Candi Lindsey (born June 9, 1972), better known by her stage name Blue Raspberry, is an American singer from
Pleasantville, New Jersey
Pleasantville is a city in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 20,629, which was an increase of 380 from the 2010 census count of 20,249, which reflected an increase of 1,237 ...
. She is perhaps best known for her affiliation with
East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the Bronx, New York City.
In contrast to other styles, East Coast hip ...
group
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close aff ...
. Her
moniker was given to her by fellow Wu-Tang affiliate
Killah Priest, who said she reminded him of a
blue raspberry.
Biography
She was discovered by the
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close aff ...
at
Bally's Atlantic City
Bally's Atlantic City is a casino hotel on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It is owned and operated by Bally's Corporation. The Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel stood on the site before the casino was built. It is famous for its address ...
, where she was working as a parking cashier at a convention and was overheard while singing over the loudspeakers.
[Omowale, J. Nadir]
"Uniquely Blue Raspberry; This New Jersey native moved to Detroit to launch her solo career"
BLAC Detroit, September 23, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2013. "Born to a musical family in Pleasantville, N.J., near Atlantic City, she came of age listening to the sounds of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Terrell." Blue Raspberry emerged as the group's in-house female vocalist during the first round of Wu-Tang solo projects. She added vocals to tracks on
Method Man
Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is known as a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He is also half of ...
's ''
Tical'' and
Raekwon
Corey Woods (born January 12, 1970), better known by his stage name Raekwon The Chef, or simply Raekwon (), is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success ...
's ''
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
''Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...'' (commonly referred to as ''The Purple Tape'') is the debut studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, released on August 1, 1995, by Loud Records and RCA Records. The album was loosely composed ...
'',
but seemed to have her position somewhat usurped by
Tekitha
Tekitha Washington is a Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated female vocalist who was the Wu-Tang Clan's in-house singer (previously filled by Blue Raspberry) for the album ''Wu-Tang Forever'', on which she also performed a solo track titled "Second Coming". ...
on the Clan's second album ''
Wu-Tang Forever
''Wu-Tang Forever'' is the second studio album of American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released June 3, 1997, on Loud/RCA Records in the United States. Pressed as a double album, it was released after a long run of successful solo projects fro ...
''. Nevertheless, she has continued to appear on Wu projects including
Method Man & Redman
Method Man & Redman (also referred to as Meth & Red, Red & Mef, John Blaze and Funk Doc or Funk Doctor Spock and Johnny Blaze) are an American hip hop duo, composed of East Coast rappers Method Man (of Wu-Tang Clan) and Redman (of Def Squad) ...
's ''
Blackout!'' and the
Ghost Dog soundtrack. A solo album was in the works for 1999 and is known to have been completed but it was not released. Blue Raspberry finally debuted as a solo artist in 2005, releasing the album ''Out of the Blue'' through the website Chambermusik.com. She made an appearance on
Raekwon
Corey Woods (born January 12, 1970), better known by his stage name Raekwon The Chef, or simply Raekwon (), is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success ...
's ''
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II'' album.
Discography
Albums
''Out of the Blue'' (2005, Chamber Musik)
Appearances
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue Raspberry
1972 births
Living people
Wu-Tang Clan affiliates
American hip hop singers
American soul singers
American contemporary R&B singers
Singers from New Jersey
People from Pleasantville, New Jersey
African-American women singers
21st-century American singers
21st-century American women singers