Today in 1993, Brand Nubian released their sophomore album, In God We Trust on Elektra Records as a follow up to their five mic classic All For One.
With Grand Puba embarking on a solo career and a year into the success of his Reel to Reel album, Sadat X and Lord Jamar kept it all mathematical, dropping the science taught by the 5% Nation, which was the original objective of the four-man squad from New Rochelle, New York. Whether they were proudly saluting the 5% by singing their rendition of the Nation’s anthem”The Enlightener”, police brutality “Black and Blue” or just beating down punks “Punks Jump Up”, the Native Tongues affiliates always bring their lyrical A-game to the table when it’s time to go in the booth.
Salute to Sadat and Lord J for this timeless classic!
In the golden age of hip-hop, Brand Nubian emerged as a powerful and influential force, blending socially conscious lyrics with a distinctly soulful sound. In the 1990s, the group, with founding members Grand Puba, Sadat X, and Lord Jamar, actively soared to prominence by delivering thought-provoking messages layered over booming beats, resonating with fans, and occasionally sparking controversy. With classic albums like One For All and In God We Trust, Brand Nubian’s impact on shaping the culture and the genre is undeniable. However, as time has marched forward, the whereabouts and endeavors of this trailblazing trio have become a source of curiosity for fans. Here’s a brief look into where the trio have been in recent years.
Since the final collaborative days of Brand Nubian, Grand Puba has navigated a versatile solo career, showcasing his distinctive flow and lyrical prowess. As a solo artist, he released five studio albums, with the most recent venture being 2016’s Black From The Future. Grand Puba’s solo work often delves into socio-political themes, mirroring the conscious lyricism that defined Brand Nubian. Unfortunately, these political messages have led to controversy for the group, as many fans consider the pro-Black rhetoric explored on Brand Nubian records analogous to Five-Percenter talking points. Critics often characterize the Five-Percenter movement as antisemitic, with prominent figures like Louis Farrakhan frequently facing criticism for promoting hateful conspiracies in the name of Black separatism.
In recent months, Grand Puba has taken to social media to promote musical ventures from both his son and daughter, who perform under the stage names Stunna Gang and Pretty Hoopz, respectively. Puba has also reunited with his Brand Nubian cohorts for viral performances on web series’ such as Live On The Front Porch.
Sadat X
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 15: Sadat X of Brand Nubian performs at 5 Spot on April 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Sadat X has maintained a prolific solo career both during the height of Brand Nubian’s fame and in the years after the group disbanded. As a solo artist, X has released a staggering 12 full-length LPs, with the most recent record Science Of Life premiering in 2022. The rapper also holds a prolific place as a community leader in his home of New Rochelle, New York. Outside of rap, Sadat X has taught in elementary school and coached children’s basketball. The “Slow Down” vocalist has also received training as a firefighter, with the intention of volunteering when the community calls on him.
As a solo act, Sadat X has also appeared in prominent placements on tracks such as “Show Business” by A Tribe Called Quest, “Come On” by The Notorious B.I.G., and “Stay In Ya Lane” by Marley Marl. The rapper faced firearm possession charges in 2005, but the legal battle fortunately did little to tarnish the respected MC’s reputation. The hip-hop iconoclast is also a noted wine connoisseur, as evidenced by his creation of the web series True Wine Connoisseurs in 2009.
Lord Jamar
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 01: Lord Jamar attends the YO! MTV Raps 30th Anniversary Live Event at Barclays Center on June 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Lord Jamar, the Brand Nubian rapper with the most clear-cut and unambiguous ties to the Five-Percenter movement, has experienced a significant amount of controversy in his career. His debut solo album, released in 2006 is titled The 5% Album, as a clear nod to his political leanings. In 2013, the rapper received backlash for releasing the Kanye West diss record “Lift Up Your Skirt” which many fans perceived to be homophobic. The track contained lyrics such as “Instagram Black man looking half a f**, with the blazer and dress, I’m just amazed at the mess. Pioneer of this queer sh** is Kanye West” and “I rebuke all this gay sh**, some are scared to say sh**.”
The Brand Nubian rapper has also made a number of polarizing comments on his podcast Yanadameen Godcast with cohost Rah Digga. On the pod, Lord Jamar has made claims that white rappers such as Eminem are guests in hip-hop culture and that Black Lives Matter does not adequately represent the needs and desires of the black community. In December 2020, Lord Jamar unequivocally expressed his disbelief that 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. During an interview with Rizza Islam, Jamar stated “Check the records: There wasn’t even six million Jews in Europe at that time. There was about 500,000 over there, in Germany, in Europe, there was no six million, so what are we talking about? Stop it.”
Social media users are claiming that Keith Murray has a drug problem. Murray has mentioned in the past how he dabbled with a variety of drugs. He made news this year when he alleged that he had sexual relations with rappers Foxy brown and Shawnna. Now video has appeared online of the Def Squad rapper appearing to be inebriated outside during the day time. Rapper Lord Jamar who previously had a back and forth with Murray posted the video to his Instagram.
Lord Jamar wrote:
Our brother @keithmurrayrap obviously needs serious help….I don’t have to see this man do drugs in front of me to know he’s on drugs. Dude crossed a line with me, that I believe if he wasn’t on drugs he wouldn’t have crossed, so I forgive him. We need to get our brother clean, cause this is a horrible look.
Lord Jamar and Eminem have been beefing for some years. Eminem who is called by some the “Rap God” is one of the most controversial artist when it comes to the “elites” of hip-hop. Lord Jamar argues that fact in more detail in a new video where he explains that based on the origin and […]
