Music career

Born in Corona, Queens, and raised on Groshon Ave in Yonkers, Styles began rapping with Jadakiss, Kasaan 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 "THE 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)", one of the most played songs of 2002.

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.

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 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.

The Phantom is getting ready to release his newest album on December 4th, 2007 titled "Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)". This is his best work to date in an already outstanding library of work.

Styles P has been featured on many rappers' albums including Ghostface Killah, Jadakiss and Akon. Styles is rumoured to appear on DMX's new album The Resurrection Of Hip-Hop.

Styles opened up about the loss of his younger brother in the song "My Brother", one of Styles most emotionally filled creation.

His main inspiration for his work is his younger cousin, Steve Caruso

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.

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 depature young rapper J-Hood from the D-Block stable.

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 19th, 2006. .

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 others.

Signing to Koch Records

In March of 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 along side 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)" is due out Dec. 4, 2007.

Discography

Solo Albums

• A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002) Certified: Gold
• Time Is Money (2006)
• Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman (December 4, 2007)

The Lox/D-Block

• Money, Power & Respect (1998)
• We Are The Streets (2000)
• Live, Suffer, Celebrate (2007/2008)

Mixtapes

• 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
• Dj Drama - The Ghost Who Sat By The Door
• Big Mike & Poobs - The Phantom
• Big Mike - The Phantom Menace
• Independance
• The Ghost Sessions

Singles

Featured appearances

• Watch Out -- DJ Khaled (ft. Akon, Styles P, Fat Joe)
• It's Personal -- DMX (ft. Styles P, Jadakiss)
• Locked Up {Remix} -- Akon (ft. Styles P)
• Don Status -- Guru (ft. Styles P.)
• In The Ghetto -- Bronz N Blak (ft. Styles P)
• I'm Not You -- Clipse (ft. Roscoe P. Coldchain, Jadakiss, Styles P)
• Metal Lungies -- Ghostface Killah (ft. Styles P. & Sheek Louch)
• Comrade's Call -- M-1 (ft. Styles P. & Bazaar Royale)
• Shotgun Session -- Fat Joe & Styles P.
• D-Block 2 QB -- Alchemist ft. Styles P. Havoc, Big Noyd & J-Hood
• Keep It Gangsta (Remix) -- Fabolous (ft. Styles P., Paul Cain, Jadakiss & M.O.P.)
• Knocking Heads Off -- Lil Jon (ft. Jadakiss, Styles P)
• Karaoke Nite - Jin ft. Styles P.
• Wise Guys - Statik Selektah ft. Nas, Styles P. & Scram Jones
• Jenny From The Block -- Jennifer Lopez (ft. Styles P and Jadakiss)
• We Belong Together (Remix) -- Mariah Carey (ft. Styles P And Jadkiss)
• Can't You See -- Lemar (ft. Styles P and Mica Paris)
• Banned From TV -- Noreaga (ft. Cam'ron, Styles P., Jadakiss, Big Pun & Nature)
• We Gonna Win -- Miri Ben-Ari (ft. Styles P)
• Ghetto Love Remix - Angie Stone ft. Styles P.
• Just Another Day -- Obie Trice & Styles P.
• Raised With Them Gangstas -- Papoose (ft. The LOX, Black Rob & McGruff)
• Shot Down -- DMX (ft. 50 Cent and Styles P)
• Blown Away -- Akon (ft. Styles P)
• Bang Bang -- Krumbsnatcha (ft. Styles P.)
• Push It Remix -- Rick Ross ft. Bun B. Jadakiss, Styles P. & The Game
• One Blood (Remix) The Game (ft. Jim Jones, Snoop Dogg, Nas, T.I., Fat Joe, Lil Wayne, N.O.R.E., Jadakiss, Styles P, Fabolous, Juelz Santana, Rick Ross, Twista, Kurupt, Daz, WC, E-40, Bun B, Chamillionaire, Slim Thug, Young Dro, Clipse and Ja Rule.
• Pop That Cannon -- Cassidy (ft. Styles P)
• Ruff Ryders All-Star Freestyle -- Ruff Ryders (ft. Cassidy, J-Hood, Styles P)
• Ya'meen -- Method Man (ft. Styles P, Fat Joe)
• I Never Thought -- KZ (ft. Beanie Sigel, Styles P & Scarface)
• 914 -- Pete Rock ft. Styles P & Sheek Louch
• Fly Shit -- Ras Kass ft. Styles P.
• Go Hard -- Killa Klump Scarface ft. Styles P
• Live From The Streets -- Angie Martinez (ft. Jadakiss, Styles P, Beanie Sigel, Kool G Rap & B.R.E.T.T.
• Respect my gangsta -- Drag-on ft. Styles P
• Get in touch with us -- Lil'Kim & Styles P
• Tell Me (remix) - Lil' Flip Feat. Styles P
• S omeday [Urbanix Remix](featuring Styles P)
• I'm High - T-Pain (featuring Styles P)
• The Hardest Out Hell Rell (featuring Styles P
• Smile - Trae feat. Styles P & Jadakiss