City High

City High was an American hip hop/R&B trio consisting of rappers/singers Ryan Toby, Robbie Pardlo and Claudette Ortiz. City High is best known for their song, "What Would You Do?", which earned a Grammy nomination.[1]

City High
OriginWillingboro Township, New Jersey, United States
GenresHip hop, R&B
Years active1999–2003
LabelsInterscope Records, Booga Basement Records, Trackmasters Entertainment
Past membersRyan Toby
Robbie Pardlo
Claudette Ortiz

Career

City High issued "What Would You Do?" from their 2001 self-titled album. Their follow-up single was "Caramel". A remix was released, featuring rapper Eve.[2] The final single from the group's debut and only album was "City High Anthem".

Prior to creation of City High, bandmates Claudette Ortiz and Robbie Pardlo dated throughout their high school years.[3] After meeting and performing for Wyclef Jean, they were signed to his Booga Basement recording label. As Wooga Booga already had a duo, they invited Ryan Toby and became the City High trio instead.[3] Following her breakup with Pardlo, Ortiz went on to date Toby. Ortiz and Toby married in 2004, but later divorced in 2007.[4][5]

In early 2002, City High shot several mini music video commercials for MTV, based on their own songs promoting the eleventh season of The Real World. The band also appeared in a series of mini commercials promoting 2002's The Real World: Chicago, before disbanding in 2003.

In late 2008, Toby and Ortiz reunited to contribute vocals on "Through the Pain" which was featured on Eye Legacy, a posthumous release by the late rapper Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes.

In 2010, Pardlo appeared as the subject of an seventh-season episode of the A&E television series, Intervention as an alcoholic. The show led to Pardlo working a program of recovery. He is still working in the music industry.

On 13 June 2013, Toby and Pardlo performed "What Would You Do?" at the Key Club in Hollywood during Lil' Kim's Return of the Queen Tour.

Discography

Albums

Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications
US US R&B
2001 City High 34 23

Singles

Year Song Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B
US
Rap
AUS
[7]
CAN UK
[8]
2001 "What Would You Do?" 81312193 City High
"Caramel"
(featuring Eve)
189479
2002 "City High Anthem"

References

  1. Billboard.com
  2. MTV's City High artist page Archived 4 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Dimewars.com Archived 10 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Ryan Toby Interview". Randb.about.com. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  5. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.
  6. "australian-charts.com – Discography City High". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  7. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 107. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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