Lord Jamar

Lorenzo Dechalus (born September 17, 1968), known professionally as Lord Jamar, is an American rapper, DJ, record producer, actor and podcaster. He is a founding member of the hip hop group Brand Nubian, which was formed in 1989.[1][2] Jamar was a frequent guest on VladTV, where he has drawn attention for his comments on social issues such as racism, sexism and homophobia.[3][4][5][6]

Lord Jamar
Birth nameLorenzo Dechalus
Born (1968-09-17) September 17, 1968
New York City, New York, U.S.
OriginNew Rochelle, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, DJ, record producer, actor, podcaster
InstrumentsVocals, sampler, keyboard, turntable
Years active1989–present
LabelsBabygrande/Koch, Elektra, Loud
Associated actsBrand Nubian, Wu-Tang Clan, Dead Prez

Early life

Jamar was born in The Bronx, New York City, but was raised in New Rochelle, New York.[7] Jamar has Afro-Guyanese heritage on his father's side, and he is the eldest of three brothers.[7] He was introduced to hip hop music in the 1970s through a friend who lived in his neighborhood, and he would listen to tapes of The Cold Crush Brothers, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and The Sugarhill Gang.[7] DJ Daryll C of Crash Crew used to take Jamar to hip hop shows in New York City.[7] Jamar sold crack cocaine during his teen years, but stopped after people he knew received sealed indictments.[7] He dropped out of high school after failing ninth grade, and worked a few short-term jobs prior to signing a record deal.[7]

Career

Brand Nubian's debut studio album, One for All, was released in 1990 and is regarded as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.[8][9]

Brand Nubian's third studio album, Everything is Everything was released in 1994.

As an actor, Jamar is best known for his role of Supreme Allah on the TV series Oz. He has appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Third Watch, and The Sopranos. He has also performed production work for artists such as Dead Prez, Buckshot, Shaka Amazulu the 7th and Tom Browne.

He released his debut solo album The 5% Album (an album dedicated to the Nation of Gods and Earths) on June 27, 2006. Like his onscreen character on Oz, Jamar is a member of the Nation of Gods and Earths.

Jamar currently co-hosts a podcast, Yanadameen Godcast, with fellow rapper Rah Digga. He has criticized Black Lives Matter, saying, "It's not our movement,"[10] and that, in regard to the George Floyd protests, "most people looting are white; some riots are staged by paid agitators."[11]

Controversy

Jamar garnered controversy after releasing a diss track towards Kanye West on February 4, 2013 titled "Lift Up Your Skirt," and stated that "gay has no place in hip-hop", which led to him being characterized by some in the media as homophobic.[12][13] Jamar denied the homophobia accusations by tweeting that he "went to a gay wedding of a good friend not long ago".[14]

In a September 2013 interview on VladTV, Jamar declared that white rappers were "guests in hip hop", compared Eminem to Macklemore, and made further remarks about white rappers and homosexuality.[15][16] Eminem responded to Jamar with the track "Fall" from his 2018 album Kamikaze.[17] Jamar responded to Eminem on his podcast.[18]

He again aroused controversy in 2020 for arguing that only 500,000 Jews died in the Holocaust.[19]

Discography

Studio albums

Guest appearances

List of guest appearances
Title Year Other performer(s) Album
"Show Business" 1991 A Tribe Called Quest, Sadat X, Diamond D The Low End Theory
"Verbal Intercourse (Non-Cross-Over Resistance Version)" Professor Griff, Killa Ranks, Sadat X, Wise Intelligent Verbal Intercourse (VLS)
"Where Ya At? (Extended Version)" 1995 Mobb Deep, Chuck D, DA Smart, Erule, Merchant, RZA, Killah Priest, Sunz of Man, Brooklyn Zu One Million Strong
"Bluesanova" 1996 Dead Prez Hip Bop
"Live Wires Connect" UGK, Keith Murray Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood: The Soundtrack
"The Lump Lump (Nubian Mix)" Grand Puba, Sadat X The Lump Lump (VLS)
"Tell Me (6 Karat Hip Hop Mix)" 1997 Groove Theory, Sadat X Check the Vibe
"Collaboration of Mics" Artifacts, Lord Finesse That's Them
"Street Parables" Shabazz the Disciple Street Parables (VLS)
"That Real Live" 2000 QNC Lean To (VLS)
"Oz Theme 2000" 2001 Kool G Rap, Talib Kweli Oz: The Soundtrack
"Fightin' Clocks Remix" Ilacoin Fightin' Clocks Remix (VLS)
"Keep It Movin" Grand Puba Understand This
"The Classic Mix Part II" 2003 DJ Armsteady, Sadat X The Enyce Experience
"Nitty Gritty (Dog Spelled Backwards Mix)" KMD, Busta Rhymes, Sadat X Best of KMD
"Important Shit" 2005 Jus Allah, Agallah All Fates Have Changed
"Chosen Few" 2006 Sadat X Black October
"U-Riders" 2007 U-Fam The War on Hip Hop
"Angel Dust" 2008 Hasan Salaam Children of God
"Igod" Shaka Amazulu the 7th, Darkim Be Allah The Black Stone of Mecca
"Engage the Enemy Remix" 2009 Blak Madeen Sacred Defense
"Deep Space (Jay da Flex & Yoof Remix)" RZA Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture, Vol. 2: Enter the Dubstep
"I See Dead People" Grand Puba, Rell Retroactive
"This Joint Right Here (Remix)" Grand Puba, Kid Capri, Sadat X
"Brand New Bein'" Sadat X, Grand Puba Brand New Bein'
"Long Years" 2010 Sadat X, Grand Puba Wild Cowboys II
"Up Against the Wall" Group Home, MC Ace Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal
"Apocalyptic Shit" 2011 Lord Superb Perb Made It Possible
"Every Hood's a Harlem"
"Industry RMX 2" 2015 Large Professor, Inspectah Deck, Cormega, Roc Marciano, Sadat X Re:Living
"When the Gods Sing" 2016 Sadat X, Dizhwar Never Left (Deluxe Edition)
"No One Ever Dies" School of the Gifted WuMinati III: Divine Evil
"Cut and Dry" Sadat X Agua
"Street Disciples" 2017 Heaven Razah, Block McCloud, Rasul Allah Zayin: You Only Live Twice

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Morning Breath Devon Short Film
2004 L-o-v-e Melvin Short Film
And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop Himself Documentary
2005 Funny Valentine Tim
2006 They're Just My Friends Light
2007 Wifey Jevin 'Huss' Jones Television Film
2009 Father's Day Rammel Short Film
Buffalo Bushido Torchy
2010 Drugs 101 Chucky Short Film
The Furious Force of Rhymes Himself Documentary
2012 Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap Himself Documentary

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Oz Kevin 'Supreme Allah' Ketchum 11 Episodes
100 Centre Street Episode: "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished"
2002 Law & Order Leon Griggs Episode: "Attorney Client"
2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Bad Ass / Javier
Leon
Episode: "Mother"
Episode: "Desperate"
2004-2005 Third Watch Raymond Morris Episode: "Forever Blue"
Episode "Broken"
2006 The Sopranos Da Lux Episode: "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh"
2007 Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show Himself Episode 3
2011 Rescue Me D'brickshaw Episode: "Vows"
Episode: "Jeter"
2012 Elementary Raul Ramirez Episode: "You Do It to Yourself"
2013 Person of Interest Grishin Episode: "Relevance"
2016 The Night Of Tino 4 Episodes
2016 Money Power Respect Himself Recurring Role

References

  1. "Hip-Hop's Alpha Conservative". The New Yorker. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  2. Jacob Katel (10 March 2014). "Brand Nubian's Lord Jamar on Race: "Pitbull Is Cuban, Cuban Is Black, Macklemore's White"". Crossfade. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  3. Martin, Andrew (2013-02-04). "Listen: Lord Jamar Disses Kanye West on Homophobic New Song". Complex. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  4. Krishnamurthy, Sowmya (2013-02-04). "Lord Jamar Is Mad At Kanye West's Kilt On Diss Track". MTV. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  5. "Lord Jamar Calls White Rappers "Guests," Slanders Hopsin On Twitter [PHOTOS]". Hip-Hop Wired. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  6. HipHopDX. "Lord Jamar Says White Rappers Are Guests In Hip Hop". HipHopDX. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  7. "F.D.S #141 - LORD JAMAR - TALKS EMINEM, BRAND NUBIAN HISTORY, MALCOLM X & MUCH MORE - FULL EPISODE". YouTube. QuietRoom. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  8. "The Source 100 Best Rap Albums". RockList.net. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  9. "Acclaimed Music – One for All". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  10. Lord Jamar: I Don't Support Black Lives Matter, It's Not Our Movement
  11. Lord Jamar: Most People Looting Are White, Some Riots Are Staged by Paid Agitators
  12. Martin, Andrew (2013-02-04). "Listen: Lord Jamar Disses Kanye West on Homophobic New Song". Complex. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  13. Krishnamurthy, Sowmya (2013-02-04). "Lord Jamar Is Mad At Kanye West's Kilt On Diss Track". MTV. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  14. "Tweet by @lordjamar". Twitter. 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  15. "Lord Jamar Calls White Rappers "Guests," Slanders Hopsin On Twitter [PHOTOS]". Hip-Hop Wired. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  16. HipHopDX. "Lord Jamar Says White Rappers Are Guests In Hip Hop". HipHopDX. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  17. Mylrea, Hannah. "Ouch. All the people Eminem disses on surprise album 'Kamikaze'". NME. NME. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  18. Zidel, Alex. "Lord Jamar Responds To Eminem's Diss On "Kamikaze" Track "Fall"". HotNewHipHop. HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  19. Liphshiz, Cnaan (2 December 2020). "Rapper Lord Jamar says 500,000 Jews at most died in the Holocaust". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
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