Ali (Missouri Rapper)
Ali | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ali Kenyatta Jones[1] |
| Born | 1971 (age 54–55) or 1972 (age 53–54) |
| Origin | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.[2] |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 1993-present |
| Labels | Universal |
Ali Kenyatta Jones[1] (born 1971 or 1972), known mononymously as Ali, is an American rapper and singer formally signed to Universal Records. He rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a founding member of the hip hop group St. Lunatics, which included fellow rappers Nelly, City Spud, Murphy Lee, and Kyjuan.
Ali's debut solo studio album, Heavy Starch (2002), peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard 200 chart and spawned a successful single – "Boughetto" (featuring Murphy Lee).
Career
In 1993, Ali formed an all-male group called St. Lunatics along with Nelly, City Spud, Murphy Lee, and Kyjuan. The group gained local traction with the release of their debut single "Gimme What You Got" in 1996.[3]
Soon after St. Lunatics released their debut album Free City in 2001, Ali decided to pursue a solo career with the Universal Records label.[2]
In 2002, Ali released his debut solo album, Heavy Starch.[4] The album peaked at number 24 on the Billboard 200 and seven on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[5][6] It featured the single "Boughetto", a duet with Murphy Lee, which reached number 97 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[7]
In 2007, Ali released a collaborative album with fellow Atlanta rapper and Goodie Mob member Gipp titled Kinfolk.[8]
Discography
Solo albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B/Hip-Hop | ||
| 2002 | Heavy Starch
|
24 | 7 |
Collaboration albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B/Hip-Hop |
US Rap | ||
| 2007 | Kinfolk with Gipp
|
174 | 25 | 9 |
Solo singles
- "Boughetto" (featuring Murphy Lee) (2002)
- "Breathe In, Breathe Out" (featuring the St. Lunatics) (2002)
Featured singles
- "Air Force Ones" (Nelly featuring Kyjuan, Ali and Murphy Lee) (2002)
- "Grillz" (2005)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Information on Ali's songs in ASCAP ACE database". ASCAP. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Birchmeier, Jason. "Ali - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
- ↑ "St. Lunatics - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
- ↑ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (May 21, 2002). "Ali :: Heavy Starch :: Universal Records". RapReviews. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ↑ "Billboard 200 Week of May 18, 2002". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
- ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Week of May 18, 2002". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
- ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Week of March 30, 2002". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
- ↑ "Ali & Gipp - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
External links
- Musical artist
- 21st-century American male singers
- 21st-century American rappers
- 20th-century American male singers
- 20th-century American rappers
- American hip hop singers
- American male rappers
- American male singer-songwriters
- Midwest hip hop musicians
- Pop rappers
- Rappers from St. Louis
- Singer-songwriters from Missouri
- Universal Records artists
