Heather B. Gardner (born November 13, 1970) billed professionally as Heather B., is an
American 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
Boogie Down Productions (BDP) was an American hip hop group originally composed of KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, five months after the release of BDP's debut album, '' Criminal Minde ...
before becoming a cast member on ''
The Real World: New York'', the 1992 inaugural season of
MTV's reality show ''
The Real World''.
Career
From February 16 to May 18, 1992, Gardner filmed ''
The Real World: New York'', the first season of MTV's reality television series, ''
The Real World'', 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
Boogie Down Productions (BDP) was an American hip hop group originally composed of KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, five months after the release of BDP's debut album, '' Criminal Minde ...
, 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 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'' 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 wi ...
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
AllHipHop is a hip hop news website founded by Greg Watkins and Chuck Creekmur in 1998.
History
The website was founded in 1998 by Greg Watkins and Chuck Creekmur. In 1997, Watkins registered the allhiphop.com domain to promote the artists on ...
. 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, 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 (2017� ...
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
Sirius Satellite Radio was a satellite radio (SDARS) and online radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Holdings.
Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Tennessee, Memphis, Sirius ...
show ''Sway in the Morning'' with former MTV reporter Sway Calloway. In 2016 both Heather B. and Sway Calloway appeared in the twelfth episode, "Soliloquy of Chaos," of '' Marvel's Luke Cage'', 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 ...
, 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
Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a retired American actor. He achieved fame with a leading role on the comedy-drama series '' Moonlighting'' (1985–1989) and appeared in over a hundred films, gaining recognition as an action hero ...
film '' Death Wish''.
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.
Discography
Albums
*''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 ...
'' (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'"
See also
* List of female rappers
References
External links
*
*
The Real World with Heather B on Thermal Soundwaves Show
*AbduSalaam, Ismael (March 12, 2010)
"Heather B. Returns With DJ Premier For 'Open Bar'"
All Hip Hop.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, Heather B.
American women rappers
African-American women rappers
African-American television personalities
East Coast hip hop musicians
Living people
Musicians from Jersey City, New Jersey
The Real World (TV series) cast members
1970 births
The Challenge (TV series) contestants
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American women musicians
21st-century African-American women
21st-century African-American musicians
20th-century African-American women
20th-century African-American people
21st-century women rappers