Styles P

Strongly associated with his group <a href="spotify:artist:0A7g2YbCA9FlyZvAG6VmKP">the LOX</a> (aka <a href="spotify:artist:24nRnT5RY9FRzNRXO66tJR">D-Block</a>), Styles P (or Styles) has managed a successful solo career on the side.

Born David Styles on November 28, 1974, in Queens and raised in Yonkers, he united with childhood friends <a href="spotify:artist:5pnbUBPifNnlusY8kTBivi">Jadakiss</a> and Sheek to form <a href="spotify:artist:0A7g2YbCA9FlyZvAG6VmKP">the LOX</a> in 1994. The trio went on to sign with Puff Daddy's record label, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Bad+Boy%22">Bad Boy</a>. The <a href="spotify:artist:0A7g2YbCA9FlyZvAG6VmKP">LOX</a> guested on numerous <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Bad+Boy%22">Bad Boy</a>-affiliated songs and even recorded an album of their own, Money, Power & Respect (1998), which yielded a hit single of the same name. The <a href="spotify:artist:0A7g2YbCA9FlyZvAG6VmKP">LOX</a> left <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Bad+Boy%22">Bad Boy</a> soon afterward to join the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Ruff+Ryder%22">Ruff Ryder</a> camp, where the trio's style of hardcore rap fit better alongside other rugged rappers such as <a href="spotify:artist:1HwM5zlC5qNWhJtM00yXzG">DMX</a>. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Ruff+Ryder%22">Ruff Ryder</a> released the second <a href="spotify:artist:0A7g2YbCA9FlyZvAG6VmKP">LOX</a> album, We Are the Streets (2000), followed by solo albums for each of the members.

Styles' solo debut, A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002), was led by the <a href="spotify:artist:2cADQgiLMjNhbsfeN52Bf3">Swizz Beatz</a>-produced hit single "Good Times." Four years later, he returned under the billing Styles P as <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Ruff+Ryders%22">Ruff Ryders</a> released his much-delayed sophomore album, Time Is Money (2006), in December. Almost exactly one year from that date, signed to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Koch+Records%22">Koch Records</a>, the rapper issued his third studio full-length, Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman) (2007). In 2010 he was a featured guest on <a href="spotify:artist:1sBkRIssrMs1AbVkOJbc7a">Rick Ross</a>' massive hit "BMF (Blowin' Money Fast)," while 2011 saw him release the Master of Ceremonies album. In 2012 he issued The World's Most Hardest MC Project with producers like <a href="spotify:artist:2iXdwLTWyFhlN1MQWIymvM">AraabMUZIK</a> and Jahlil Beats behind the boards, but 2013's Float was produced exclusively by Scram Jones. An accidental leak of his 2015 album A Wise Guy and a Wise Guy led to its early release as the MC dropped the 20-track LP in October of that year.

In 2016, Styles P and <a href="spotify:artist:0A7g2YbCA9FlyZvAG6VmKP">the LOX</a> returned with their first album in 16 years, Filthy America...It's Beautiful. The LP debuted within the Top 50 of the Billboard 200 and was followed by a tour. A year later, Styles released a collaborative album with <a href="spotify:artist:0lEssBAxQl2In4RpaB1C2Y">Talib Kweli</a>, The Seven. 2018's G-Host, Styles' ninth studio long-player, featured guest appearances from Nino Man, Dyce Payne, Whispers, and <a href="spotify:artist:31pIxyVveAaYS1O5K2lNEF">Oswin Benjamin</a>. Months later, he issued the collaborative effort Beloved with Harlem MC <a href="spotify:artist:7e10JUMF7MJmmwYpnTSMI5">Dave East</a>. By the end of 2018, Styles released his third effort that year, Dime Bag. Without rest, he kicked off 2019 with S.P. the GOAT: Ghost of All Time and went on to release yet another mixtape, Presence, before the year was up. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi