Black Sheep: Where Are They Now?

Black Sheep is a hip-hop duo who were most popular in the ’90s. The duo consists of rapper Dres and producer and rapper Mista Lawnge. They were a part of the Native Tongues supergroup, which included Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and more.

Black Sheep’s biggest hit, “The Choice Is Yours (Revisited),” is a classic for listeners across generations. They most recently performed it at A GRAMMY Salute to Hip Hop, which aired December 10, 2023. The track comes from their debut album, A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing. This album included several successful singles, including “Flavor of the Month” and “Strobelite Honey.” Just earlier this year, Lola Brooke sampled the classic song for her track “Just Relax.” Here is a look at what Black Sheep has been up to over the years.

Black Sheep released albums in 1991 and 1994. However, they hit the dreaded “sophomore slump” with their second project, Non-Fiction, which was not critically or commercially successful. The duo disbanded shortly after this release.

Their next album, 8WM/Novakane, would not be released until 2006. Duo member Mister Lawnge made some appearances on the album, but Dres is considered the only member of Black Sheep. An instrumental version of their debut, A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing, was released in 2010. Tortured Soul , which was an album and mixtape released by Dres, released in 2018.

What Black Sheep Member Dres Been Up To

Dres of Black Sheep has remained active musically and socially. He released solo music and appeared on songs in 1999 and 2000. He also appeared on the lead single from the 2011 Slaughterhouse EP. Later, he formed a duo with A Tribe Called Quest member Jarobi called Evitan, which is Native spelled backward. The duo’s name pays homage to their supergroup, Native Tongues. They released a project in 2012 called Speed of Life, with their most recent output being a remix of a track called “Mad Men,” released in 2022. Dres continues to be a prominent figure in the music space, ‌regularly posting on his social media accounts and appearing at various hip hop-centric events. 

Further, Dres’ announcement from earlier this year has his day-one fans getting quite excited. “This particular project is a D&D project — Dilla & Dres. Through the blessing of Ma Dukes and my man Tony, I’ve been allowed to visit a sacred land,” he shared during the Induction Ceremony into Washington D. C.’s National Hip Hop Museum. The album has no release date at this time. Footage from the making of this album – among other moments – is included in his new documentary titled The Choice is Yours. It chronicles Dres’s life as a hip hop icon and is available to stream now on Paramount+.

What Former Black Sheep Member Mista Lawnge Has Been Up To

Mista Lawnge of Black Sheep has not been active musically for quite a while. During the sessions for 8WM/Novakane, Mista Lawnge was working on a secret album titled The Class of ‘89. The project seemed to stem from spite since Dres suggested Mista Lawnge work with other producers. This was not something he wanted to do. The fact Dres found out about it via their publicist only strained their relationship even more and ‌ended it altogether. Mista Lawnge returned to the public spotlight in 2020 with a talk show on YouTube called Guess Who’s Talking. On it, he interviewed guests from a myriad of different avenues. However, only three episodes of the show are available on YouTube. 

What The Duo Has Been Up To Together

Sources say Black Sheep were supposed to reunite for a tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut project in 2016. According to these sources, they announced the tour across their social media, but it never materialized into actually happening.

The tour would have reunited the members and lined up well with their fellow Native Tongues group members, A Tribe Called Quest, who dropped their final album that same year. Despite the duo’s disbanding, their coming together to perform at the Grammys Hip-Hop Tribute show – and Dres posting a picture of them together in April of this year – gives listeners hope that things may have changed. 

Black Sheep has, unfortunately, had legal issues with streaming services. The duo sued Universal Media Group (UMG) earlier this year for “unlawfully lowering its artists’ royalty payments from Spotify as part of an ‘undisclosed, sweetheart deal’ for shares in the streaming service in 2008.” Unfortunately, their case was dismissed in November of this year for two reasons, one being uniquely frustrating – they took too long to do it.

Also, the judge ruled “Black Sheep could not support its remaining claims for underpaid royalties dating from 2021, finding in part that the contract gave the label ‘sole discretion’ over how to distribute its music.” It seems label troubles have been affecting artists throughout the years, no matter what generation they come from. 

What’s your favorite memory of Black Sheep? Let us know in the comments section.

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NYC Hot Spot Sei Less Unveils HipHop50 Menu with Dishes Inspired by JAY-Z, Cardi B, French Montana & More

NYC Hot Spot Sei Less Unveils HipHop50 Menu with Dishes

New York City’s renowned celebrity hotspot restaurant, Sei Less, celebrates HipHop50 with a special menu paying homage to NYC’s legendary hip-hop artists. The menu features dishes and cocktails named after iconic hip-hop albums and songs from different generations.

Food enthusiasts can savor the HipHop50 experience with a pre-fixed meal, including an appetizer, entrée, and dessert, all for just $50. There are two premium-shelf VIP cocktails inspired by JAY-Z and Diddy’s albums, featuring their respective D’USSE Cognac and DeLeon Tequila brands, also priced at $50.

READ MORE: Chris Paul Celebrates New Book with Family and Friends at Sei Less NYC

Among the delectable offerings are the “Unforgettable (French Montana)” appetizer—a crispy rock shrimp tempura with spicy aioli and cilantro, a personal favorite of French Montana. The “I Like It (Cardi B)” entrée delights with Beijing Chicken, red bean sauce, and candied walnuts, a dish previously enjoyed by the Bronx superstar during her visits. For dessert, indulge in “The Last Temptation (Ja Rule)”—a vanilla crème brulee with raspberry and yuzu meringue, relishing a favorite of Queens hip-hop icon Ja Rule and his family.

READ MORE: Sei Less Co-Owner Dara Mirjahangiry Talks the NYC Hot Spot’s Inspiration, Celebrity Clientele & More

The HipHop50 menu will be available throughout August, providing foodies with an opportunity to dine like their favorite musicians and celebrate the rich legacy of NYC hip-hop.

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The Source Announces Programming and Docuseries Chronicling Hip-Hop 50

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The Source has announced a new docuseries exploring 50 years of Hip-Hop through two iconic luminaries of Hip-Hop culture. Titled How It Started/How It’s Going, the new series will pair a member of the new generation with one of the classic era.

Together, the two titans will share their thoughts, experiences, and insights with Hip-Hop in conversation.

Throughout the series, The Source will examine the culture of Hip-Hop by their cultural hubs across the nation, the impact of poetry on the culture, the role and history of DJs, the lore of hit records, the evolution of fashion and art, and the incredible touch of women that has developed the culture to what it is today.

In addition, The Source will host a series, The Law & Hip-Hop, which will be hosted by L. Londell McMillan, the owner and publisher of The Source Magazine and The Northstar Group.

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The North Star Group’s Owner and Publisher, L. Londell McMillan

Stay tuned to The Source’s website and social channels as its celebration of the 50th year of Hip-Hop will kick off on Hip-Hop’s true birthday of August 11.

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Clipse Reunion, 2 Chainz, Chicago Hip-Hop 50 Performance & More Set for Hyde Park Summer Fest

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Chicago will have a Clipse reunion, 2 Chainz, and a Chicago HipHop50 performance during the annual Hyde Park Summer Fest. The two-day festival that celebrates Chicago culture will also be headlined by Tobe Ngwigwe.

Clipse is set to perform “Grindin’” and “When the Last Time,” alongside other collaborations and fan favorites.

The festival will take place on June 17-18, 2023, at the Midway Plaisance Park in Hyde Park, bringing in additional performances by Robert Glasper, Jonathan McReynolds, Uncle Waffles, Terry Hunter, and more to be announced. The Chicago HipHop50 set will include Twista, Shawnna, Do Or Die, Crucial Conflict, and Vic Mensa.

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“This is a huge win for Chicago and the music industry overall, especially since our city’s hip-hop influence is often overlooked and underestimated,” said Dave Jeff, co-producer of Hyde Park Summer Fest “With the return of Clipse for an exclusive performance, we’ll be able to celebrate a legendary duo alongside the fifty-year anniversary of hip-hop, a genre that Chicago has undoubtedly continued to play a leading role in growing and evolving.”

Hyde Park Summer Fest, a Black-owned, neighborhood-focused festival, has established itself as a mainstay in the south side of Chicago. It is renowned for supporting nearby small businesses and educational institutions as well as for boosting the local economy and creating jobs. The festival provided $75,000 to five local high schools in 2022, supported the participation of over 50 small local businesses, and generated close to 200 temporary jobs in the neighborhood. This year’s festival aims to outperform those successes.

“As a Black-owned festival, it’s important for us to create a welcoming, inclusive space for our neighbors and business owners to celebrate Chicago culture through music and food while honoring hip-hop’s impact on the world,” said Jonathan Swain, founder of Hyde Park Summer Fest. “This announcement is just the beginning of a long list of performers, artists, vendors and community partners that we’re teaming up with this year. There’s more to come, Chicago – get ready for a weekend you don’t want to miss.”

Pre-sale tickets are available now: Two-day general admission pre-sale tickets are $89, and two-day VIP pre-sale passes are $199.

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