Doug E. Fresh
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| Doug E. Fresh | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Douglas E. Davis | |
| Born | September 17, 1966 | |
| Origin | St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop | |
| Years active | 1983–1996 | |
| Label(s) | Reality Bust It Gee Street |
|
Doug E. Fresh is the stage name of Douglas E. Davis (born 1966), an American rapper, record producer, and beatboxer. One of the earliest beatboxers (and still seen as one of the best[citation needed]), Fresh is able to imitate drum machines and various special effects with often startling accuracy. Fresh's early records are out of print, and have never been released on compact disc; thus original records can command high prices.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Doug E. Fresh came to the mainland United States with his family when he was young.
His recording debut was 1983's single "Pass the Budda," also featuring Spoonie Gee and DJ Spivey. However, Fresh's breakthrough was 1984's "Beat Street" behind the Treacherous Three. That same year saw Fresh's debut as a solo artist with the singles "Just Having Fun" and "Original Human Beatbox".
Fresh became a major rap star in 1985. His single "The Show" (with its Inspector Gadget samples) b/w "La Di Da Di," is considered an early hip hop classic. The single featured the "Get Fresh Crew": DJs Barry B., Chill Will, and MC Ricky D (who would later achieve fame as Slick Rick).
In 1986, Fresh's first album was issued. Called Oh, My God!, it included a notable tracks such as ("Play This Only at Night" and "All the Way to Heaven") and was critically hailed for incorporating elements of reggae and gospel music. The next year saw another album, The World's Greatest Entertainer, which appeared on Billboard magazine's charts, due in part to the popular single, "Keep Risin' to the Top". MC Ricky D's input was not appreciated by the record label, Fantasy Records, and he was asked to leave the group. Ricky D (as Slick Rick) released his own solo debut The Great Adventures of Slick Rick on Def Jam, to big success.
In 1989, Fresh recorded a new song for the film Ghostbusters II called "Spirit". The track was ultimately cut from the film, but appears in its entirety on the soundtrack. The opening bars of the song did make it into the film.
Fresh did not record again until 1992's Doin' What I Gotta Do, issued by MC Hammer's Bust It Records. Rap had changed appreciably in the interim, and Fresh seemed a little lost. The record performed poorly.[citation needed]
In 1995, Slick Rick and Fresh reunited for a record entitled Play which found Fresh back on his feet. Play received positive reviews; Bret Love writes that the record is "a welcome flashback to the days when guns, drugs, sex and violence were not the genre's primary lyrical focus."[1]
In the late 1990s, Fresh collaborated with Prince on a number of recordings, notably Newpower Soul and the 1999, the New Master EP. Recently, Fresh has appeared on VH1's I Love the 80s and on March 29, 2007 he appeared on Nickelodeon's ME:TV for Beatbox Week.
[edit] Personal life
Fresh is a Scientologist. He has performed for large audiences of Scientologists at the annual Scientology Celebrity Centre Gala in both 2004, 2005, and 2006. He also recorded a couple of songs on the Scientology music album The Joy of Creating along with Isaac Hayes, and Chick Corea.
[edit] Discography
- Oh, My God! (1986, Reality)
- The World's Greatest Entertainer (1988, Reality)
- Doin' What I Gotta Do (1992, Bust It)
- Play (1995, Gee Street)
- Alright (1996, Gee Street)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since April 2007 | African American rappers | Beatboxers | African American musicians | American Scientologists | People from the United States Virgin Islands | 1966 births | Living people
