Memphis Bleek

Rapper Memphis Bleek was raised in Brooklyn, NY’s Marcy Projects housing community, making his recorded debut in 1996 on Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt. A member of the Roc-A-Fella Records stable, Bleek made his solo debut in 1999 with Coming of Age. While his debut did warrant plenty of attention, he wasn’t able to capitalize on the hype surrounding his debut, resulting in a questionable collection of songs — powered primarily by its Swizz Beatz-produced lead single — that didn’t live up to the lofty expectations many had. In late 2000, his sophomore album, The Understanding, appeared alongside Bleek’s high-profile appearance with Jay-Z in the “Hey Papi” single from the Nutty Professor II soundtrack and its Hype Williams-directed video (featuring a cameo appearance by Pamela Anderson). In addition to this eye-catching promotional ploy, the lead single from The Understanding, “Mind Right,” soon followed. His third album M.A.D.E. appeared in 2003, followed by 534 in 2005. ~ Jason Ankeny