Heather B. Gardner (born November 13, 1970) billed professionally as Heather B., is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

rap music Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

artist, actress, and reality television personality who first gained fame as a member of the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions before becoming a cast member on '' The Real World: New York'', the 1992 inaugural season of

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

's reality show ''

The Real World Real World or The Real World may also refer to: * Real life, a phrase to distinguish between the real world and fictional, virtual or idealized worlds Television * ''The Real World'' (TV series), 1992–2017 * "The Real World" (''Stargate Atla ...

''.

Career

From February 16 to May 18, 1992, Gardner filmed '' The Real World: New York'', the first season of MTV's reality television series, ''

'', on which she appeared as a cast member."SoHo Loft"
realworldhouses.com. November 28, 2010 The series premiered May 21 that year. On the show, she was depicted as a hip-hop artist with the group Boogie Down Productions, on the verge of getting her big career break. During the season, she is seen recording her first album. According to MTV's biography for her: "She has a lot of drive and dedication to whatever she is doing. She makes friends quickly and always speaks her mind regardless of the consequences." Gardner was affiliated with the rap group Boogie Down Productions, and was signed to

Pendulum Records Pendulum Records is a hip hop-oriented record label originally founded in 1991 by Ruben Rodriguez, who was then working as a senior vice president for urban music at Elektra Records. In 1992, Rodriguez resigned his position at Elektra to devote m ...

in 1995. In 1996, she released her first album, ''

Takin' Mine ''Takin' Mine'' is the debut album by rapper Heather B. It was released on June 11, 1996 through EMI Records and was almost entirely produced by Boogie Down Productions member Kenny Parker, with one song done by production group Da Beatminerz. The ...

''. The single "All Glocks Down", an anti-gun violence anthem, received radio play, as did the follow-up single "If Headz Only Knew." Heather scored a minor role in the 1995 film ''

Dead Presidents ''Dead Presidents'' is a 1995 American crime film co-written, produced and directed by the Hughes brothers, Hughes Brothers. The film chronicles the life of Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate), focusing on his teenage years as a high school graduate an ...

'' as "Peaches". In 1997, Gardner signed with

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wit ...

and in 1998 she released the single, "Do You," which had a considerable amount of television and radio airplay. In 2002 Gardner produced her second album, ''Eternal Affairs'', with production from Pete Rock and DJ Premier. The album met with positive reviews despite not charting on ''Billboard''.AbduSalaam, Ismael
"Heather B. Returns With DJ Premier For 'Open Bar'"
AllHipHop. March 12, 2010 Outside of her music career, Gardner has appeared in various projects and television specials related to ''The Real World''. She also appeared in the film '' The Wedding Video'' directed by ''Real World'' alum

Norman Korpi Norman Korpi (born in Wakefield, Michigan) is an American painter, fashion designer, filmmaker and reality television star. He is best known for being one of the original cast members/roommates on the first season of the MTV reality show '' ...

, and a 2005 television commercial for

America Online AOL (stylized as Aol., formerly a company known as AOL Inc. and originally known as America Online) is an American web portal and online service provider based in New York City. It is a brand marketed by the current incarnation of Yahoo! Inc. ...

anti-virus software. Gardner's third studio album, ''Open Bar'', which was executive-produced by DJ Premier. As of 2012, Gardner is the co-host of the Sirius Satellite Radio show ''Sway in the Morning'' with former

reporter Sway Calloway. In 2016 both Heather B. and Sway Calloway appeared in the twelfth episode, "Soliloquy of Chaos," of ''

Marvel's Luke Cage ''Marvel's Luke Cage'' is an American television series created by Cheo Hodari Coker for the streaming service Netflix, based on the Marvel Comics character Luke Cage. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), acknowledging the continuit ...

'', interviewing

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 t ...

, about being rescued by Cage during a hold-up of a Harlem bodega.Cecchini, Mike (October 1, 2016)
"Luke Cage: Complete Marvel Comics Easter Eggs and Reference Guide – Luke Cage Episode 12: Soliloquy of Chaos"
Den of Geek. She appeared as herself in the 2018 Bruce Willis film ''

Death Wish Death Wish or Deathwish may refer to: Common meanings *Suicidal ideation, term for thoughts about killing oneself *Death drive, term in Freudian psychiatry Arts and entertainment Radio *"Death Wish", a 1957 episode of the radio series ''X Minus ...

''. In 2021, she portrayed the character Aunt Ruth in the Jussie Smollett movie ''B-Boy Blues'', Smollett's adaptation of the novel series written by

James Earl Hardy James Earl Hardy (born 1966 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York) is an American playwright, novelist, and journalist. Generally considered the first to depict same-sex love stories that take place within the Hip hop, hip-hop community, his wr ...

Discography

Albums

*''

'' (1996) *''

Eternal Affairs ''Eternal Affairs'' is the second album released by Heather B. Heather B. Gardner (born November 13, 1970) billed professionally as Heather B., is an American rap music artist, actress, and reality television personality who first gained fam ...

'' (2002)

Singles

*"I Get Wreck" *"

All Glocks Down "All Glocks Down" is the first single released from Heather B.'s debut album, ''Takin' Mine''. It was released in 1995 and produced by Boogie Down Productions member Kenny Parker. "All Glocks Down" was a moderate success, making it to 15 on the Ho ...

" *"

If Headz Only Knew "If Headz Only Knew" is the second single released from Heather B.'s debut album, '' Takin' Mine''. It was released on April 16, 1996 and produced by Kenny Parker. The single was a moderate success, peaking at 20 on the Hot Rap Singles Hot Rap S ...

" *"My Kinda Nigga" *"Live M.C." *"The Game Don't Stop" *"Guilty" *"Steady Rockin'"

References

External links