Sheek Louch

Sheek Louch united with childhood friends Jadakiss and Styles to form the LOX, and the trio in turn signed with Bad Boy in the late ’90s. The LOX appeared on numerous Bad Boy-affiliated songs as guests and even released an album of their own, Money, Power & Respect (1998), which yielded a hit single of the same name. The LOX left Bad Boy soon afterward to join the Ruff Ryders camp, where the trio’s style of hardcore rap fit better alongside other rugged rappers such as DMX. There, the LOX released their second album, We Are the Streets (2000), followed by solo albums from each of the members. Sheek released his solo debut, Walk Witt Me, in 2003 on the group’s own Universal-distributed label, D-Block. Despite modest promotion, the label debuted in the Billboard Top Ten, confirming the group’s street-level appeal. Silverback Gorilla followed in 2008, with Donnie G: Don Gorilla arriving in 2010. In 2014 he issued the sequel Silverback Gorilla 2 with A$AP Ferg, Ghostface Killah, and Raheem DeVaughn all on the guest list. ~ Jason Birchmeier