88-Keys
88-Keys performing live in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Charles Misodi Njapa
Born	(1976-03-05)March 5, 1976 (age 49) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Record producer rapper songwriter musician
Years active	1998–present
Labels	GOOD Decon Locksmith Warner
Website	www.myspace.com/88keys

Charles Misodi Njapa (born March 5, 1976), known professionally as88-Keys, is an American record producer and rapper fromNew York City.

Born inNew York City to West African parents fromCameroon, he was raised in theEastchester section of theBronx and later inWest Hempstead onLong Island, where he attended high school.^[1][2]

88-Keys first took an interest inhip hop after hearingPrince Paul'sproduction onDe La Soul's 1989 critically acclaimed album3 Feet High and Rising.^[3] In the early 1990s, 88-Keys met rapper-producersQ-Tip,Pete Rock andLarge Professor working as an intern at West Hempstead's The Music Palace recording studio. It was Large Professor who gave Charles his 88-Keys moniker after witnessing his skills on theEnsoniq ASR-10 keyboard.^[4]

Upon considering a serious career in music, 88-Keys's parents and older brother began trying to point him into the field of medicine because it was a more "professional field" and the music industry did not seem like a lucrative move.^[5] After briefly attendingHofstra University andQueens College, 88-Keys dropped out to pursue his dreams of being a record producer. His decision was fueled by an opportunity to record some tracks withThe Pharcyde who were recording in California.^[6]

In addition to his passion for music, 88-Keys has expressed his love for fashion, most notablyRalph Lauren. In a 2008 interview withMetro, 88-Keys revealed that he had wornPolo Ralph Lauren every day for 16 years.

I try to stay true to Ralph's vision. I don't want to bastardize his vision – no offense to the urban community – because we all know what happened to Tommy Hilfiger once the hip hop community embraced it. I'll walk out of the door dressed in loafers when everyone else is wearing Timberland boots. I definitely stand out. I'll tag along with Kanye on shopping trips and look at clothing by designers whose names I'd need to take French lessons to pronounce. He'll ask me what I think and I'll be like, whatever. I've turned down paying gigs because they've tried to dress me in clothing by other designers. Besides record shopping, the only other place I need is a Polo store. I'll go to Paris and they ll be like, 'here's the Eiffel Tower' and I'm like, 'whatever, where's the record store and the Polo store.^[7]

According to the article, 88-Keys began wearing Polo Ralph Lauren as a Long Island high school student in 1992, when he developed a liking for its classic, preppy style. He asserted that he had worn a complete look from the brand every day, without fail. As of 2008, his wardrobe included over 700 Polo pieces.^[7]

Since his days as an assistant engineer, 88-Keys has produced records for numerous artists includingMos Def,Talib Kweli,Kid Cudi,Macy Gray,Musiq Soulchild, Dejuan Lucian, andConsequence. Recently, 88-Keys extended beyond his production credits to highlight his skills on the mic asMC, singer andcollaborator, most notably on his solo debut albumThe Death of Adam released on November 11, 2008.Executively produced by 88-Keys's close friendKanye West,^[8] theconcept album tells the story of a man named Adam who has been murdered in a loft apartment in Harlem.^[9] In August 2008 a fifteen-trackmixtape titledAdam's Case Files was released as a prequel toThe Death of Adam. The album's first single titled "Stay Up! (Viagra)" was officially released through iTunes on September 9, 2008. In December 2008, 88-Keys was highlighted asSpin Artist of the Day.^[10] In 2009, 88-Keys worked inAtlanta with new female duoAddictive on a track for a forthcoming album.

In June 2019, 88-Keys announced that a song he produced titled "That's Life", featuringSia andMac Miller, had been approved for release by Miller's estate, and was released throughWarner Records on June 20, 2019.^{[11][non-primary source needed]}

• Adam's Case Files Mixtape (2008)
• Stay Up! (Viagra) Prescription Pack – EP (2008)
• The Death of Adam (2008)

• 88-Keys onFacebook
• "eightyocho.com". Archived fromthe original on September 21, 2010. RetrievedApril 19, 2009.
• "polo67life.com". Archived fromthe original on January 28, 2015. RetrievedOctober 7, 2015.

• 1976 births
• Living people
• 20th-century American rappers
• 21st-century American rappers
• African-American male rappers
• 21st-century American male rappers
• 20th-century American male rappers
• African-American record producers
• African-American male songwriters
• American hip-hop record producers
• East Coast hip-hop musicians
• American people of Cameroonian descent
• Rappers from the Bronx
• Record producers from New York (state)
• Songwriters from New York (state)
• Underground rappers
• 20th-century African-American male singers
• 20th-century American male singers
• 20th-century American singers
• 21st-century African-American male singers
• People from Eastchester, Bronx

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