friends Jamaal, Sheek Louch, and Styles P. The group signed to Bad Boy Entertainment later on, where it was suggested they change their name simply to the LOX, which came to stand for Living Off eXperience. They made their first appearance on The Main Source's 1994 LP "Fuck What You Think" on the track "Set it Off".

The group, especially Jadakiss, developed a close relationship with The Notorious B.I.G., during which time Jadakiss was taken under B.I.G.'s wing. Thus, after Biggie's shooting death, the group released their first multi-platinum hit in the tribute "We'll Always Love Big Poppa" (the B-side to Puff Daddy's "I'll Be Missing You") in 1997. In 1998, the LOX released Money, Power, Respect. Following this album, they left Bad Boy Records

Jada's debut solo album, Kiss the Game Goodbye, was released in August of 2001 under the Ruff Ryders/Interscope label. The album featured popular guests and producers such as Snoop Dogg and Swizz Beatz, but was written off as repetitive and uninspired. Jadakiss has acknowledged the criticism as, generally speaking, valid, saying the record was done less out of inspiration and more out of contract obligations to Bad Boy. The album produced the single "Put Ya Hands Up" with the chorus "Put ya hands up/nah, f**k it/ Put ya hands down" reflecting Jada's distance from the album.

His second album, Kiss of Death, was released in June of 2004. Before the release, Kiss asked advice of his fans in the form a poll; most claimed the rapper wasn't personal enough in his lyrical stylings, and he released a single with the purpose of bearing his inner thoughts. The song, "Why?", became one of the biggest hits of that year, spawning a remix featuring Styles P, Common, Nas, and Anthony Hamilton. Another single from the record, "You Make Me Wanna" featured Mariah Carey and was a much more commercially driven love song. Kiss of Death did not reflect the popularity of its lead single, but it was better-received than his first effort, eventually achieving platinum-selling status.

Recently, in late 2007, Jadakiss signed to Jay-Z's Roc-a-Fella Records, a move Jay had been trying to arrange for a long period of time. He reportedly will have an as-yet-untitled album on Roc-a-Fella in 2008, executive produced by both Jay-Z and the Ruff Ryders CEOs/management team of Dee and Wah. The move comes on the heels of increased D-Block/Roc-a-Fella collaborations; in 2006, Kiss and former rival Beanie Sigel collaborated on DJ Khaled's album Listen..., and in 2007, on Freeway's album Free At Last, while Styles P has appeared on a radio freestyle with Freeway and Sigel, as well as on Ghostface Killah's album The Big Doe Rehab with Beanie Sigel on the track "Barrel Brothers." He has also appeared briefly in Jay-Z's latest video for his American Gangster second single, Roc Boys, in which he appears throwing up the famous Roc-a-Fella sign, the Diamond Cutter.

Controversy

Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z

In the early 2000s, Jadakiss was drawn into a beef with Roc-a-Fella Records artist Beanie Sigel when he made comments about artists from Sigel's hometown of Philadelphia. "Beans", as many refer to him, took exception to this and the two began trading disses, even getting the rest of the LOX and Jay-Z involved.

Eventually, Jay-Z apologized to Jada and backed out of the beef; Russell Simmons created an enforced truce between the two artists, which was broken when Sigel started contesting that he won the beef. Kiss dissed back, and the beef was back on until the 2002 Powerhouse Concert, In Philadelphia, where they battled each other (note: they were not on stage at the same time, they each did a verse during there set) still with no clear winner. Shortly before Beans went to jail, he and Kiss made up definitively, performing together at a show; after his release from jail, the two did a remix of a Sheek Louch song and appeared on a track on DJ Khaled's album. Jadakiss recently joined Jay-Z on stage and was introduced as the newest member of Roc-A-Fella. The Lox have also recently stated in interviews that they have signed to Def Jam.

Ras Kass

When Ras Kass was recording his album Van Gogh, he enlisted the help of infamous hip-hop producer The Alchemist. Ras Kass recorded the song "Home Sweet Home," produced by The Alchemist. However, when Jadakiss began recording Kiss Tha Game Goodbye, the Alchemist sold Jadakiss the same beat that Ras Kass had already used to record his single, "Home Sweet Home." Priority Records, Ras Kass' then record label, failed to act on this conflict and Jadakiss was able to release the Kiss Tha Game Goodbye album. Ras Kass was bitter about being double-crossed by the Alchemist, and released a few diss tracks, but the conflict ended quickly.

P. Diddy

When they left Bad Boy Records, the group's and each of its members' publishing was still owned by label head P. Diddy. The group fought with him over royalties, debt issues and other things until 2005 when they briefly put their differences aside to perform with Jay-Z at his I Declare War concert. Afterward, they went on New York radio station Hot 97 to ask for their publishing, which was given to them by Diddy.

50 Cent

In 2004, Jadakiss along with Fat Joe was featured in Ja Rule's "New York" anthem. In this song, Ja Rule took subliminal but obvious shots at 50 Cent. In turn, 50 Cent made a song titled "Piggy Bank" in which he disses Fat Joe and Jadakiss. This caused Jadakiss to release Checkmate and Ms. Jackson. 50 Cent responded on with the song I Run NY. The differences between Jadakiss and 50 Cent remain unresolved.

Bill O'Reilly

Jadakiss attracted some controversy and condemnation from well-known commentator Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly labeled him a "smear merchant" due to the song "Why?", specifically lyrics stating Jada's belief that George W. Bush coordinated the September 11, 2001 attacks:

"Why do niggas push pounds of powder? Why did Bush knock down the towers?"

In the music video for "Why", you can see a man with a picket sign reading "BUCK FUSH" which obviously stands for "FUCK BUSH"

O'Reilly took the position that the President should be allowed to sue Jadakiss for slander. The track was eventually banned on some radio stations or played with the lyrics in question censored.

Discography

Solo

• 2001: Kiss tha Game Goodbye
• 2004: Kiss of Death

D-Block(The LOX)

• 1998: Money, Power & Respect
• 2000: We Are the Streets

Solo singles