Black Sheep (hip hop group)
Encyclopedia
Black Sheep is an alternative hip hop
duo from Queens
, New York
, composed of Andres "Dres" Titus
and William "Mista Lawnge" McLean. The duo is from New York but met as teenagers in North Carolina
, where both of their families relocated. The group was an affiliate of the Native Tongues
, which included the Jungle Brothers
, A Tribe Called Quest
, and De La Soul
. After getting together in 1989, Black Sheep debuted in 1991 with the hit song "Flavor of the Month" and later released its first album, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, which gained them praise and recognition in the hip-hop community for the album's unique rhythms and intelligent lyrics. After six years together, Black Sheep disbanded in 1995, but decided to reform 5 years later.
. They were also one of the first groups to parody gangsta rap
(still in its infancy when A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing was released) in the hilariously over the top "U Mean I'm Not." In the song, Dres describes in detail killing his sister, his parents, and his letter carrier. At the end, he is roused from his sleep and tells his friends bewilderedly, "I dreamed that I was...hard."
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing charted three times on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1992 with "The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)
" (#9), and "Strobelite Honey" (#1). Black Sheep was also featured on the remix
of Vanessa Williams
's single "Work to Do" (#8). The group's relationship with its label, Mercury/PolyGram, allowed Dres to establish a boutique label through which he could sign his own acts. Mercury distributed the imprint, which was called One Love, through PolyGram's Independent Label Sales division rather than PolyGram Group Distribution. However, only one full-length title was ever released, the only album by affiliated act the Legion, titled Theme + Echo = Krill (One Love/Mercury/PolyGram Records 124 029), from 1994.
The group's second album, Non-Fiction, was released later that year. Because of virtually no promotion and a generally poor reception, the album managed only lackluster sales.
and being billed as Dres the Black Sheep. Mista Lawnge continued to produce music and remixes on other projects such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Subway and others. In 2000, Dres recorded the title track of the movie Once in the Life
, in which Dres had an acting role. In the same year, the duo reunited and released an EP
called Redlight, Greenlight (EP)
. It was released two years later and was not covered by the media.
Dres was featured on the second Handsome Boy Modeling School
album White People
, on the track "First...and Then." In 2006, Dres released an online
-only album titled 8WM/Novakane
. 8WM stands for Women with Women with Weed with Wine with Me. According to AllHipHop.com, Mista Lawnge has changed the spelling of his name to Mr. Long. He also released a solo project called “The Class of 89” in 2006. Dres appeared on the 1990s remix of Nas
' February 2007 song "Where are They Now?"
In 2008, the single "The Choice is Yours (Revisited)
" was ranked number #73 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs. The song is currently featured in a commercial for the 2010 Kia Soul
.
Pants
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
duo from Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, composed of Andres "Dres" Titus
Dres (rapper)
Dres is a rapper of the alternative hip hop duo Black Sheep. He formed the group in 1989 along with Mista Lawnge. On their 1991 debut album A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, Dres has a smooth rhyme flow, with a dose of light humor....
and William "Mista Lawnge" McLean. The duo is from New York but met as teenagers in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, where both of their families relocated. The group was an affiliate of the Native Tongues
Native tongues
Native Tongues is a book by the linguist Charles Berlitz.It is a list of words in different languages, etymology and questions with speculations far and wide about words....
, which included the Jungle Brothers
Jungle Brothers
The Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group that pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop and also became the first hip-hop group to use a house-music producer. The group began performing in the mid-1980s and released its first album, Straight Out the Jungle, in July 1988...
, A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
, and De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
. After getting together in 1989, Black Sheep debuted in 1991 with the hit song "Flavor of the Month" and later released its first album, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, which gained them praise and recognition in the hip-hop community for the album's unique rhythms and intelligent lyrics. After six years together, Black Sheep disbanded in 1995, but decided to reform 5 years later.
Initial career and break up (1989–1995)
Black Sheep was formed in 1989 by Andres "Dres" Titus and William "Mista Lawnge" McLean, who are both from New York but met as teenagers in North Carolina, where both of their families relocated. Black Sheep was the first hip-hop act to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno after the departure of Johnny CarsonJohnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
. They were also one of the first groups to parody gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
(still in its infancy when A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing was released) in the hilariously over the top "U Mean I'm Not." In the song, Dres describes in detail killing his sister, his parents, and his letter carrier. At the end, he is roused from his sleep and tells his friends bewilderedly, "I dreamed that I was...hard."
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing charted three times on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1992 with "The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)
The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)
The Choice Is Yours is a single featured on the Native Tongues Posse affiliate Black Sheep's debut album, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing....
" (#9), and "Strobelite Honey" (#1). Black Sheep was also featured on the remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of Vanessa Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
's single "Work to Do" (#8). The group's relationship with its label, Mercury/PolyGram, allowed Dres to establish a boutique label through which he could sign his own acts. Mercury distributed the imprint, which was called One Love, through PolyGram's Independent Label Sales division rather than PolyGram Group Distribution. However, only one full-length title was ever released, the only album by affiliated act the Legion, titled Theme + Echo = Krill (One Love/Mercury/PolyGram Records 124 029), from 1994.
The group's second album, Non-Fiction, was released later that year. Because of virtually no promotion and a generally poor reception, the album managed only lackluster sales.
Aftermath and return (1996–present)
Titus and McLean would take a break afterward to work on various independent projects and left the label. This resulted in Dres's solo album Sure Shot RedemptionSure Shot Redemption
Sure Shot Redemption was Dres' first solo album after the breakup of Black Sheep. On the cover he is credited as Dres the Black Sheep. Fans around the Internet stated on several forums that the album missed the input of Black Sheep group member Mista Lawnge, but it was satisfying enough for true fans...
and being billed as Dres the Black Sheep. Mista Lawnge continued to produce music and remixes on other projects such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Subway and others. In 2000, Dres recorded the title track of the movie Once in the Life
Once in the Life
Once in the Life is a 2000 movie written by, directed by, and starring Laurence Fishburne. Fishburne adapted the script from his own play, Riff-Raff.-Plot synopsis:...
, in which Dres had an acting role. In the same year, the duo reunited and released an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
called Redlight, Greenlight (EP)
Redlight, Greenlight (EP)
Redlight, Greenlight EP is an EP by Black Sheep. It was the group's first record since Non-Fiction. It was recorded in 2000 and remained unreleased. In 2002, however, it was released on vinyl on the indie label Morgan Entertainment and is extremely rare...
. It was released two years later and was not covered by the media.
Dres was featured on the second Handsome Boy Modeling School
Handsome Boy Modeling School
Handsome Boy Modeling School was a collaborative project between renowned hip hop producers Dan the Automator and Prince Paul...
album White People
White People
White People is the second and final album by Handsome Boy Modeling School.-Track listing:# "Intro" – 1:08# "If It Wasn't For You" – 4:37...
, on the track "First...and Then." In 2006, Dres released an online
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
-only album titled 8WM/Novakane
8WM/Novakane
8WM/Novakane is the third album by hip-hop duo Black Sheep, the group's first full-length album since 1994's Non-Fiction. It was released as a download-only album in October 2006, and a physical release followed in December 2007. Group member Mista Lawnge, while still briefly featured on the album,...
. 8WM stands for Women with Women with Weed with Wine with Me. According to AllHipHop.com, Mista Lawnge has changed the spelling of his name to Mr. Long. He also released a solo project called “The Class of 89” in 2006. Dres appeared on the 1990s remix of Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
' February 2007 song "Where are They Now?"
In 2008, the single "The Choice is Yours (Revisited)
The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)
The Choice Is Yours is a single featured on the Native Tongues Posse affiliate Black Sheep's debut album, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing....
" was ranked number #73 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs. The song is currently featured in a commercial for the 2010 Kia Soul
Kia Soul
The Kia Soul is a compact car designed at Kia's design center in California, unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, manufactured in South Korea and marketed globally beginning with model year 2010....
.
Albums
| Album information |
|---|
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
|
| Non-Fiction
|
| 8WM/Novakane 8WM/Novakane 8WM/Novakane is the third album by hip-hop duo Black Sheep, the group's first full-length album since 1994's Non-Fiction. It was released as a download-only album in October 2006, and a physical release followed in December 2007. Group member Mista Lawnge, while still briefly featured on the album,... |
| From The Black Pool of Genius (Dres Solo Album)
|
Singles and EPs
- "Flavor of the Month" (1991)
- "The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)The Choice Is Yours is a single featured on the Native Tongues Posse affiliate Black Sheep's debut album, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing....
" (1991)- covered by several artists including Trik Turner, Bloodhoud Gang, and the Deftones
- (Used in the 2010 Kia Soul "Rapping Hamsters" commercial)
- "Strobelite Honey" (1992)
- "Similak Child" (1992)
- "Without A Doubt" (1994)
- "North South East West" (1995)
- Redlight, Greenlight (EP)Redlight, Greenlight (EP)Redlight, Greenlight EP is an EP by Black Sheep. It was the group's first record since Non-Fiction. It was recorded in 2000 and remained unreleased. In 2002, however, it was released on vinyl on the indie label Morgan Entertainment and is extremely rare...
(recorded 2000, released 2002)
Music videos
- Black Sheep - Flavor of the Month (1991)
- Black Sheep - The Choice Is Yours (1991)
- Black Sheep - Strobelite Honey (1992)
- Vanessa WilliamsVanessa L. WilliamsVanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
ft. Black Sheep - Work to DoWork to Do"Work to Do" is a 1972 funk song by The Isley Brothers, released on their T-Neck imprint. The song, written and produced by the group, was issued on their 1972 album, Brother, Brother, Brother, and charted at #51 pop and #11 R&B upon its initial charting...
(Remix) (1992) - Showbiz & A.G ft. Black Sheep - Bounce Ta This (1992)
- Black Sheep - Similak Child (1992)
- The Legion featuring Dres - Jingle Jangle (1993)
- Black Sheep - Without a Doubt (1994)
External links
- Dres of Black Sheep interview
- Dres of Black Sheep on Myspace.com
- Mr. Long's (formerly Mista Lawnge) Solo site
- Last Black Sheep Interview as group
- Still Relevant: Dres of Black Sheep April 2008, Interview with Hip Hop Lives Online, HHLO.net
- Alternative rapper Dres resurrects Black Sheep
Pants