Black Rob | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Robert Ross |
Also known as |
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Born | (1968-06-08)June 8, 1968 New York City, U.S.[1] |
Died | April 17, 2021(2021-04-17) (aged 52) Atlanta,Georgia, U.S. |
Genres | East Coast hip hop |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1989–2021 |
Labels |
Robert Ross (June 8, 1968[2] – April 17, 2021), known professionally asBlack Rob, was an American rapper who was signed toSean "Puffy" Combs'Bad Boy Entertainment. He was best known for his 2000 single "Whoa!", which peaked at number 43 on theBillboard Hot 100.[3]
Ross grew up inEast Harlem and began rapping between the ages of 11 and 12.[4] He was inspired by the artists he listened to regularly, includingSpoonie Gee,Doug E. Fresh, andSlick Rick.[5] When he was 22, he joined his first rap group, the Schizophrenics, though they did not release any albums. He initially rapped under the alias "Bacardi Rob".[4]
He began associating with theBad Boy label as early as 1996, appearing on the Bad Boy remix to112's "Come See Me". He was then featured on several Bad Boy releases, including remixes toTotal's "What About Us" (1997) andFaith Evans's "Love Like This" (1998), the song "24 Hrs. to Live" (1997) fromMase, and albums byPuff Daddy & the Bad Boy Family (1997) andThe Notorious B.I.G. (1999). He also made two appearances onCru's 1997 albumDa Dirty 30, as well as albums byChannel Live,Benzino,Tony Touch, and others. These guest appearances earned him media buzz.[6]
In his earlier years, Black Rob headed the street rap team which he named "Alumni". His debut albumLife Story[7] was released in 2000 throughArista Records andBad Boy Entertainment and rose aboveplatinum sales. In early 2000, he released the hit single "Whoa!". Produced byDiggin' in the Crates Crew memberBuckwild, "Whoa!" became his biggest hit. The song peaked at number 43[3] on theBillboard Hot 100 and reached the top 10 on both the R&B/Hip-Hop[8] and Rap[9] charts. It was Rob's only solo single to reach the Hot 100.[10] Black Rob's verse in the song "By A Stranger", was featured in the in-game radio station "Game Radio" fromGrand Theft Auto III.[11]
Despite subsequently appearing on releases byP. Diddy andG. Dep, he did not make another hit single. His second album,The Black Rob Report (2005) failed to perform as strongly as his debut and quickly fell off theBillboard 100 charts. In 2005, Jemal Mosley from Off The Block Entertainment started managing Black Rob's career. In 2010, he parted from Bad Boy and signed to independent label Duck Down Records. In 2011, he releasedGame Tested, Streets Approved, which peaked at number 44 on theBillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Black Rob also started his own independent label, Box in One, with Jemal Mosley.[12]
In 2013, he joined the reality seriesCome Back Kings withEd Lover,Calvin Richardson, David "Davinch" Chance (ofRuff Endz), Jeff Sanders, Jameio,Mr. Cheeks andHorace Brown.[13][14][15] In 2014, he appeared on the song "Take 'Em Off Da Map" onDiamond D's album,The Diam Piece. In 2015, Black Rob released his fourth studio album,Genuine Article[16] on Slimstyle Records, which he produced with Jemal Mosley. Guest emcees includeSean Price,Tek, battle legendMurda Mook, and Quas Amill. Ron Browz, former Bad Boy label-mate Q. Parker (112), Kali Ranks, and Quan all sing choruses on the album. Producers includeEasy Mo Bee, Coptic, Big French, and others.[17]
Black Rob was sentenced to over seven years in prison in 2006 after failing to appear in court for his sentencing (which was set to be two-to-six years initially) on a charge ofgrand larceny from 2004, in which he pleaded guilty to criminal possession of more than US$6,000 worth of jewelry stolen in a hotel.[18] He was released from prison in May 2010, and was interviewed byBET two hours later.[19]
Towards the end of his life, Ross struggled with homelessness and health issues. AGoFundMe page was created to help him "find a home" and "pay for medical help". Over his last five years of life, he suffered four strokes.[20] On April 17, 2021, Ross died ofcardiac arrest at age 52.[21][22][23]