Jamal

Formerly one half of the East Coast/West Coast adolescent rap duo Illegal, along with Snoop Dogg's young cousin Lil Malik, this Philadelphia native got his start with Atlanta rap mogul Dallas Austin's side project. The duo drew comparisons to another child rap duo from Atlanta, Kriss Kross, but Illegal's focus was on hardcore rap and they never hesitated to dis the Kross boys on wax. Illegal's debut album, The Untold Truth, dropped in the fall of 1993 to a lukewarm reception. After disbanding in 1994, Mally G, clearly the more talented member of the duo, got down with Erick Sermon and the Def Squad soon thereafter. In late 1995, Jamal released his debut album Last Chance, No Breaks with the elastic support of heavily funky production from the Green Eyed Bandit. Jamal's pistol-whipping lyrics brought him from boyhood to manhood on the microphone and, despite his relative youthfulness, brought him respect as a hardcore lyricist. The singles "Fades 'Em All" and "Unfukwittable" were memorable, as was the inspired polished funk of producers like the E-Double, Redman, and Easy Mo Bee. The album also featured guest appearances from fellow funketeers Redman, Keith Murray, and Sir Nose himself, George Clinton. Jamal continued his work on Def Squad projects including El Nino in 1998. ~ Michael Di Bella, Rovi