Lord Jamar

Lorenzo Dechalus (born September 17, 1968),[1] 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. In 1996, he discovered Dead Prez and got them signed to Loud Records.

Lord Jamar
Lord Jamar in 2020.
Lord Jamar in 2020.
Background information
Birth nameLorenzo Dechalus
Born (1968-09-17) September 17, 1968 (age 55)
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
OriginNew Rochelle, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, DJ, record producer, actor, podcaster
Instrument(s)Vocals, sampler, keyboard, turntable
Years active1989–present
LabelsBabygrande/Koch, Elektra, Loud
Member ofBrand Nubian

Early life

Jamar was born in The Bronx, New York City, but was raised in New Rochelle, New York.[2] Jamar has Afro-Guyanese heritage on his father's side, and he is the eldest of three brothers.[2] 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.[2] DJ Daryll C of Crash Crew used to take Jamar to hip hop shows in New York City.[2] Jamar sold crack cocaine during his teen years, but stopped after people he knew received sealed indictments.[2] He dropped out of high school after failing ninth grade, and worked a few short-term jobs prior to signing a record deal.[2]

Career

Brand Nubian's debut studio album, One for All, was released in 1990 and is regarded by The Source as one of the all-time greatest hip hop albums.[3]

Brand Nubian's third studio album, Everything is Everything was released in 1994. In 1996, he discovered Dead Prez and got them signed to Loud Records. 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 worked as a producer for artists such as Dead Prez, Buckshot, Shaka Amazulu the 7th and Tom Browne. His group went on to release their fourth album Foundation in 1998, with Grand Puba and DJ Alamo making their return to appear on the album.

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.[citation needed]

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,"[4] and that, in regard to the George Floyd protests, "most people looting are white; some riots are staged by paid agitators."[5]

Views

Jamar released a diss track directed at 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.[6][7] Jamar denied the homophobia accusations by tweeting that he "went to a gay wedding of a good friend not long ago".[8]

In a September 2013 interview on VladTV, Jamar declared that white rappers were "guests in hip hop".[9][10] Eminem responded to Jamar with the track "Fall" from his 2018 album Kamikaze.[11] Jamar responded to Eminem on his podcast.[12]

In July 2020, Jamar denounced the Black Lives Matter movement in a video posted to his Twitter account by the music account SCUM, saying, "Black Lives Matter is a movement that was given to us by George Soros and his fucking boys because they saw how things were going and they didn't want it to go back to the 60s."[13]

In December 2020, Jamar denied the death of six million Jews in the Holocaust, stating that at most 500,000 died, and claiming that six million Jews were not even present in Europe at the time.[14]

Discography

Studio albums

Guest appearances

List of guest appearances
TitleYearOther performer(s)Album
"Show Business"1991A Tribe Called Quest, Sadat X, Diamond DThe Low End Theory
"Verbal Intercourse (Non-Cross-Over Resistance Version)"Professor Griff, Killa Ranks, Sadat X, Wise IntelligentVerbal Intercourse (VLS)
"Where Ya At? (Extended Version)"1995Mobb Deep, Chuck D, DA Smart, Erule, Merchant, RZA, Killah Priest, Sunz of Man, Brooklyn ZuOne Million Strong
"Bluesanova"1996Dead PrezHip Bop
"Live Wires Connect"UGK, Keith MurrayDon't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood: The Soundtrack
"The Lump Lump (Nubian Mix)"Grand Puba, Sadat XThe Lump Lump (VLS)
"Tell Me (6 Karat Hip Hop Mix)"1997Groove Theory, Sadat XCheck the Vibe
"Collaboration of Mics"Artifacts, Lord FinesseThat's Them
"Street Parables"Shabazz the DiscipleStreet Parables (VLS)
"That Real Live"2000QNCLean To (VLS)
"Oz Theme 2000"2001Kool G Rap, Talib KweliOz: The Soundtrack
"Fightin' Clocks Remix"IlacoinFightin' Clocks Remix (VLS)
"Keep It Movin"Grand PubaUnderstand This
"The Classic Mix Part II"2003DJ Armsteady, Sadat XThe Enyce Experience
"Nitty Gritty (Dog Spelled Backwards Mix)"KMD, Busta Rhymes, Sadat XBest of KMD
"Important Shit"2005Jus Allah, AgallahAll Fates Have Changed
"Chosen Few"2006Sadat XBlack October
"U-Riders"2007U-FamThe War on Hip Hop
"Angel Dust"2008Hasan SalaamChildren of God
"Igod"Shaka Amazulu the 7th, Darkim Be AllahThe Black Stone of Mecca
"Engage the Enemy Remix"2009Blak MadeenSacred Defense
"Deep Space (Jay da Flex & Yoof Remix)"RZAWu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture, Vol. 2: Enter the Dubstep
"I See Dead People"Grand Puba, RellRetroactive
"This Joint Right Here (Remix)"Grand Puba, Kid Capri, Sadat X
"Brand New Bein'"Sadat X, Grand PubaBrand New Bein'
"Long Years"2010Sadat X, Grand PubaWild Cowboys II
"Up Against the Wall"Group Home, MC AceGifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal
"Apocalyptic Shit"2011Lord SuperbPerb Made It Possible
"Every Hood's a Harlem"
"Industry RMX 2"2015Large Professor, Inspectah Deck, Cormega, Roc Marciano, Sadat XRe:Living
"When the Gods Sing"2016Sadat X, DizhwarNever Left (Deluxe Edition)
"No One Ever Dies"School of the GiftedWuMinati III: Divine Evil
"Cut and Dry"Sadat XAgua
"Street Disciples"2017Heaven Razah, Block McCloud, Rasul AllahZayin: You Only Live Twice

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000Da Hip Hop WitchHimself
2002Morning BreathDevonShort
2004L-o-v-eMelvinShort
2005Funny ValentineTim
2006They're Just My FriendsLight
2007WifeyJevin 'Huss' JonesTV movie
2009Father's DayRammelShort
Buffalo Bushido Torchy
2010Drugs 101ChuckyShort
2016Kill for MeSkull
2020Drug AffectedChucky

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001OzKevin 'Supreme Allah' KetchumRecurring Cast: Season 4
100 Centre Street-Episode: "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished"
2002Law & OrderLeon GriggsEpisode: "Attorney Client"
2003Law & Order: Special Victims UnitBad Ass / Javier / LeonGuest Cast: Season 4-5
2004-05Third WatchRaymond MorrisRecurring Cast: Season 6
2006The SopranosDa LuxEpisode: "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh"
2007Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper ShowHimselfEpisode: Episode #1.3
2011Rescue MeD'brickshawRecurring Cast: Season 7
2012ElementaryRaul RamirezEpisode: "You Do It to Yourself"
2013Person of InterestGrishinEpisode: "Relevance"
2016The Night OfTinoRecurring Cast
Money Power RespectHimselfEpisode: "Opening Arguments" & "Till Death Do Us Manage"
2018UnsungHimselfEpisode: "Brand Nubian" & "Digable Planets"
Hip-Hop EvolutionHimselfEpisode: "Do the Knowledge"
2020For LifeElijahEpisode: "Character and Fitness"
2020-21The Last O.G.DivineGuest Cast: Season 3-4

Documentary

YearTitle
2004And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop
2010The Furious Force of Rhymes
2012Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
2018Black, White & Blue
2021The Sixth Borough of Hip-Hop
Buck Breaking

References