Banned by some radio stations and scrutinized by at least one high-profile political commentator for the line “Why did Bush knock down the towers?,” “Why?” was nonetheless nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Three years later, the MC topped the Billboard 200 with Kiss of Death, an album that featured two more Top Ten rap hits with “Why?” (with Anthony Hamilton) and “U Make Me Wanna” (featuring Mariah Carey). Issued through Ruff Ryders in 2001, it entered the Billboard 200 at number five, highlighted by “We Gonna Make It” (featuring Styles P), Jadakiss’ first headlining Top Ten hit on the Billboard rap chart. Jadakiss then went solo with Kiss tha Game Goodbye.

The trio hit the Top Ten with their first two albums, Money, Power & Respect (1998) and We Are the Streets (2000), released respectively on Bad Boy and Ruff Ryders.

His releases since then include Top 5 Dead or Alive (2015), the Fabolous collaboration Friday on Elm Street (2017), and Ignatius (2020).īorn Jason Phillips in Yonkers, New York, Jadakiss got his start as a teenage freestyle rapper before joining Sheek Louch and Styles P to form the Warlocks crew, eventually known as the LOX. He started a streak of Top Ten solo albums with Kiss tha Game Goodbye (2001) and continued it with the chart-topping Kiss of Death (2004) (featuring the controversial, Grammy-nominated “Why?”), both of which were certified gold by the RIAA. Known for his distinctively gravelly voice and unflinching hardcore rhymes, Jadakiss established himself with Bad Boy and Ruff Ryders affiliates the LOX before he made further strides as a solo artist with Ruff Ryders and Def Jam.

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