Buckshot (rapper)

Kenyatta Blake (born November 19, 1974), known professionally as Buckshot, is an American rapper from New York, best known as a frontman of hip hop groups Black Moon and Boot Camp Clik. He is a founder of Duck Down Music record label with Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman. He has released one solo studio album – three with producer 9th Wonder, four albums with Black Moon and four albums with the Boot Camp Clik.

Biography

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, Buckshot Shorty began rapping in neighborhood rhyming ciphers. In high school, he befriended Karim " 5ft" Reid, Ewart "DJ Evil Dee" Dewgarde and Walter "Mr. Walt" Dewgarde, who would evolve into the super production team Da Beatminerz.

In 1992, Blake, Reid and Ewart Dewgarde formed Black Moon. The trio released the single "Who Got Da Props?" in late 1992, which reached number 86 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, landing them a recording deal with Nervous Records. Later that year, Black Moon released their first full-length album, ''Enta da Stage'' to positive critical acclaim. The album featured appearances by Havoc of Mobb Deep, as well as future Boot Camp Clik members Tek and Steele of Smif N Wessun.

In 1994, with Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman, the two left Nervous Records and formed Duck Down Management. That same year, Blake signed and oversaw the creation of Smif-N-Wessun's debut album ''Dah Shinin''', as well as adding Heltah Skeltah (Rock and Ruck) and Originoo Gunn Clappaz (Starang Wondah, Top Dog and Louieville Sluggah) to Duck Down's roster. During the summer, Blake took part in the collaboration with Masta Ace and Special Ed as the Crooklyn Dodgers, releasing a single by the same name, on the soundtrack of Spike Lee's 1994 film ''Crooklyn''.

Officially titled Duck Down Entaprizez in 1996, Blake, Friedman and Smif-N-Wessun began work with Tupac Shakur on the unreleased studio album ''One Nation''. During this time Blake was dubbed as "The BDI Thug" by 2Pac.

March 1997 marked a milestone in Duck Down history. The collective of:Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun,, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. formed a supergroup the Boot Camp Clik, who released their debut album titled '' For the People''. A remix of "Night Riders" was recorded featuring Aaliyah, but the single was never released, due to conflicts between record labels.

In 1999 Black Moon released their second album '' War Zone''. It was their first full-length album in more than 5 years. Featuring guest appearances from Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, M.O.P., Heather B. and produced by Da Beatminerz, the album sold over 200,000 units and was met with strong reviews. Blake's solo album, '' The BDI Thug'', was released later that year but to mediocre reviews.

In July 2002, Duck Down ended its two-year search for a new distribution deal, inking a three-year contract with Koch Distribution. Boot Camp Clik released their second full-length album '' The Chosen Few''. The album sold over 60,000 copies, making it one of Duck Down's most successful releases. In 2004 Black Moon returned with ''Total Eclipse''. The album peaked at #47 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and ranked #23 for Independent Albums charts.

Blake and North Carolina-based producer 9th Wonder