Sporty Thievz
Encyclopedia
Sporty Thievz was a Yonkers, New York
hip-hop group, originally a trio, composed of King Kirk (a.k.a. Thieven Stealburg), Big Dubez (a.k.a. Safecracker) and Marlon Bryant Brando (a.k.a. Robin Hood) (1997–2001). They are notable for their parody of TLC
's hit "No Scrubs" entitled "No Pigeons
", which attempted to tell things from the male perspective, and their song "Hit It Up" on the soundtrack to The Best Man
. They are also known for satirically providing a male counterpoint to the female-oriented R&B music popularised in the late 1990s and early 2000s, something that was not done by any other group at the time. But despite the parody
, the group have been acknowledged for their lyrical skill, also making other notable hits such as "Cheapskate", which also has a music
video and released under Ruffhouse Records.
In 1998, their album Street Cinema
was released on Roc-A-Bloc/Ruffhouse Records. The majority of the production was handled by Ski
, famous for his work on Jay-Z
's Reasonable Doubt
. It had a unique concept in which every track had its own storyline that could also serve as a premise for a movie. This concept would reprise a decade later on rapper Ludacris
's 2008 album, Theater Of The Mind
.
They did not get much airplay
until the "No Pigeons" single was released, which hit #21 in the UK Singles Chart
and stayed on that chart for six weeks. Street Cinema was re-released with "No Pigeons" appearing as a bonus track.
In an attempt to capitalize, Sporty Thievz also released a rebutal to Destiny's Child
's hits "Bills, Bills, Bills
" (written by the same songwriter as "No Scrubs", Kandi Burruss
) and "Independent Women". Entitled "No Billz (Why, Why, Why?)" the group "humorously" question "Why we gotta spend, because we men?". In the "Independent Women" rebuttal "Independent Men" they consider the unfairness of child support, stating "She won't let me see my seed acting like it's funny, She gettin' her hair done with that diaper money".
The group contributed to the Rawkus Records
2000 compilation Hip Hop for Respect
, a project put together by Mos Def
and Talib Kweli
to put out an EP recording 41 emcees in protest
over the 41 shots fired at African immigrant and innocent man, Amadou Diallo
, by the NYPD.
On May 11, 2001, group member Marlon Brando was killed after being struck by a car in North Bronx at the age of 22. It is reported that the driver of the car was intoxicated and swerving onto the sidewalk. Marlon Brando is believed to have saved a by standing childs life by pushing him out of the way. Since then, Sporty Thievz fell back until now 2011. King Kirk member and producer of Sporty Thievz is currently working on his new Solo Compilation album Street Cinema 1.5 "The Sporty Show" and the official follow up to their first street classic album Street Cinema 2. Go to Sporty-Thievz.com for more info.
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
hip-hop group, originally a trio, composed of King Kirk (a.k.a. Thieven Stealburg), Big Dubez (a.k.a. Safecracker) and Marlon Bryant Brando (a.k.a. Robin Hood) (1997–2001). They are notable for their parody of TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
's hit "No Scrubs" entitled "No Pigeons
No Pigeons
"No Pigeons" is the second single by Sporty Thievz, released from their 1998 album Street Cinema.It was a rebuttal to TLC's single "No Scrubs" and received much radio play at the time of its release. It peaked at #12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, at about the same time the TLC single was enjoying...
", which attempted to tell things from the male perspective, and their song "Hit It Up" on the soundtrack to The Best Man
The Best Man (1999 film)
The Best Man is a 1999 romantic comedy-drama film, written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. It was produced by Spike Lee's production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks. The film stars Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut and Sanaa Lathan, and is considered to be a male-centered answer to...
. They are also known for satirically providing a male counterpoint to the female-oriented R&B music popularised in the late 1990s and early 2000s, something that was not done by any other group at the time. But despite the parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
, the group have been acknowledged for their lyrical skill, also making other notable hits such as "Cheapskate", which also has a music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
video and released under Ruffhouse Records.
In 1998, their album Street Cinema
Street Cinema
-Background:Street Cinema was released on August 18, 1998 through Ruffhouse Records and was co-produced by Ski and Sporty Thievz member King Kirk...
was released on Roc-A-Bloc/Ruffhouse Records. The majority of the production was handled by Ski
Ski (producer)
David Willis, otherwise known as DJ Ski and Ski Beatz, is an American record producer mainly working in hip hop.-Biography:Discovered by DJ Clark Kent, Ski was originally known as "MC Will-Ski". In the 1990s, he was a member of the group Original Flavor, the first group managed by future recording...
, famous for his work on Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable Doubt is the debut album of American rapper Jay-Z, released June 25, 1996 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States and on Northwestside Records in the United Kingdom. The album features production by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody and Clark Kent, and guest appearances from Memphis Bleek,...
. It had a unique concept in which every track had its own storyline that could also serve as a premise for a movie. This concept would reprise a decade later on rapper Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
's 2008 album, Theater Of The Mind
Theater of the Mind
Though the album was well received by music critics, it debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, selling 214,000 copies in its first week, making it his sixth top 5 album. It was his first album since 2000's Back for the First Time and 2001's Word of Mouf to not reach number one status, and his...
.
They did not get much airplay
Airplay
* Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay...
until the "No Pigeons" single was released, which hit #21 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and stayed on that chart for six weeks. Street Cinema was re-released with "No Pigeons" appearing as a bonus track.
In an attempt to capitalize, Sporty Thievz also released a rebutal to Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
's hits "Bills, Bills, Bills
Bills, Bills, Bills
"Bills, Bills, Bills" is a 1999 hit single by Destiny's Child, released as the first single from their second album The Writing's on the Wall. It echoed the female empowerment sentiments of TLC's single "No Scrubs", and featured the same producer and songwriter...
" (written by the same songwriter as "No Scrubs", Kandi Burruss
Kandi Burruss
Kandi Burruss , better known by her stage names Kandi or Kandi Girl, is an American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer. She is also a former member of the group Xscape from Atlanta.-Early life:...
) and "Independent Women". Entitled "No Billz (Why, Why, Why?)" the group "humorously" question "Why we gotta spend, because we men?". In the "Independent Women" rebuttal "Independent Men" they consider the unfairness of child support, stating "She won't let me see my seed acting like it's funny, She gettin' her hair done with that diaper money".
The group contributed to the Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records is an American hip-hop record label known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus started in 1996 with initial releases ranging from hip-hop to drum and bass...
2000 compilation Hip Hop for Respect
Hip Hop for Respect
Hip Hop for Respect was a 2000 project which released one EP for Rawkus Records. It was organized by Mos Def and Talib Kweli to speak out against police brutality in general, and the case of Amadou Diallo in particular,-History:...
, a project put together by Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
and Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
to put out an EP recording 41 emcees in protest
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
over the 41 shots fired at African immigrant and innocent man, Amadou Diallo
Amadou Diallo
Amadou Diallo was a 23-year-old Guinean immigrant in New York City who was shot and killed on February 4, 1999 by four New York City Police Department plain-clothed officers: Sean Carroll, Richard Murphy, Edward McMellon and Kenneth Boss. The four officers fired a total of 41 shots...
, by the NYPD.
On May 11, 2001, group member Marlon Brando was killed after being struck by a car in North Bronx at the age of 22. It is reported that the driver of the car was intoxicated and swerving onto the sidewalk. Marlon Brando is believed to have saved a by standing childs life by pushing him out of the way. Since then, Sporty Thievz fell back until now 2011. King Kirk member and producer of Sporty Thievz is currently working on his new Solo Compilation album Street Cinema 1.5 "The Sporty Show" and the official follow up to their first street classic album Street Cinema 2. Go to Sporty-Thievz.com for more info.
Discography
- 1998: Street CinemaStreet Cinema-Background:Street Cinema was released on August 18, 1998 through Ruffhouse Records and was co-produced by Ski and Sporty Thievz member King Kirk...
- 2000: Sporty Thievz
- 2011: "King Kirk's Street Cinema 1.5 The Sporty Show"
- 2012: "Sporty Thievz Album Street Cinema 2