Schoolly D
Encyclopedia
Jesse B. Weaver Jr. better known by the stage name
Schoolly D, is an American
rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
in the mid-1980s. His lyrics reflected urban realism, violence, and sexual bravado, making Schoolly D's one of the first gangsta
rappers. He later embraced an afrocentric style, bringing Afrocentric culture to hip hop along with KRS-One
.
Later, Schoolly D contributed songs and music to many Abel Ferrara
films, such as "Saturday Night" (from Saturday Night! – The Album), as well as the title track from Am I Black Enough For You?
which was played during the climactic shoot-out in Ferrara's King of New York
; the title track of this movie from How a Black Man Feels
and "Signifying Rapper" (from Schoolly's album Smoke Some Kill
), which was used in the director's Bad Lieutenant
. Because Led Zeppelin
successfully sued due to an uncleared interpolation
of its song "Kashmir
" in "Signifying Rapper," the song was omitted from the soundtrack of the film and from subsequent releases of the film.
Composer Joe Delia tapped Schoolly to co-write and record "The Player" for Ferrara's film The Blackout, which Delia scored. Schoolly also wrote the score to Ferrara's 'R Xmas
. In 2006, Schoolly D co-wrote the indie film soundtrack of the historical science fiction thriller Order of the Quest with Chuck Treece
. The project series is produced by Benjamin Barnett, and Jay D Clark of Media Bureau. His last album, Funk 'N Pussy
, features guest appearances by Public Enemy's Chuck D
, Chuck Chillout, Lady B and a drum and bass
remix of the classic Schoolly D track "Mr. Big Dick" (remixed by UK
trip-hop crew The Sneaker Pimps).
Schoolly also did the music and occasional narration for the cult animated series Aqua Teen Hunger Force
on the Cartoon Networks's Adult Swim
programming block. He also created the song "Sharkian Nights" for the animated series 12 oz. Mouse
.
, says that Schoolly D was the first gangsta rapper.
In the DVD extra on the King of New York
, Schoolly D falsely claims to have invented the sport of snowboarding
by sledding down Philadelphia hills on pieces of linoleum. (Snowboarding has roots in snurfing
, which was invented in 1965, one year before Schoolly D was born.)
Funk metal band Primus
mentions Schoolly D in their song "Harold of the Rocks" on the album "Frizzle Fry
".
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Schoolly D, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Career
Schoolly D teamed up with DJ Code MoneyDJ Code Money
DJ Code Money was the deejay for noted 1980s rap artist Schoolly D of Philadelphia. Their first single, "P.S.K. ", is sometimes viewed as the first gangsta rap record. The track includes hypnotic beats, rough scratching, and Schoolly's unflinching tales of the Park Side Killers: "I said 'You...
in the mid-1980s. His lyrics reflected urban realism, violence, and sexual bravado, making Schoolly D's one of the first gangsta
Gangsta
Gangsta may refer to:* Gangsta , a one time member of The Comrads and Hoo-Bangin' Records* Gangster, slang for a member of a gang*Gangsta rap*Hip hop fashion, a style of dress associated with the aforementioned musical genre...
rappers. He later embraced an afrocentric style, bringing Afrocentric culture to hip hop along with KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
.
Later, Schoolly D contributed songs and music to many Abel Ferrara
Abel Ferrara
Abel Ferrara is an American film screenwriter and director. He is best known as an independent filmmaker of such films as The Driller Killer , Ms. 45 , King of New York , Bad Lieutenant and The Funeral .-Early life:Ferrara was born in the Bronx of Italian and Irish descent...
films, such as "Saturday Night" (from Saturday Night! – The Album), as well as the title track from Am I Black Enough For You?
Am I Black Enough for You?
Am I Black Enough For You? is the fourth album by rapper Schoolly D. The album was released in 1989 for Jive Records and was produced Schoolly D and DJ Code Money...
which was played during the climactic shoot-out in Ferrara's King of New York
King of New York
King of New York is a 1990 American crime drama film, starring Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Victor Argo, and Giancarlo Esposito. It was directed by independent filmmaker Abel Ferrara and written by Nicholas St...
; the title track of this movie from How a Black Man Feels
How a Black Man Feels
How a Black Man Feels is the fifth album by rapper, Schoolly D. The album was released in 1991 and was his first for Capitol Records. The album was met with mixed reviews and was another unsuccessful release for Schoolly D...
and "Signifying Rapper" (from Schoolly's album Smoke Some Kill
Smoke Some Kill
The album received generally mixed reviews from most music critics. The Los Angeles Daily News gave the album a B. Rolling Stone reviewer Cary Carling panned the album, writing "With its images of gun-toting bluster, mushrooming genitals and rampant drug use – backed by thuddingly dull beats –...
), which was used in the director's Bad Lieutenant
Bad Lieutenant
Bad Lieutenant is a 1992 crime-drama film directed by Abel Ferrara and starring Harvey Keitel as the eponymous "bad lieutenant". The screenplay was written by actress-model Zoë Lund. She also played a small role in the film. Lund had been discovered by Ferrara and had starred in his earlier film, Ms...
. Because Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
successfully sued due to an uncleared interpolation
Interpolation (music)
Interpolation in music refers to an abrupt change in musical elements from the main theme.-In classical music:In music and musical composition, especially 20th century and later, interpolation is an abrupt change of elements, with continuation of the first idea...
of its song "Kashmir
Kashmir (song)
"Kashmir" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin from their sixth album Physical Graffiti, released in 1975. It was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant over a period of three years, with the lyrics dating back to 1973.-Overview:The song centres around a signature chord progression...
" in "Signifying Rapper," the song was omitted from the soundtrack of the film and from subsequent releases of the film.
Composer Joe Delia tapped Schoolly to co-write and record "The Player" for Ferrara's film The Blackout, which Delia scored. Schoolly also wrote the score to Ferrara's 'R Xmas
'R Xmas
'R Xmas is a 2001 American crime film directed by Abel Ferrara. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. Its release was delayed by StudioCanal but it was eventually released on DVD...
. In 2006, Schoolly D co-wrote the indie film soundtrack of the historical science fiction thriller Order of the Quest with Chuck Treece
Chuck Treece
Chuck "Chuck" Treece is a session musician and professional skateboarder from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His credits include starting the 1980s skate punk band McRad, remixing songs for Amy Grant and Sting, playing the bass line on "The River of Dreams" by Billy Joel, filling in on drums at a...
. The project series is produced by Benjamin Barnett, and Jay D Clark of Media Bureau. His last album, Funk 'N Pussy
Funk 'n Pussy
Funk ’n Pussy is the eighth and final album by rapper, Schoolly D. The album was released in 2000 for Chord Records and was produced by Schoolly D, DJ Code Money and DJ Chuck Chillout. Reviews for the album were generally mixed, but like his previous albums, the album was a commercial failure. The...
, features guest appearances by Public Enemy's Chuck D
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
, Chuck Chillout, Lady B and a drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
remix of the classic Schoolly D track "Mr. Big Dick" (remixed by UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
trip-hop crew The Sneaker Pimps).
Schoolly also did the music and occasional narration for the cult animated series Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Aqua Teen Hunger Force , retitled Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1 in 2011, is an American animated television series on Cartoon Network late night programing block, Adult Swim, as well as Teletoon's Teletoon at Night block and later G4 Canada's ADd block in Canada...
on the Cartoon Networks's Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
programming block. He also created the song "Sharkian Nights" for the animated series 12 oz. Mouse
12 oz. Mouse
12 oz. Mouse is an animated television series that aired on the American channel Cartoon Network as part of the Adult Swim late night programming block. The show centers on the antisocial actions of an alcoholic mouse known as "Mouse Fitzgerald", "Fitz," "Butch," or simply "Mouse"...
.
Legacy
Rapper Ice-T, who is often given credit for the creation of gangsta rapGangsta 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...
, says that Schoolly D was the first gangsta rapper.
In the DVD extra on the King of New York
King of New York
King of New York is a 1990 American crime drama film, starring Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Victor Argo, and Giancarlo Esposito. It was directed by independent filmmaker Abel Ferrara and written by Nicholas St...
, Schoolly D falsely claims to have invented the sport of snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
by sledding down Philadelphia hills on pieces of linoleum. (Snowboarding has roots in snurfing
Snurfer
The Snurfer was the first marketed snowboard. It uses a noboard type of snowboard binding alternative. The Snurfer was created in 1965 by in Muskegon, Michigan. Poppen was outside his house one day sledding with his daughters, when his 11 year old was going down the hill, standing on her old sled....
, which was invented in 1965, one year before Schoolly D was born.)
Funk metal band Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
mentions Schoolly D in their song "Harold of the Rocks" on the album "Frizzle Fry
Frizzle Fry
-Personnel:Primus*Les Claypool – electric bass, electric fiddle bass, string bass, vocals*Larry LaLonde – electric guitar, acoustic guitar*Tim "Herb" Alexander – drumsProduction*Todd Huth – second acoustic guitar on "Toys"...
".
Studio albums
- 1986: Schoolly DSchoolly D (album)Schoolly D is the self titled debut album by rapper, Schoolly D. The album was released in 1986 for Jive Records and was produced by Schoolly D and DJ Code Money. The album featured three singles, "Put Your Filas On", "P.S.K...
- 1987: Saturday Night - The AlbumSaturday Night - The AlbumSaturday Night! – The Album is rapper Schoolly D's second album.The song "It's Crack", featuring mostly unintelligible lyrics, ends the album with the words "It's A Black Hole".In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums....
- 1988: Smoke Some KillSmoke Some KillThe album received generally mixed reviews from most music critics. The Los Angeles Daily News gave the album a B. Rolling Stone reviewer Cary Carling panned the album, writing "With its images of gun-toting bluster, mushrooming genitals and rampant drug use – backed by thuddingly dull beats –...
- 1989: Am I Black Enough for You?Am I Black Enough for You?Am I Black Enough For You? is the fourth album by rapper Schoolly D. The album was released in 1989 for Jive Records and was produced Schoolly D and DJ Code Money...
- 1991: How a Black Man FeelsHow a Black Man FeelsHow a Black Man Feels is the fifth album by rapper, Schoolly D. The album was released in 1991 and was his first for Capitol Records. The album was met with mixed reviews and was another unsuccessful release for Schoolly D...
- 1994: Welcome to AmericaWelcome to AmericaWelcome to America is the sixth album by rapper Schoolly D. The album was released in 1994 and was his first and only album for Ruffhouse Records. Though the album gained some positive reviews, the album did not sell well or make it on any album charts...
- 1995: Reservoir DogReservoir DogReservoir Dog is the seventh album by rapper Schoolly D. The album was released in 1995 for PSK Records and was produced by Schoolly D and Grizz Bear & Devine. Reviews were mostly positive; however, like his previous albums, the album was a critical failure and did not chart on any album charts...
- 2000: Funk 'N PussyFunk 'n PussyFunk ’n Pussy is the eighth and final album by rapper, Schoolly D. The album was released in 2000 for Chord Records and was produced by Schoolly D, DJ Code Money and DJ Chuck Chillout. Reviews for the album were generally mixed, but like his previous albums, the album was a commercial failure. The...
- 2010: International Supersport
Compilations
- 1987: The Adventures of Schoolly D
- 1995: The Jive Collection, Vol. 3
- 1996: A Gangster's Story: 1984-1996
- 2000: Best on Wax (5 Years of Schoolly D)
- 2003: The Best of Schoolly D