Ayub Bey (August 23, 1968 – December 13, 2022), known as Grand Daddy I.U., was an American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...

who was a member of the hip-hop collective

Juice Crew The Juice Crew was an American hip hop collective made up largely of Queensbridge, New York–based artists in the mid-to-late 1980s. Founded by radio DJ Mr. Magic, and housed by Tyrone Williams' record label Cold Chillin' Records, the Juice C ...

during the 1980s.

Early life

Grand Daddy I.U., born in

Queens Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

, was raised in Hempstead, Long Island, and encouraged to begin performing by his older brother, also known as Kay Cee. His parents separated when he was young. After his parents split up, I.U.'s mother regain all the records she had inside the house when they were together. I.U. started rapping when he was

incarcerated Imprisonment or incarceration is the restraint of a person's liberty for any cause whatsoever, whether by authority of the government, or by a person acting without such authority. In the latter case it is considered "false imprisonment". Impris ...

in jail after getting into rap battles with other inmates who liked his skills. I.U attended high school in Hempstead, while doing a rap talent show. His first hip-hop group was called the "Everlasting Four" with some of his friends at school. He would eventually get kicked out of his school for drinking

alcohol Alcohol may refer to: Common uses * Alcohol (chemistry), a class of compounds * Ethanol, one of several alcohols, commonly known as alcohol in everyday life ** Alcohol (drug), intoxicant found in alcoholic beverages ** Alcoholic beverage, an alco ...

Career

He recorded a

demo tape A demo (shortened from "demonstration") is a song or group of songs typically recorded for limited circulation or for reference use, rather than for general public release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas in a fixed for ...

and gave it to

Biz Markie Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer who gained prominence during hip hop's golden age. He was particularly recognized for ...

, who signed him to the label

Cold Chillin' Records Cold Chillin' Records was a record label that released music during the golden age of hip hop from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. A producer-and-crew label founded by manager Tyrone Williams and run by Len Fichtelberg (1930–November 4, 2 ...

in 1989. In 1990 he released his debut, ''

Smooth Assassin ''Smooth Assassin'' is the debut studio album by the American rapper Grand Daddy I.U., from Queens, New York. It was released in 1990 via Cold Chillin' Records. The album was produced by Biz Markie, with Cutmaster Cool V serving as the co-produc ...

'', which spawned two Rap Chart hits: "Something New" (#11) which sampled

James & Bobby Purify James & Bobby Purify were an R&B singing duo, whose biggest hits were " I'm Your Puppet" in 1966, which reached number six in the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and in a re-recorded version number 12 in the UK Singles Chart (in May 1976), an ...

's "

I'm Your Puppet "I'm Your Puppet" is a song written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham; the best known version is the one recorded by James & Bobby Purify which reached #5 on the US R&B chart and #6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1966. The single was nominated ...

", and "Sugar Free" (#9). He became noted for his high-end tailored attire, always appearing in public wearing a suit and tie. Grand Daddy I.U.at

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

Grand Daddy I.U. appeared as a guest on several hip hop albums in the

1990s File:1990s decade montage.png, From top left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope orbits the Earth after it was launched in 1990; American jets fly over burning oil fields in the 1991 Gulf War; the Oslo Accords on 13 September 1993; the World ...

, including

Big L Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974February 15, 1999), known professionally as Big L, was an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Emerging from Harlem in New York City in 1992, Big L became known among underground hip-hop fans for his f ...

's ''

Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous ''Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Big L, and the only to be released during his lifetime. It was released on March 28, 1995, by Columbia Records. The recording sessions took place primarily at Powe ...

'' and

Positive K Positive K (sometimes stylized as +K) (born Darryl Gibson on August 9, 1967) is an American MC and songwriter from the Bronx, New York City, New York, and one of the original artists of the First Priority Music camp. He is best known for his hi ...

's '' The Skills Dat Pay da Bills''. Grand Daddy I.U. did

ghostwriting A ghostwriter is a person hired to write literature, literary or journalism, journalistic works, speeches, or other texts that are credited to another person as the author. Celebrities, executives, participants in timely news stories, and pol ...

and production work for Markie and

Roxanne Shanté Lolita Shante Gooden (born November 9, 1969), better known by her stage name Roxanne Shante, is an American rapper. She first gained attention in 1984 through the Roxanne Wars, and was part of the Juice Crew. The 2017 film ''Roxanne Roxanne'' ...

but became disenchanted with Markie over a dispute involving publishing credits for the tracks on his debut. He released a sophomore effort, ''Lead Pipe'', in 1994. Its lead single "Represent" charted modestly on the US Dance Singles Chart. The album received little promotion, so after the standalone single "All About Money" in 1996, Grand Daddy I.U. quit rapping for nearly a decade. Grand Daddy I.U. continued to do production work in hip-hop for

Das EFX Das EFX is an American hip hop duo. It consists of emcees Dray (also known as Krazy Drayz, born Andre Weston, September 9, 1970) and Skoob (also known as Books and Boogie Bang, born William "Willie" Hines, November 27, 1970). They named them ...

Heltah Skeltah Heltah Skeltah was an American Hip hop music, hip hop duo which consisted of rappers Jahmal "Rock" Bush and Sean Price, Sean "Ruck" Price. The two were also members of New York Supergroup (music), supergroup Boot Camp Clik, along with Buckshot ...

KRS-One Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from the Bronx. He rose to prominence as part of the ...

, and

Ice-T Tracy Lauren Marrow (born February 16, 1958), known professionally as Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor. He is active in both hip hop music, hip hop and heavy metal music, heavy metal. Ice-T began his career as an underground r ...

among others. He issued a third album, ''Stick to the Script'', in 2007, featuring production from

Large Professor William Paul Mitchell (born March 21, 1972), better known by the stage name of Large Professor (also Extra P. and Large Pro), is an American rapper and music producer. Based in New York City, he is known as a founding member of the underground ...

and

Marco Polo Marco Polo (; ; ; 8 January 1324) was a Republic of Venice, Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' (also known a ...

and appearances from

2Pac Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Parish Crooks; June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor, regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all tim ...

, DV Alias Khryst, and Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard. In 2017 he reunited with long-time collaborator Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard on the album ''Still Hear'' by Long Island emcee Lantz. The pair featured together on two songs, "Til The Casket" and "Yesterday". In 2020 I.U. released an album ''The Essence'', which featured artists

Method Man Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), known professionally as Method Man, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. He is a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, and is half of the hip hop duo Method Man & R ...

, Lil Fame,

Sadat X Derek W. Murphy (born December 29, 1968), better known as Sadat X, is an American rapper, best known as a member of alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar ...

Craig G Craig Curry (born March 24, 1973),Hess, Mickey (2009) ''Hip Hop in America: a Regional Guide: Volume 1 - East Coast and West Coast'', Greenwood Publishing Group, , p. 55Bry, David (2001) "Something in the Water", ''Vibe'', March 2001, p. 80 bette ...

, and a host of other artists. The album was composed of songs all produced by I.U. and showcased his beat making talents. After a short break from releasing music, Grand Daddy I.U released a new single "Stay Fly" under Get@Em Recordz on July 2, 2021.

Personal life and death

Bey died on December 13, 2022, at the age of 54. I.U.'s daughter is the soul singer Yaya Bey.

Discography

Albums

Singles

* 1990 "Something New" (US Rap #11) * 1990 "Sugar Free" (US Rap #9) * 1990 "This Is A Recording" * 1990 "Pick Up The Pace" * 1994 "Represent" (US Dance #54) * 1994 "Don't Stress Me" * 1996 "All About Money" * 2005 "I Be Thuggin'" * 2021 "Stay Fly" (with Shawn Haynes & Monsta Mook) * 2022 "Trust Me" (with Paula Perry & Da Inphamus Amadeuz)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grand Daddy I.U 1968 births 2022 deaths Cold Chillin' Records artists People from Hempstead, New York Rappers from Queens, New York 21st-century American rappers Juice Crew members American rappers of Jamaican descent