As front-man for the celebrated rap quartet the Lost Boyz, Mr. Cheeks helped his Queens, N.Y.-based crew climb the charts and etch themselves in the hip-hop hall of fame with a Platinum-selling album Legal Drug Money (1996) and the Gold-certified Love Peace And Happiness (1997).
The gritty party flavour that typified Cheeks’ music with the Lost Boyz has carried over to his equally successful solo career, which has been highlighted by the smash single ﾓLights, Camera, Action!,ﾔ included on Cheeksﾒ acclaimed debut solo album, 2001’s John P. Kelly. The song’s explosive remix, featuring P. Diddy and Missy Elliott, reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart and Hot Rap Singles Chart.
After nearly a decade in the major label system, Cheeks decided in 2004 to stake out on his own, forming independent label Legal Drug Money Records. The first release on the imprint is Mr. Cheeks’ highly anticipated third solo album, Ladies and Ghettomen.
The album’s first single is the pulsating ﾓIt’s Alright,ﾔ featuring Truth Hurts. The legendary Pete Rock, producer of Busta Rhymes, Public Enemy, and Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, produced the radio and club ready ﾓAll I Know,ﾔ along with several other tracks on the album. Elsewhere, Cheeks continues his party ways on the celebratory “Tonight” and the clever “The Girl Is Mine,” an update of the classic Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney tune. Cheeks says, “We’re just regular street guys that like to party, spend money, love the women and enjoy life. That’s what the album is mainly about.”
Legal Drug Money Records, Contango Records and local label Barcode Records have joined forces to release the album in Australia on November 19th 2004, when it will be available through JB Hi-Fi stores nationally.
