Grand Puba

Maxwell Dixon (born William Brewster Dixon III; March 4, 1966), known professionally as Grand Puba, is an American rapper and record producer, best known as a member of Brand Nubian from New Rochelle, New York. He was formerly a member of Masters of Ceremony.

Early life

Puba was born on March 4, 1966 in New Rochelle. During the late 1970s, Puba first got into hip hop after purchasing cassettes of his favorite artists such as The Cold Crush Brothers, T-Connection and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Puba attended the Remington Boys Club in New Rochelle. While at his club for boys, a DJ by the name of Grand Mixer DXT would send out cassette tapes at his club, to where Puba would learn to rap and write rhymes. His first cousin by the name of Dr. Who (Tod Dixon), that would later form a group with Puba as Masters of Ceremony, would bang on tables, spitting rhymes with each other. Puba himself was also a breakdancer. He began making beats on cassettes of his own, around in New Rochelle where he grew up. When he was finally known, he started DJing at clubs after his popularity grew. His first rap group was called the "Tray-Bag MC's".

Career

He made his debut as Grand Puba Maxwell with the group Masters of Ceremony in 1985. Its album ''Dynamite'' (1988) was hailed by critics, but because of lack of sales the group soon disbanded and Puba became the lead emcee of Brand Nubian after working out a deal with A&R Dante Ross and signing to Elektra Records. After their debut album '' One for All'' (1990) — covering areas from reggae-influenced hip hop music to new jack swing — Puba left the group after disputes and began a solo career. He released his first solo album '' Reel to Reel'' on Elektra Records in 1992, alongside DJ Stud Doogie and DJ Alamo who was previously a member with Brand Nubian. In 1992 Sean "Puffy" Combs tapped Grand Puba to collaborate with up & coming R&B singer Mary J. Blige on her debut album "What's the 411" The title song in which Puba co-wrote was the first time Blige incorporated her own rap technique which proved to be very successful. This was a rap/r&b hit record that went to number one on the R&B charts in the early spring of 1993. He released his second album ''2000'' in 1995. Around 1997 he rejoined the group, recording a few tracks for various soundtracks leading up to the full-length album '' Foundation'' in 1998. Puba's states in an interview with ''Billboard'', saying "I never did go, i just wanted that experience and it was a good thing". In 1999, Grand Puba and Sadat X performed on the track "Once Again" on Handsome Boy Modeling School's concept album ''So... How's Your Girl?''. After following Brand Nubian's 2004 record ''Fire in the Hole'', Grand Puba appeared on tracks with Beanie Sigel ("Bread and Butter", also featuring groupmate Sadat X), Missy Elliott ("My Struggles", featuring his onetime collaborator Mary J. Blige), and Ugly Duckling ("Something's Going Down Tonight").

He released his third album '' Understand This'' in 2001 on Koch Records.

In 2009, Grand Puba released his fourth solo album, '' Retroactive'', featuring production from Q-Tip, Large Professor, Kid Capri as well as fellow Brand Nubians. Puba also appeared on the heavy posse cut "Fresh" together with Cormega, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, DJ Red Alert and PMD.

In 2016, he released his fifth album '' Black from the Future''.

Personal life

Puba's son, Sonny Dixon, who goes by the name Stunna Gang, is also an emcee.

Discography

Studio albums

Solo

* '' Reel to Reel'' (1992)
* ''2000'' (1995)
* '' Understand This'' (2001)
* '' Retroactive'' (2009)
* '' Black from the Future'' (2016)
* The Brooklyn Premiere n (2024) with Grandmaster Melle Mel and Cappadonna.
* The Origin The Retirement Package Volume 1 (2025)

with Masters of Ceremony

* ''Dynamite'' (1988)

with Brand Nubian

* '' One for All'' (1990)
* '' Foundation'' (1998)
* '' Fire in the Hole'' (2004)
* '' Time's Runnin' Out'' (2007)
* '' Vamp Bikers with Grandmaster Melle Mel Grand Master Caz and Grand Wizard Theodore Directed by Eric Spade Rivas
*

References

External links

Information about Grand Puba
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Puba, Grand
1966 births
African-American male rappers
20th-century American male rappers
Elektra Records artists
Five percenters
Living people
Musicians from New Rochelle, New York
Rappers from New York (state)
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American male musicians
21st-century African-American musicians
20th-century African-American musicians
Brand Nubian members