Down Low (rap group)
Encyclopedia
Down Low is a rap group formed in Kaiserslautern
, Germany
in 1995 by Joe Thompson and Darren Tucker. The group is known for hits like "Johnny B.". Down Low are considered as one of the first bands who brought Hip Hop in a European style in the middle of the 1990s together with artists such as C-Block
, Nana
and A.K. - S.W.I.F.T..
. The members were the rapper Joe Thompson, who served in the US Army
during Operation Desert Storm
and had a friendship with Rod. D from Fun Factory, as well as the singer Darren Tucker. The first single "Don't Look Any Further", a Hip Hop version of the song of the same name of the M People
received still no attention, the second song "Vision of Life" however became a hit in several European countries in the middle of 1996.
Shortly after the publication of "Vision of Life", Darren Tucker had to leave the group due to disputes with his manager. He was replaced by Mike Dalien. The album Visions and the singles "Murder" over the case of O. J. Simpson
, "Potion" and "Lovething/We Do It Like That" followed soon. Together with Flip Da Scrip Down Low produced the song "Nothing Like Viva" as a hymn on the German music TV-channel VIVA under the project name Hip Hop Alliance.
At the end of 1997 followed the second album It Ain't Over. The song "Johnny B.", a cover version of The Hooters
became the largest hit from Down Low and climbed up to No. 4 in the German single charts. Radio NRJ distinguished Down Low as the best rap act in 1997.
In the spring of 1998 Down Low created Rapper Against Racism in order to promote talented new singers and rappers (La Mazz, Trooper Da Don, Jay Supreme
and others) and point a spot on racism still present in Germany at that time.
In the autumn of 1998 Down Low published the album Third Dimension. The single "Once Upon A Time" could tie to past successes; the probably saddest song of the group contained elements from the film music to Once Upon a Time in the West
of Ennio Morricone
. With the song "H.I.V." one drew the attention of the dangers of the AIDS
virus.
After the publication a greatest hit album Down Low took a break for 1½ years. In 2001 the fourth album The 4th Level, which was clearly an R&B-album, was published. Mike Dalien left the band due to musical differences in 2001 at the beginning of the work on The 4th level. His successor became Erick „Rick“ Lamont Smith, which had already co-operated in the past with Down Low and had published some singles under the name La Mazz and Dressman. Since the German public had lost the interest in European Rap in the meantime, Down Low could celebrate no further successes in Germany. In 2002 the record company published a remix of Murder with samples of the rapper Warren G
.
2003 appeared a DVD under the title Visions – The Singles 1997–2003. In the autumn of 2003 the single "Living In The Ghetto" appeared. The publication was however a single-handed attempt of the record company; the artists experienced only later of it, and for the lack of promotion the song found no commercial attention, but nevertheless became a club hit. Joe Thompson accused SHIFT Music later to cannibalize Down Low from money scarcities.
For 2004 an album named Down Low V / Adrenaline was announced. But since the new style of the group did not please the record company, the album was not published. For a while it looked like as if the artists would possibly close a contract with a new label in the United States, for legal reasons probably under a new project name, but in April 2005 Joe announced Down Low had settled the controversy with SHIFT and would work on new material again. The first song "Every Day (MMMM)" of the album Return of The Trendsetter was published on the 27th of October 2006.
2010 is the come back of Mike Dalien in the Group Down Low.
Down Low plan a new album in the end of 2010.
Notes
The track is from the album The Message by Rappers Against Racism.
Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern is a city in southwest Germany, located in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate at the edge of the Palatinate forest . The historic centre dates to the 9th century. It is from Paris, from Frankfurt am Main, and from Luxembourg.Kaiserslautern is home to 99,469 people...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1995 by Joe Thompson and Darren Tucker. The group is known for hits like "Johnny B.". Down Low are considered as one of the first bands who brought Hip Hop in a European style in the middle of the 1990s together with artists such as C-Block
C-Block
C-Block were a German platinum-selling hip-hop group, founded in 1995 by music producers Frank Müller, Ulrich Buchmann and Jörg Wagner. Fronted by Anthony "Red Dogg" Joseph and James "Mr.P" White the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most successful acts in the history of European hip hop...
, Nana
Nana (rapper)
Nana Kwame Abrokwa is a German rapper and DJ, performing under the pseudonyms Nana or Darkman / Nana. Nana is not an actual first name, but a Ghanaian title of nobility...
and A.K. - S.W.I.F.T..
History
The band was formed in December 1995 in the K-Town studios of KaiserslauternKaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern is a city in southwest Germany, located in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate at the edge of the Palatinate forest . The historic centre dates to the 9th century. It is from Paris, from Frankfurt am Main, and from Luxembourg.Kaiserslautern is home to 99,469 people...
. The members were the rapper Joe Thompson, who served in the US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during Operation Desert Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and had a friendship with Rod. D from Fun Factory, as well as the singer Darren Tucker. The first single "Don't Look Any Further", a Hip Hop version of the song of the same name of the M People
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
received still no attention, the second song "Vision of Life" however became a hit in several European countries in the middle of 1996.
Shortly after the publication of "Vision of Life", Darren Tucker had to leave the group due to disputes with his manager. He was replaced by Mike Dalien. The album Visions and the singles "Murder" over the case of O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
, "Potion" and "Lovething/We Do It Like That" followed soon. Together with Flip Da Scrip Down Low produced the song "Nothing Like Viva" as a hymn on the German music TV-channel VIVA under the project name Hip Hop Alliance.
At the end of 1997 followed the second album It Ain't Over. The song "Johnny B.", a cover version of The Hooters
The Hooters
The Hooters is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By combining a mix of rock and roll, reggae, ska and folk music, The Hooters first gained major commercial success in the United States in the mid 1980s due to heavy radio and MTV airplay of several songs including "All You...
became the largest hit from Down Low and climbed up to No. 4 in the German single charts. Radio NRJ distinguished Down Low as the best rap act in 1997.
In the spring of 1998 Down Low created Rapper Against Racism in order to promote talented new singers and rappers (La Mazz, Trooper Da Don, Jay Supreme
Jay Supreme
Jay Supreme is a rapper and former co-lead artist of German eurodance group Culture Beat.Jay Supreme was born in Paterson, New Jersey on August 20, 1965. There, as he was a teenager, he created his own rap band. He came to Germany for his military duty in 1989...
and others) and point a spot on racism still present in Germany at that time.
In the autumn of 1998 Down Low published the album Third Dimension. The single "Once Upon A Time" could tie to past successes; the probably saddest song of the group contained elements from the film music to Once Upon a Time in the West
Once Upon a Time in the West
Once Upon a Time in the West is a 1968 Italian epic spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone for Paramount Pictures. It stars Henry Fonda cast against type as the villain, Charles Bronson as his nemesis, Jason Robards as a bandit, and Claudia Cardinale as a newly widowed homesteader with a...
of Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
. With the song "H.I.V." one drew the attention of the dangers of the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
virus.
After the publication a greatest hit album Down Low took a break for 1½ years. In 2001 the fourth album The 4th Level, which was clearly an R&B-album, was published. Mike Dalien left the band due to musical differences in 2001 at the beginning of the work on The 4th level. His successor became Erick „Rick“ Lamont Smith, which had already co-operated in the past with Down Low and had published some singles under the name La Mazz and Dressman. Since the German public had lost the interest in European Rap in the meantime, Down Low could celebrate no further successes in Germany. In 2002 the record company published a remix of Murder with samples of the rapper Warren G
Warren G
Warren G , is an American West Coast rapper and hip hop producer. He is also Dr. Dre's half-brother.His biggest hit is the song "Regulate" with Nate Dogg released in 1994...
.
2003 appeared a DVD under the title Visions – The Singles 1997–2003. In the autumn of 2003 the single "Living In The Ghetto" appeared. The publication was however a single-handed attempt of the record company; the artists experienced only later of it, and for the lack of promotion the song found no commercial attention, but nevertheless became a club hit. Joe Thompson accused SHIFT Music later to cannibalize Down Low from money scarcities.
For 2004 an album named Down Low V / Adrenaline was announced. But since the new style of the group did not please the record company, the album was not published. For a while it looked like as if the artists would possibly close a contract with a new label in the United States, for legal reasons probably under a new project name, but in April 2005 Joe announced Down Low had settled the controversy with SHIFT and would work on new material again. The first song "Every Day (MMMM)" of the album Return of The Trendsetter was published on the 27th of October 2006.
2010 is the come back of Mike Dalien in the Group Down Low.
Down Low plan a new album in the end of 2010.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
AUT IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
FIN |
ITA Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
||
| 1996 | Visions | 77 | - | - | - |
| 1997 | It Ain't Over | 37 | 47 | 9 | - |
| 1998 | Third Dimension | 84 | - | - | - |
| 1999 | Moonlight (Released in Italy Only) |
- | - | - | 5 |
| 2001 | The 4th Level | - | - | - | - |
| 2006 | Return Of The Trendsetter | - | - | - | - |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
AUT IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
FIN |
ITA Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
||
| 1999 | Best Of | - | - | - | - |
| 2003 | Visions: Best of the Singles 1997-2003 | - | - | - | - |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
AUT Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
FIN |
FRA Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
ITA Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
SWE Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
SWI Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
|||
| 1996 | "Vision of Life" | 19 | - | - | 10 | - | - | - | Visions |
| "Murder" | 25 | - | - | - | - | - | 38 | ||
| "Nothing Like Viva" Hip Hop Alliance (featuring Down Low & Flip Da Scrip) |
91 | - | - | - | - | - | 46 | ||
| 1997 | "Potion" | 37 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| "Lovething" | 82 | - | - | - | - | - | - | It Ain't Over | |
| Moonlight | 35 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| "Johnny B. Johnny B (song) "Johnny B" is a song from The Hooters' third studio album One Way Home. It was written by Eric Bazilian, Rick Chertoff and Rob Hyman. "Johnny B" was released as a single in 1987 by Columbia Records, and reached #61 on Billboard Hot 100 list.... " |
4 | 13 | 7 | 33 | - | 14 | 8 | ||
| 1998 | "Hit Me Right" | 95 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| "Once Upon a Time" | 4 | 7 | - | 26 | 6 | - | 6 | Third Dimension | |
| 1999 | "H.I.V." | 53 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| "So Long Goodbye" | 64 | - | - | - | - | - | 49 | ||
| 2001 | "Don't You" | 99 | - | - | - | - | - | - | The 4th Level |
| 2002 | "Murder 2002" Down Low (featuring Warren G.) |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | Non-album track |
| 2007 | Africa' | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Return of the Trendsetter |
Other Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GER Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
AUT Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
|||
| 1998 | I Want to Know What Love Is (Rappers Against Racism feat. Down Low & La Mazz & Scream Factory) |
36 | 20 | The Message |
Notes
The track is from the album The Message by Rappers Against Racism.
External links
- Fan site with Biography and Discography at T-Music