- Michie Mee
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Michie Mee Birth name Michelle McCullock Born c. 1970 (age 40–41) Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada Genres Canadian hip hop Occupations Rapper, songwriter, actor Years active 1985–present Labels First Priority Music/Atlantic
KochMichelle McCullock (born c. 1970), better known by her stage name Michie Mee, is a Canadian rapper and actor. As Canada's first notable female MC, she is considered a national hip-hop pioneer.[1]
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Early life and career
McCullock was born in Jamaica, later moving to Toronto, Ontario, at a young age and was raised in the city's Jane Street area, as well as the Jane and Finch neighbourhood. She began performing professionally at age 14.[2] In 1985, during a concert in Toronto, Boogie Down Productions introduced her to the audience and she performed on stage. Michie Mee later teamed up with DJ L.A. Luv (Phillip Gayle) and formed the duo Michie Mee and L.A. Luv.[3] The duo was featured on the 1987 Canadian hip hop compilation Break'n Out, which was produced by KRS-One and Scott La Rock of Boogie Down Productions.[4][5]
The duo's first single, "Elements of Style," made an impact in the United States, and it signed with First Priority/Atlantic Records in 1988. In the process, Michie Mee became the first Canadian emcee to sign a record deal with a major American label.[5] The same year, the duo was featured on the compilation The First Priority Music Family: Basement Flavor, appearing on the tracks "Victory Is Calling" and "On This Mic."
In 1991, the duo released its debut album, Jamaican Funk: Canadian Style, which incorporated dancehall reggae music and spawned the single "Jamaican Funk." Over 60,000 copies of the album were sold in the U.S. and it was nominated for a Juno Award in 1992.[5] After Michie Mee ran into trouble with the law, the duo broke up.[3] L.A. Luv later joined the group Dream Warriors.
After starting a solo career and opening shows for artists such as Salt-n-Pepa, Sinéad O'Connor, and Judy Mowatt, she became a founding member of the alternative rock band Raggadeath,[3] which had a Canadian chart hit in 1995 with "One Life." In the late 1990s, Michie Mee began an acting career.[2] She made her first film appearance in 1999's In Too Deep. In 2000, she starred in the CBC Television series Drop the Beat, playing a rapper named Divine.[2] Later that year, she released a comeback album, The First Cut Is the Deepest,[5] which spawned the single "Don't Wanna Be Your Slave" (featuring Esthero). The single earned her another Juno nomination.
In 2004, Michie Mee joined a group of local artists (including Maestro, Thrust, and Toya Alexis among others) and formed the Peace Prophets. The group released the charity single "Drop the Chrome" in association with radio station FLOW 93.5.[6] The same year, she appeared in the film My Baby's Daddy.
In 2009, she released the single "Say About Us."[7]
Discography
- Jamaican Funk—Canadian Style (1991)
- The First Cut Is the Deepest (2000)
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes 1998 Traders Herself TV series; 1 episode 1999 In Too Deep Martha Film 2000 Drop the Beat Divine TV series Hendrix Devon Wilson TV film Love Disease Herself Film 2001 Raisin' Kane: A Rapumentary Herself Documentary Soul Food Beverly Gordon TV series; 1 episode SmartAsk Host Game show 2002 Comedian Other appearance Documentary Our America N/A TV film 2004 Chicks with Sticks Heather Desmond Film My Baby's Daddy Nia's Client Film 2007 'da Kink in My Hair Tianna TV series; 2 episodes (2007, 2009) 2008 Baby Blues Charlen Ryan Film See also
References
- ^ THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST Jam!. Accessed on April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c Biography > Michie Mee Allmusic. Accessed on April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c Artist: Michie Mee & L.A. Luv Jam! Accessed on April 25, 2010.
- ^ Various - Break'n Out Discogs. Accessed on April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Border Block—Canadian Hip Hop vs. America CBC. Accessed on April 25, 2010.
- ^ Michie Mee And Friends Crusade For Peace Chart. Accessed on April 25, 2010.
- ^ Michie Mee > Discography > Singles & EPs Allmusic. Accessed on April 25, 2010.
External links
Categories:- 1970 births
- Actors from Toronto
- Atlantic Records artists
- Black Canadian actors
- Black Canadian musicians
- Canadian people of Jamaican descent
- Canadian rappers
- Female rappers
- E1 Music artists
- Jamaican emigrants to Canada
- Living people
- Musicians from Toronto
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