88-Keys

Infobox Musical artist
Name = 88-Keys


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Charles Misodi Njapa
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Origin = flagicon|USA Long Island, New York
Genre = Hip-hop, rap, soul R&B, rock, alternative rock, country
Occupation = Record producer, rapper
Years_active = 1998–present
Label = Decon Records/Locksmith Music
Associated_acts = Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Musiq, Macy Gray, Beanie Sigel, A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip, Kanye West, The Pharcyde, Black Thought, Jane Doe, 3LW, Joe Budden, Foxy Brown, Grafh
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/88keys myspace.com/88keys]

Charles Misodi Njapa, better known by his stage name 88-Keys, is an American record producer and rapper.

Biography

Born in Long Island, New York to West African parents, 88' first took an interest in hip-hop after hearing Prince Paul's production on De La Soul’s 1989 critically acclaimed album "3 Feet High and Rising".cite web |url=http://www.deconrecords.com/artists/88-keys/88-keys-bio/ |title=88-Keys Bio |publisher=Decon Records |date= |accessdate=2008-08-29] In the early '90's, 88' met A Tribe Called Quest’s front man Q-Tip, Pete Rock and producer Large Professor working as an intern at West Hempstead’s The Music Palace recording studio. In addition, it was Large Professor who gave Charles his 88-Keys moniker after witnessing his skills on the Ensoniq ASR-10 keyboard.cite web |url=http://www.dorkmag.com/dm_issue3_88keys_page1.html |title=88-keys: The Process of Making a Beat |publisher=Dork Magazine |date= |accessdate=2008-09-03]

However, 88-Keys's parents were strict on education and less enthusiastic about his interest in then-newly emerging cultural phenomenon of hip-hop. Both of 88's parents are registered nurses, his brother is a doctor, one of his older sisters is a nurse and another sister is on her way to becoming a doctor. Upon considering a serious career in music, 88'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 didn’t seem like a lucrative move.cite web |url=http://www.sixshot.com/interviews/11731/ |title=88-Keys - The Piano Man |publisher= Serge Fleury |date=2008-07-09 |accessdate=2008-09-07] After briefly attending Hofstra University and Queens College, 88' dropped out to pursue his dreams of being a record producer. His decision was fueled by an opportunity to record some tracks with The Pharcyde who were recording in California.cite web |url=http://remixmag.com/artists/hiphop_R&B/remix_solid_rock/ |title=Solid as a Rock |publisher= Anthony Roberts |date=2008-05-01 |accessdate=2008-09-07] 88' currently resides in New York with his wife and two daughters.

Since his days as an assistant engineer, 88’ has produced records for numerous artists including but not limited to Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Macy Gray, Beanie Sigel and Consequence. In his later career, 88' has also been rising as a rapper and is now gearing up to release his solo debut album "The Death of Adam" on October 28, 2008, with his fellow producer-rapper and close friend Kanye West standing as the album's co-executive producer.cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=88-KEYS&sql=11:0cfqxqyjldje~T4 |title=88-Keys Credits |publisher= |accessdate=2008-09-03] cite web |url=http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/?em3106=204202_-1__0_~0_-1_8_2008_0_0&em3281=&em3161 |title=88-Keys "The Death of Adam" News Piece #2 |accessdate=2008-09-03] According to 88', the concept album tells the story of a man named Adam who has been murdered in a loft apartment in Harlem.cite web |url=http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/88-keys-ft-kanye-west-stay-up-viagra/ |title=88-Keys ft. Kanye West - Stay Up (Viagra) |publisher=M. Burmy |date=2008-08-26 |accessdate=2008-08-29] In August 2008 a fifteen-track mixtape titled, "Adam's Case Files," was released as a prequel to the story in anticipation for "The Death of Adam". The album's first single titled "Stay Up! (Viagra)" was officially released through iTunes on September 9, 2008.

Discography

* "Adam's Case Files Mixtape" (2008)
* "The Death of Adam" (2008)

References

External links

*
* [http://www.imeem.com/88-keys imeem Music]