Styles P
Encyclopedia
David Styles better known by his stage name, Styles P, is an American rapper, author, and entrepreneur. He is prominently known as a member of Hip Hop group The LOX
and is also a part of the Ruff Ryders
hip-hop group, and in addition has released multiple albums and mixtapes as a solo MC.
and the larger D-Block
Hip-Hop collective, grew up on the streets of Yonkers, New York rapping alongside Jadakiss
(Jayson Phillips) and Sheek Louch
(Shawn Jacobs). In their late teens the trio met Mary J. Blige
who was so impressed with their tough street east coast lyrics, she gave them a big break by putting their demo in the hands of Sean “Diddy” Combs
. Diddy immediately hired the trio to write for Bad Boy Records
. With the label, The LOX quickly started collaborating on hits with Diddy, the Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and Mariah Carey
which gave them instant notoriety and status within the hip-hop and mainstream charts.
In 1996 and 1997, the group wrote and performed on a number of Diddy hits, including “It's All About the Benjamins
” and “I Got the Power,” Mase
’s “24 Hrs. to Live,” Mariah Carey’s “Honey
,” the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Last Day,” and Mary J. Blige’s “Can’t Get You Off My Mind.” In 1997 The LOX received international acclaim when their tribute to the late Biggie Smalls, “We’ll Always Love Big Poppa,” was picked as the B side track off of Diddy’s No Way Out album (3x Platinum) with the number one hit, “I'll Be Missing You
.” This single was the most played hit in 1997, which opened the door for The LOX first solo album debut in January 1998 entitled Money, Power & Respect
(Certified Platinum). Though the album was a chart toping success, The LOX felt the glossy image of Bad Boy Records conflicted with their grimier rap aesthetic and therefore cut their ties and moved on to Ruff Ryder Records. After another LOX album, We Are the Streets
(2000) and appearing on albums with Ruff Ryders, Styles released his firs solo album, A Gangster and a Gentleman
, in 2002. Four years later he released his second album Time is Money
on Ruff Ryders which was followed by Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)
a year later . After recording many mixtapes Styles returned to the Hip-Hop scene by releasing two retail albums in 2010, The Green Ghost Project with DJ Green Lantern
on Invasion Records and The Ghost Dub-Dime
a retail mixtape on E1 Records (formally Koch Records).
His fourth album Master of Ceremonies is a return to solo form after many years.
Publishing Group . In 2011 he opened up a juice bar in Bronx, New York called Juices for Life with his business partners Nyger Rollocks and Leo Galvez .
The LOX
The Lox are an American hip hop group composed of Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P. They were originally signed to Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records before joining Ruff Ryders Entertainment, and are now a part of their own label, D-Block Records-Early career:...
and is also a part of the Ruff Ryders
Ruff Ryders
Ruff Ryders Entertainment is a record label founded by brothers Darrin "Dee" Dean and Joaquin "Waah" Dean, uncles of producer Swizz Beatz. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Fontana Distribution.The label is currently active as Ruff Ryders...
hip-hop group, and in addition has released multiple albums and mixtapes as a solo MC.
Career
Styles P, a member of The LOXThe LOX
The Lox are an American hip hop group composed of Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P. They were originally signed to Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records before joining Ruff Ryders Entertainment, and are now a part of their own label, D-Block Records-Early career:...
and the larger D-Block
D-block
The d-block is the portion of the periodic table that contains the element groups 3-12. These groups correspond to the filling of the atomic d-orbital subshell, with electron configurations ranging from s2d1 to s2d10...
Hip-Hop collective, grew up on the streets of Yonkers, New York rapping alongside Jadakiss
Jadakiss
Jason Phillips , better known as Jadakiss, is an American rapper. He is a member of the group The LOX. Jadakiss is one of the three owners of the imprint known as D-Block. In early 2007, Jadakiss signed to Roc-a-Fella Records / Def Jam Records.-Early life:By the age of 16, Jadakiss was a freestyle...
(Jayson Phillips) and Sheek Louch
Sheek Louch
Sean Divine Jacobs, better known as Sheek Louch , is an African American rapper and member of The LOX , along with Styles P and Jadakiss.-Personal life and career:...
(Shawn Jacobs). In their late teens the trio met Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
who was so impressed with their tough street east coast lyrics, she gave them a big break by putting their demo in the hands of Sean “Diddy” Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
. Diddy immediately hired the trio to write for Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:...
. With the label, The LOX quickly started collaborating on hits with Diddy, the Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
which gave them instant notoriety and status within the hip-hop and mainstream charts.
In 1996 and 1997, the group wrote and performed on a number of Diddy hits, including “It's All About the Benjamins
It's All about the Benjamins
"It's All About the Benjamins" is the fourth single released from the Puff Daddy album No Way Out. The song is about living one's lifestyle as if one were rich, and the importance of being seen to have money. "Benjamins" are slang for $100 bills , a reference to Benjamin Franklin's image on the bills...
” and “I Got the Power,” Mase
Mase
Mason Durell Betha , better known by stage name Mase who was previously known as Murda Ma$e, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and inspirational speaker...
’s “24 Hrs. to Live,” Mariah Carey’s “Honey
Honey (Mariah Carey song)
"Honey" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her sixth studio album, Butterfly. It was released as the lead single from the album on August 26, 1997 by Columbia Records. The song was written by Carey, Puff Daddy, Q-Tip and Stevie J, all of whom served as the song's producers...
,” the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Last Day,” and Mary J. Blige’s “Can’t Get You Off My Mind.” In 1997 The LOX received international acclaim when their tribute to the late Biggie Smalls, “We’ll Always Love Big Poppa,” was picked as the B side track off of Diddy’s No Way Out album (3x Platinum) with the number one hit, “I'll Be Missing You
I'll Be Missing You
"I'll Be Missing You" is a Grammy Award-winning song and hit single recorded by Puff Daddy, Faith Evans and 112, in memory of fellow Bad Boy Records artist Christopher "Notorious B.I.G" Wallace who was murdered on March 9, 1997...
.” This single was the most played hit in 1997, which opened the door for The LOX first solo album debut in January 1998 entitled Money, Power & Respect
Money, Power & Respect
Money, Power & Respect is the debut album by hip hop group The LOX. It was released on January 13, 1998 through Bad Boy Records and featured production from The Hitmen, Dame Grease and Swizz Beatz...
(Certified Platinum). Though the album was a chart toping success, The LOX felt the glossy image of Bad Boy Records conflicted with their grimier rap aesthetic and therefore cut their ties and moved on to Ruff Ryder Records. After another LOX album, We Are the Streets
We Are The Streets
We Are the Streets is the second studio album by hip hop group The LOX. It was their second album as a group, and is mainly produced by Swizz Beatz. Its commercial success was driven primarily by the hit singles "Wild Out," produced by Swizz Beatz, and "Ryde or Die, Bitch", produced by...
(2000) and appearing on albums with Ruff Ryders, Styles released his firs solo album, A Gangster and a Gentleman
A Gangster and a Gentleman
A Gangster and a Gentleman is Yonkers, New York rapper Styles P's solo debut album, released under the name Styles, after a series of two The LOX albums and three Ruff Ryder volumes...
, in 2002. Four years later he released his second album Time is Money
Time Is Money
Time Is Money is the 6th album by hip hop artist South Park Mexican. The track Boys On The Cut is a cover of Eazy E's classic Boyz 'N' Tha Hood. The song also contains a reference to DJ Screw, who had been dead for less than a month at the time....
on Ruff Ryders which was followed by Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)
Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)
Super Gangster is the third studio album by rapper Styles P, it was released through Koch Records on December 4, 2007. The album was leaked to the Internet on November 28.The first single is "Blow Ya Mind," featuring Swizz Beatz...
a year later . After recording many mixtapes Styles returned to the Hip-Hop scene by releasing two retail albums in 2010, The Green Ghost Project with DJ Green Lantern
DJ Green Lantern
James D'Agostino , better known by his stage name DJ Green Lantern, is an American-Italian-Puerto Rican DJ and hip hop music producer from Rochester, New York. In 2002, D'Agostino was signed by Eminem to become the official DJ for Shady Records after DJ Head stepped down for undisclosed reasons...
on Invasion Records and The Ghost Dub-Dime
The Ghost Dub-Dime
-Charts:...
a retail mixtape on E1 Records (formally Koch Records).
His fourth album Master of Ceremonies is a return to solo form after many years.
Other Projects
Styles P released his first novel Invincible in 2010 through Random HouseRandom House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
Publishing Group . In 2011 he opened up a juice bar in Bronx, New York called Juices for Life with his business partners Nyger Rollocks and Leo Galvez .
Studio albums
- 2002: A Gangster and a GentlemanA Gangster and a GentlemanA Gangster and a Gentleman is Yonkers, New York rapper Styles P's solo debut album, released under the name Styles, after a series of two The LOX albums and three Ruff Ryder volumes...
- 2006: Time is Money
- 2007: Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)Super Gangster is the third studio album by rapper Styles P, it was released through Koch Records on December 4, 2007. The album was leaked to the Internet on November 28.The first single is "Blow Ya Mind," featuring Swizz Beatz...
- 2011: Master of CeremoniesMaster of Ceremonies (Styles P album)Master of Ceremonies, is the fourth album by Yonkers-bred rapper Styles P. The album was released October 4, 2011. The album's guest list features rappers such as Lloyd Banks, Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, Pharoahe Monch, Pharrell Williams and Styles' group The L.O.X....
With The LOX
- 1998: Money, Power & RespectMoney, Power & RespectMoney, Power & Respect is the debut album by hip hop group The LOX. It was released on January 13, 1998 through Bad Boy Records and featured production from The Hitmen, Dame Grease and Swizz Beatz...
- 2000: We Are The StreetsWe Are The StreetsWe Are the Streets is the second studio album by hip hop group The LOX. It was their second album as a group, and is mainly produced by Swizz Beatz. Its commercial success was driven primarily by the hit singles "Wild Out," produced by Swizz Beatz, and "Ryde or Die, Bitch", produced by...
- 2011: New L.O.X. OrderNew L.O.X. OrderNew LOX Order is the upcoming third studio album by hip hop group The LOX, which may be released on Bad Boy Records. If so, it will be The LOX's first Bad Boy release since their 1998 debut.-Production:...
Collaboration Albums
- 2010: The Green Ghost Project (with DJ Green LanternDJ Green LanternJames D'Agostino , better known by his stage name DJ Green Lantern, is an American-Italian-Puerto Rican DJ and hip hop music producer from Rochester, New York. In 2002, D'Agostino was signed by Eminem to become the official DJ for Shady Records after DJ Head stepped down for undisclosed reasons...
)
Mixtapes
- 2004: Ghost Stories – The World According to P
- 2005: Ghost in the Machine
- 2005: Ghost in the Shell
- 2006: The Ghost That Sat By The Door
- 2007: The Phantom
- 2007: The Phantom Menace
- 2007: The Ghost Sessions
- 2008: Phantom Gangster Chronicles
- 2009: Phantom Empireee
- 2010: The Ghost Dub-DimeThe Ghost Dub-Dime-Charts:...
- 2010: The Invincible Novel Soundtrack