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{{short description|American rapper}}
{{Cleanup|date=February 2008}}

{{Infobox musical artist {{Infobox musical artist
|Name = Spoonie Gee |name = Spoonie Gee
|image =
|Img =
|caption =
|Img_capt =
|image_size =
|Img_size =
|background = solo_singer
|Background =
|Birth_name = Gabriel Jackson |birth_name = Gabriel Jackson
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|5|27}}
|Alias =
|birth_place = ], U.S.
|Born =
|alias = The Godfather, Spoonin Gee, The Metropolitician
|Died =
|genre = ], ]
|Origin =
|Instrument = ] |occupation = ]
|years_active = 1975—present
|Genre = ]
|label = ]<br />]<br />Sound of New York, USA
|Occupation = ]
|associated_acts = ]
|Years_active =
|website =
|Label = ], Tuff City Records, Sounds of New York, USA
|current_members =
|Associated_acts =
|past_members =
|URL =
|Current_members =
|Past_members =
}} }}
'''Gabriel Jackson''' (born May 27, 1963), better known by his ] '''Spoonie Gee''', is one of the earliest ] artists, and one of the few to have released rap records in the 1970s. He has been credited with originating the term ]{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} and some of the themes in his music were precursors of ].
'''Spoonie Gee''' (born '''Gabriel Jackson''') was the nephew of veteran ] producer ] and one of the earliest rap artists. He recorded for ]'s ] and ]'s ] imprint. He sometimes performed and recorded as part of Spoonie Gee & ]. There is some controversy over the spelling of his nickname. In "]" he is heard spelling his own name as S to the p-double o-n-y. In interviews he says his nickname is correctly spelled with a 'Y', but he later spelled it with an 'IE'. The bulk of early rap records reproduced an MC's party routine with a loose sequence of narrative, boasting, and call and response. Spoonie's initial outing, however, organized a ] styled record around a romantic theme, coming closer to the lyrical norms of ]. The intimate "]" was accompanied only by drum set and congas, and the ] next record continued in a similarly minimalist vein. The voice-over on 1979's "]"{{Sound sample box align right|Music sample:}}

{{Listen
== Career ==
|filename=Spoonie Gee - Spoonin' Rap.ogg
Jackson was born in ], ], receiving his 'Spoonie' nickname as a child because the spoon was the only utensil that he used to eat with.<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1999) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music'', Virgin Books, pp. 322–23. {{ISBN|0-7535-0252-6}}</ref><ref name="Shapiro">Shapiro, Peter (2005) ''The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop'', Rough Guides, pp. 344–45. {{ISBN|1-84353-263-8}}</ref> His mother died when he was twelve years old, and he went to live with his uncle, the record producer ], in whose apartment he began to practice rapping.<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="Shapiro" /><ref name="Toop">Toop, David (1984) ''The Rap Attack: African Jive to New York Hip Hop'', Pluto. {{ISBN|978-0-86104-777-2}}</ref>
|title=Spoonin' Rap

|description=A 29 second sample of "Spoonin' Rap"
His first recording came about after Peter Brown visited Robinson's record store and mentioned that he was looking to make a rap record.<ref name="Toop" /> Spoonie's name was suggested, and he recorded "Spoonin' Rap", which was released on Brown's Sound of New York, USA imprint, featuring a lyric that included jailhouse references that would later become common in gangsta rap, and with echo applied to his vocals.<ref name="Pierson" /> Spoonie Gee has been described as "the original gangsta rapper".<ref name="Leland89">] (1989) "", '']'', 12 March 1989. retrieved 2010-03-28</ref><ref name="Leland90">Leland, John (1990) "", '']'', 26 August 1990. retrieved 2010-03-28</ref>
|format=]}}

{{sample box end}} stuck to more conventional ] boasting but looks forward to the ] attitude in its jailhouse references. "]" was also prophetic in its use of flexatone and heavily echoed voice, suggesting the Jamaican connection that was denied in early interviews by some of the rap originators. In 1980, Spoonie collaborated with Sequence on a classic single, "]", probably the last word in the series of "]" / "]" variations, and a classic in the ] vein, complete with a heavy bass line and crowd noises. His album "'']''" was released on Tuff City Records in 1987.
He then recorded for Robinson's ]; his first release for the label being the similarly minimalistic "Love Rap" (on which he was accompanied on ]s by his brother Pooche Costello), issued on the B-side of the ]'s "New Rap Language" (on which he also featured), leading to his early nickname of 'The Love Rapper'.<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="Pierson">Pierson, Richard "", ], retrieved 2010-03-28</ref> Jackson was a founding member of the ], along with ] and ]. Although the group added ] as a member when Jackson left to record his first single, Gee maintained ties and affiliation with the group, and also played a hand in the group getting their first record deal. The group was named Spoonie Gee and the Treacherous Three when Jackson returned for a period before going solo.<ref>Fricke, Jim; Ahearn, Charlie (2002). ''Yes Yes Y'all: the Experience Music Project Oral History of Hip-Hop's First Decade''. ]. p. 265.</ref>

He left Enjoy! and moved to ], where he enjoyed further hits with "Spoonie's Back" and the collaboration with ] on "Monster Jam".<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="Pierson" /> In 1985, he moved on again to Aaron Fuchs' ] label, on which the majority of his later output was issued, including "That's My Style", on which he attacked ] for copying his style.<ref name="Shapiro" /> By the mid-1980s, he was also working in a rehabilitation centre for people with learning disabilities.<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="Toop" /> His career took off once again in 1987 with his debut album ''The Godfather of Rap'', produced by ] and ], and issued on the Tuff City label.<ref name="Larkin" /> His career has since been hampered by several spells in prison.<ref name="Shapiro" />

In the mid-1990s, a compilation of his work, ''Godfather of Hip Hop'', was issued on the Ol' Skool Flava label. In the mid-2000s, he returned with a new ], ''The Boss Is Back''.<ref name="Pierson" />

In 2008, "Love Rap" was ranked number 65 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.<ref>"", Stereogum.com. retrieved 2010-03-28</ref>


== Discography ==
"Spoonin' Rap" was featured on ].
=== Albums ===
* ''The Godfather of Rap'' (1987), ]
* ''Old and New Jams'' (1989), BCM (compilation)
* ''Old and New Jams/The Godfather'' (1993), BCM (compilation)
* ''Godfather of Hip Hop'' (1996), Ol' Skool Flava (compilation)


=== Singles ===
In 2004, ''The Godfather'' appeared on popular ] '']'', playing on ] radio station ]. The song also features on the ] album "'']''".
* "Spoonin' Rap" (1979), Sound of New York
* "Love Rap" (1979), ] – B-side of ]'s "New Rap Language"
* "Monster Jam" (1980), ] – Spoonie Gee Meets ]
* "Spoonie Is Back" (1981), Sugar Hill
* "Re-Mix of Spoonie Rap" (1982), Heavenly Star
* "The Big Beat" (1983), Tuff City/]
* "Get Off My Tip" (1985), Tuff City
* "New Love Rap" (1985), Enjoy!
* "Street Girl" (1985), Tuff City
* "That's My Style"/"I'll Serve You Right" ] "Take It Off " (1986), Tuff City
* "I'm All Shook Up" (1987), Tuff City
* "The Godfather" (1987), Tuff City
* "(You Ain't Just a Fool) You's an Old Fool" (1988), Tuff City
* "Mighty Mike Tyson" (1988), Tuff City
* "Spoonin' Rap" (1999), Ol' Skool Flava
* "]" – Moby featuring Spoonie G (1999), Mute, V2
* ''The Boss Is Back'' EP (2005), New Sound of Harlem


== References ==
An interview with Spoonie Gee
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
* at ]


{{Treacherous Three}}
{{US-hiphop-bio-stub}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Spoonie Gee}}
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Latest revision as of 13:20, 13 December 2024

American rapper
Spoonie Gee
Birth nameGabriel Jackson
Also known asThe Godfather, Spoonin Gee, The Metropolitician
Born (1963-05-27) May 27, 1963 (age 61)
New York City, U.S.
GenresHip hop, funk
OccupationRapper
Years active1975—present
LabelsEnjoy! Records
Tuff City
Sound of New York, USA
Musical artist

Gabriel Jackson (born May 27, 1963), better known by his stage name Spoonie Gee, is one of the earliest rap artists, and one of the few to have released rap records in the 1970s. He has been credited with originating the term hip hop and some of the themes in his music were precursors of gangsta rap.

Career

Jackson was born in Harlem, New York City, receiving his 'Spoonie' nickname as a child because the spoon was the only utensil that he used to eat with. His mother died when he was twelve years old, and he went to live with his uncle, the record producer Bobby Robinson, in whose apartment he began to practice rapping.

His first recording came about after Peter Brown visited Robinson's record store and mentioned that he was looking to make a rap record. Spoonie's name was suggested, and he recorded "Spoonin' Rap", which was released on Brown's Sound of New York, USA imprint, featuring a lyric that included jailhouse references that would later become common in gangsta rap, and with echo applied to his vocals. Spoonie Gee has been described as "the original gangsta rapper".

He then recorded for Robinson's Enjoy! Records; his first release for the label being the similarly minimalistic "Love Rap" (on which he was accompanied on congas by his brother Pooche Costello), issued on the B-side of the Treacherous Three's "New Rap Language" (on which he also featured), leading to his early nickname of 'The Love Rapper'. Jackson was a founding member of the Treacherous Three, along with L.A. Sunshine and Kool Moe Dee. Although the group added Special K as a member when Jackson left to record his first single, Gee maintained ties and affiliation with the group, and also played a hand in the group getting their first record deal. The group was named Spoonie Gee and the Treacherous Three when Jackson returned for a period before going solo.

He left Enjoy! and moved to Sugar Hill Records, where he enjoyed further hits with "Spoonie's Back" and the collaboration with the Sequence on "Monster Jam". In 1985, he moved on again to Aaron Fuchs' Tuff City label, on which the majority of his later output was issued, including "That's My Style", on which he attacked Schoolly D for copying his style. By the mid-1980s, he was also working in a rehabilitation centre for people with learning disabilities. His career took off once again in 1987 with his debut album The Godfather of Rap, produced by Marley Marl and Teddy Riley, and issued on the Tuff City label. His career has since been hampered by several spells in prison.

In the mid-1990s, a compilation of his work, Godfather of Hip Hop, was issued on the Ol' Skool Flava label. In the mid-2000s, he returned with a new EP, The Boss Is Back.

In 2008, "Love Rap" was ranked number 65 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

Discography

Albums

  • The Godfather of Rap (1987), Tuff City
  • Old and New Jams (1989), BCM (compilation)
  • Old and New Jams/The Godfather (1993), BCM (compilation)
  • Godfather of Hip Hop (1996), Ol' Skool Flava (compilation)

Singles

  • "Spoonin' Rap" (1979), Sound of New York
  • "Love Rap" (1979), Enjoy! – B-side of Treacherous Three's "New Rap Language"
  • "Monster Jam" (1980), Sugar Hill – Spoonie Gee Meets The Sequence
  • "Spoonie Is Back" (1981), Sugar Hill
  • "Re-Mix of Spoonie Rap" (1982), Heavenly Star
  • "The Big Beat" (1983), Tuff City/Epic
  • "Get Off My Tip" (1985), Tuff City
  • "New Love Rap" (1985), Enjoy!
  • "Street Girl" (1985), Tuff City
  • "That's My Style"/"I'll Serve You Right" b/w "Take It Off " (1986), Tuff City
  • "I'm All Shook Up" (1987), Tuff City
  • "The Godfather" (1987), Tuff City
  • "(You Ain't Just a Fool) You's an Old Fool" (1988), Tuff City
  • "Mighty Mike Tyson" (1988), Tuff City
  • "Spoonin' Rap" (1999), Ol' Skool Flava
  • "Bodyrock" – Moby featuring Spoonie G (1999), Mute, V2
  • The Boss Is Back EP (2005), New Sound of Harlem

References

  1. ^ Larkin, Colin (1999) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music, Virgin Books, pp. 322–23. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6
  2. ^ Shapiro, Peter (2005) The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop, Rough Guides, pp. 344–45. ISBN 1-84353-263-8
  3. ^ Toop, David (1984) The Rap Attack: African Jive to New York Hip Hop, Pluto. ISBN 978-0-86104-777-2
  4. ^ Pierson, Richard "Spoonie Gee Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-03-28
  5. Leland, John (1989) "RECORDINGS; Rap as Public Forum on Matters of Life and Death", The New York Times, 12 March 1989. retrieved 2010-03-28
  6. Leland, John (1990) "HIP HOP FOR BEGINNERS A Parents' Guide to What's Dookie and Fly", Newsday, 26 August 1990. retrieved 2010-03-28
  7. Fricke, Jim; Ahearn, Charlie (2002). Yes Yes Y'all: the Experience Music Project Oral History of Hip-Hop's First Decade. Experience Music Project. p. 265.
  8. "VH1’s 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs", Stereogum.com. retrieved 2010-03-28

External links


Treacherous Three
Studio albums
Compilations
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