Ahmad (rapper)

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Ahmad
Birth name Ahmad Ali Lewis
Born (1975-10-12) October 12, 1975 (age 49)
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1992–present
Labels Giant, Reprise, Warner Bros. Records, Interscope, Universal Records
Gotee/Lookalive Records, EMI Records
WeCLAP
Associated acts 4th Avenue Jones

Ahmad Ali Lewis (born October 12, 1975), simply known as Ahmad (often stylized AHMAD), is an American hip hop recording artist, songwriter, motivational speaker and author from Los Angeles, California. He is perhaps best known for the 1994 single "Back in the Day," a nostalgic song that became a fixture for nostalgia in hip-hop culture. Ahmad is also a former member and founder of the hip-hop fusion band 4th Avenue Jones.

Life and career

Ahmad made his recording debut in 1993 on the soundtrack of The Meteor Man with the song "Who Can." Released when Ahmad was 18, "Back in the Day" the remix version (produced by Maurice Thompson & Jay Williams of Barr 9 Productions) hit No. 26 on the US pop charts and No. 19 on the U.S. R&B charts on the strength of its hook, sung over a sample of the Teddy Pendergrass song "Love TKO." It also reached No. 64 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] It was the first single off his first album, Ahmad. The remix of "Back in the Day" is also featured on the soundtrack of The Wood, a 1999 motion picture. Ahmad secured his first recording contract as a senior in high school and earned a gold record for his chart-topping hit.

Ahmad later formed the hip-hop fusion band 4th Avenue Jones. 4th Avenue Jones signed a recording deal with Interscope Records.

After a brief hiatus from music to focus on academia, Ahmad graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Sociology.[citation needed] Ahmad was accepted to Stanford University after graduating valedictorian from Long Beach City College and receiving the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, the largest private scholarship for two-year college transfer students in the United States. The Los Angeles Times ran a front-page article highlighting Ahmad's transition from artist to scholar.[citation needed]

Ahmad is also a personal development author & speaker, whose topics encompass education, health and fitness, music, business, creative imagination, winning, self-esteem and motivation.[citation needed]

Ahmad has contributed to songs performed by LMFAO, Flo Rida, Leela James and Earth, Wind & Fire.[citation needed]

Discography

Albums

Solo
  • 1994: Ahmad (Giant/Reprise/Warner Bros. Records)
  • 2010: The Death of Me (WeCLAP)
With 4th Avenue Jones
  • 2000: No Plan B (Lookalive Records)
  • 2002: No Plan B pt. 2 (Lookalive/Interscope Records)
  • 2002: Gumbo (Lookalive Records)
  • 2003: Hiprocksoul (Lookalive Records)
  • 2004: Respect (Lookalive Records)
  • 2005: Stereo: The Evolution of Hiprocksoul (Lookalive/Gotee/EMI Records)

Singles

With 4th Avenue Jones:

  • 2000: "Respect"
  • 2002: "Move On"
  • 2005: "Stereo"

Videos:

  • 1994: "Back In The Day"
  • 1994: "You Gotta Be"
  • 1996: "Come Widdit'"
  • 2001: "Respect"
  • 2002: "Move On"
  • 2005: "Stereo"

Appearances

  • 1993: "Who Can?" (from "The Meteor Man" (soundtrack))
  • 1994: "That's How It Is" (from "Jason's Lyric" (soundtrack))
  • 1994: "Come Widdit" feat. Ras Kass, Saafir (from Street Fighter (soundtrack))
  • 1995: "Only If You Want It" (from Pump Ya Fist)
  • 1999: "Back in the Day (Remix)" (from The Wood (soundtrack))
  • 1999: "The Guest List" (from Something For Everyone To Hate (Sackcloth Fashion album))
  • 2000: "Fresh Coast" (from Dust (Sup The Chemist album))
  • 2004: "Give It Here" feat. Pep Love (from All Balls Don't Bounce revisited (2LP) (Aceyalone album)
  • 2006: "Hard Hit" (from The Movement (D.I.T.C. album)
  • 2006: "Fight Here" feat. Afrobots, DJ Vajra (from 5 Sparrows For 2 Cents (The Procussions album))
  • 2006: "More" (from Pro Pain (Mars ILL album))

References

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External links

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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