A+ (rapper)
A+ | |
---|---|
Birth name | Andre Levins |
Also known as | A+, Young Plus |
Born | August 29, 1981 |
Origin | Hempstead, New York, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Kedar Entertainment UMVD Labels Masta Mix Records Assdroknot Entertainment FochFam Moneyline Records |
Website | myspace.com/youngplus |
Andre Levins, also known as A+ (born August 29, 1981,[1] Hempstead, New York) is an American rapper. As a teenager he released albums in 1996 and in 1999.
History
[edit]A+ began his music career in 1995, after winning a national talent competition sponsored by Def Jam Records.[2] He was the first act signed to Kedar Massenburg's record label, Kedar Entertainment.[2] According to Massenburg, the A+ moniker "means that he's striving for perfection, and he's not really talking about the same things as other young rappers."[2] In 1996, at the age of 14, A+ released his first album, The Latch-Key Child, which featured contributions from Prodigy and Q-Tip.[3] "All I See" was chosen as the lead single,[2] and it peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[4] staying for 14 weeks.[5]
His second album, Hempstead High, was released in February 1999.[6] Guest appearances on the album included DeBarge, the Lost Boyz and Canibus.[6][7] The single "Enjoy Yourself", which sampled the 1976 Walter Murphy song "A Fifth of Beethoven",[8] reached the top five of the UK Singles Chart,[9] number 63 of the US Hot 100[4] for three weeks,)[5] and was also commercially successful in Germany and Japan.[7]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]Year | Album | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US R&B/HH [10] |
US Heat. [11] | |||
1996 | The Latch-Key Child | 36 | 17 | |
1999 | Hempstead High | 60 | 19 |
Singles
[edit]Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [4] |
US R&B/HH [12] |
AUS [13] |
UK [9] | |||
1996 | "All I See" | 66
|
29
|
—
|
—
|
The Latch-Key Child |
1999 | "Enjoy Yourself" | 63
|
50
|
26
|
5
|
Hempstead High |
References
[edit]- ^ Mills, Brad. "A+ - Biography". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ a b c d Hopkins, Tracy (1996-06-08). "A+ is a Perfect Score for Kedar". Billboard. 108 (23). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 19. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ Mills, Brad. "Latch-Key Child - Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ a b c "A+ Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ a b Top Pop Singles 1955-1999. Joel Whitburn. 2000. Record Research Inc. p. 3. ISBN 0-89820-139-X
- ^ a b Conaway, Matt. "Hempstead High - Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ a b Nathan, David (1998-12-19). "A+ Makes Grade at Hempstead". Billboard. 110 (51): 23. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ Kim, Hyun (February 1999). "Revolutions". Vibe. Vol. 7, no. 1. Time Inc. p. 139. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ a b "A: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ "A+ Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ "A+ Chart History: Top Heatseekers". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ "A+ Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 6.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)