Grand Puba

Maxwell Dixon, known professionally as Grand Puba, was born on March 4, 1966, in New Rochelle, New York. His early exposure to hip-hop included listening to artists like The Cold Crush Brothers and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. He began his musical journey by breakdancing and making beats, eventually forming his first rap group, the “Tray-Bag MC’s.” Puba later made his commercial debut with the group Masters of Ceremony, releasing the album “Dynamite” in 1988. Following this, he became the lead MC for Brand Nubian, a group that gained recognition for its debut album, “One for All” (1990).

Grand Puba embarked on a solo career after leaving Brand Nubian due to internal conflicts. His first solo album, “Reel to Reel,” was released in 1992 on Elektra, featuring singles “360 Degrees (What Goes Around)” and “Check It Out,” which notably included Mary J. Blige. This album reached number 28 on the Billboard 200. He continued with a second solo album, “2000,” in 1995, and later rejoined Brand Nubian for their reunion album, “Foundation” (1998). Over the years, Puba consistently released solo projects, including “Understand This” (2001) on Koch Records, “Retroactive” (2009) with contributions from Q-Tip and Large Professor, and “Black from the Future” (2016).

Throughout his career, Grand Puba has been recognized for his contributions to the rap genre, particularly within the East Coast rap, Golden Age, and Jazz-Rap styles. His collaborations extend beyond his group work, appearing on tracks with artists such as Mary J. Blige, Beanie Sigel, Missy Elliott, and Q-Tip. His music has also been sampled by other prominent artists, including 2Pac, highlighting his enduring influence in hip-hop.