Boss (rapper)

Lichelle Laws (born September 12, 1969), better known by her stage name Bo$$, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Her debut album, Born Gangstaz, reached number three on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 1993. Her name is sometimes stylized as Bo$$.

Bo$$
Birth nameLichelle Laws
Born (1969-09-12) September 12, 1969
OriginDetroit, Michigan, United States
GenresHip hop
Years active1988–1995
2001–present
LabelsDef Jam West, Chaos, Columbia, SME Records (1992–1995)
8055 Records (2004–2006)

Personal life and career

Born in Detroit to an autoworker father and teacher mother, both church deacons,[1][2] Laws relocated to Los Angeles after graduating high school, accompanied by her DJ Irene 'Dee' Moore. She was spotted by DJ Quik who stuck her on a track with AMG. Russell Simmons liked the track and promptly signed her to Def Jam West.[3] Her debut album Born Gangstaz was released in 1993,[4] and the singles, "Deeper" and "Recipe for a Hoe", hit number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.[5]

Laws' fledgling career took a major blow in 1994 when she was interviewed by a reporter from The Wall Street Journal. The reporter revealed that she grew up in a middle-class neighborhood (on the West Side, Detroit), studied ballet and piano, and attended Catholic private school (where she was a cheerleader), before majoring in business for two years at Oakland University.[2][1][6][7] These facts had all been discussed in the intro of the 1992 album on which Boss's mother described Boss as, "a young lady who was brought up through Catholic school for 12 years; and dance schools, tap dance, jazz, piano lessons and all of that; plus, you went to college for three years...."[8]

In the mid-1990s, she moved to Dallas, Texas, and went on to be a radio DJ. In 2001, she collaborated with Krayzie Bone on his album Thug On Da Line. In 2004, she released a mixtape titled The Six Million Dollar Mixtape produced by Def Jef.[9]

It was revealed in May 2011 that Laws is in need of a kidney due to her suffering from renal disease, a disease that rendered her kidneys useless for processing toxins in her body. Laws reached out to the Facebook community for a potential donor. A donor is yet to be found.[10]

Discography

Studio albums
Year Title Peak chart positions
US US
R&B
1993 Born Gangstaz 22 3

Collaboration albums
  • Doin Everythang with D.E.T. (2008)[11]

Singles
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
Hot
100		 R&B Rap Dance Born Gangstaz
1993 "Deeper" 65 28 1 25
"Recipe of a Hoe" 118[A] 73 1 29

Songs in soundtracks

Boss' song "I Don't Give A Fuck" featured as the Closing Credits song of the episode "Lesbian Request Denied" from Season 1 of the Netflix TV show Orange Is the New Black.[12]

References
  1. Smith, Brian. "Music: Same as the old Boss". Metro Times. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  2. "Why The Double Standard When It Comes To Violence? | The Seattle Times". Archive.seattletimes.com.
  3. Smith, Brian. "Music: Same as the old Boss". Metro Times. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  4. Andy Kellman. "Born Gangstaz". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  5. "Rap Music: Top Rap Songs Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  6. "Pants On Fire: Hip-Hop's Most Exposed Liars". Complex. Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  7. "Boss :: The Six Million Dollar Mixtape :: 8055 Music". Rapreviews.com.
  8. "boss - intro a call from mom - Born Gangstaz". YouTube.
  9. Jost, Matt (30 November 2004). "The Six Million Dollar Mixtape Review". Rapreviews.com. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  10. Steven. "Rapper Bo$$ In Need Of Kidney Transplant". Hip Hop DX. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  11. "Doin Every Thang by D.E.T". Rateyourmusic.com.
  12. "Orange is the New Black Music - Season 1: "Lesbian Request Denied" - TuneFind". TuneFind.com. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 18 Sep 2014.


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