Junior M.A.F.I.A.
| Company type | Hip hop ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | The Notorious B.I.G. |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Junior M.A.F.I.A. was a hip hop ensemble originating from the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City. The acronym M.A.F.I.A. stands for Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes. Established and guided by the New York rapper The Notorious B.I.G., they debuted with the album Conspiracy in 1995. The popularity of their singles "Player's Anthem" (which reached No. 13 on U.S. charts) and "Get Money" (peaking at No. 17) played a significant role in launching Lil' Kim's solo career.
Following the tragic death of The Notorious B.I.G., the group dissolved, with Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease embarking on solo ventures. In 2005, a trio of members—excluding Lil' Kim—came together to release a second album under the Junior M.A.F.I.A. name as a tribute to the group.
Formation
All members of Junior M.A.F.I.A. were childhood acquaintances of The Notorious B.I.G., with each being under 20 years old when the group was formed. The collective was composed of three separate groups along with four individual artists: The 6s (Lil' Cease, Bugsy, Capone, Chico, Nino Brown), The Snakes (cousins Larceny and Trife), solo performer Klepto/Kleptomaniac—credited with bringing Versace and Moschino-inspired lyrics into rap—and Lil' Kim, also known as Big Momma or The Lieutenant, who was the only female in the lineup. The 6s had known The Notorious B.I.G. prior to his rise in the rap industry, where he served as the group’s mentor or "godfather."
Debut
In 1995, Junior M.A.F.I.A. released their first album, Conspiracy, through Big Beat Records and Undeas Entertainment based in New York City. The production mirrored the style found on The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die, effectively capturing similar elements that contributed to that album’s success. The Notorious B.I.G. appeared on four tracks, delivering lyrics centered around themes such as firearms, wealth, and sexuality. Production credits included DJ Clark Kent, EZ Elpee, Daddy-O, Akshun, and Special Ed. Although Conspiracy garnered favorable critiques, some reviewers noted a lack of distinctiveness among certain members. It entered the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at number eight with first-week sales of 69,000 copies and eventually achieved gold certification.
The leading single "Player's Anthem," produced by DJ Clark Kent and featuring The Notorious B.I.G., attained gold status. Its music video depicted the group operating under surveillance by the F.B.I.. Another notable track from the album was "Get Money," a top twenty hit performed by B.I.G. and Lil' Kim, alongside its remix "Gettin' Money," which included Lil' Cease as well as B.I.G. and Lil' Kim. This single earned platinum certification and was instrumental in advancing Kim's solo career. The track "I Need You Tonight", featuring Aaliyah, was unique among singles for not including B.I.G., with its video showcasing a house party at Lil' Kim’s home.
Post-Conspiracy Developments
After The Notorious B.I.G.'s passing in 1997, Junior M.A.F.I.A. ceased their group activities. In a 1995 interview later published in 2003, B.I.G. revealed his intention to retire by the year 2000 to focus on managing the careers of Junior M.A.F.I.A. members. In 2005, three original contributors—Lil' Cease, Klept, and Larceny (who now goes by Banger)—issued Riot Musik under the Junior M.A.F.I.A. banner; nevertheless, it only reached No. 61 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 50 on the Top Independent Albums chart.
Lil' Kim embarked on a prosperous solo journey, releasing four albums and making nods to the M.A.F.I.A. collective on her debut Hard Core. She partnered with Lil' Cease on tracks such as the "Crush On You (Remix)" and "Big Momma Thang," which also featured Jay-Z. Lil' Cease's solo project The Wonderful World of Cease A Leo (1999) attained a peak position of No. 26 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, "Play Around," which included Bristal, Lil' Kim, and Puff Daddy, climbed to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart.
Several members shifted towards alternative professions; for instance, MC Klepto (Terrence Harding) transitioned into real estate in New York City, joining Barbara Corcoran's Corcoran Group as a broker.
In August 2023, founding member Chico Del Vec died.
Compilations and Disputes
In 2004, The Best of Junior M.A.F.I.A. was released through Cleopatra Records alongside a documentary DVD titled Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A, directed by April Maiya. This film delved into controversies linked to The Notorious B.I.G. and Junior M.A.F.I.A., featuring previously unreleased studio sessions and personal footage. The DVD release also included a complimentary mixtape. A sequel DVD entitled The Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A. Part II: Reloaded was planned but ultimately canceled in 2005 after Lil' Kim initiated a $6 million lawsuit against Lil' Cease for unauthorized use of her name and likeness.
In 2005, Lil' Cease and Banger testified against Lil' Kim during her perjury trial, which resulted in both Kim and her manager D-Roc serving prison sentences. Subsequently, Kim branded them as "snitches" on her album The Naked Truth. On June 27, 2006, a follow-up DVD titled Reality Check: Junior Mafia vs Lil' Kim was released, presenting their side of the legal conflict but achieving limited commercial success.
In 2007, April Maiya teamed up with D-Roc to produce Life After Death: The Movie, a documentary defending Lil' Kim's perjury conviction while addressing accusations against Lil' Cease and Banger regarding "snitching." This film offered fresh perspectives beyond those explored in the original 2004 documentary.
Discography
Studio albums
- Conspiracy (1995)
- Riot Musik (2005)
Compilation albums
- The Best of Junior M.A.F.I.A. (2004)
Guest appearances
| Track Title | Release Year | Collaborating Artist(s) | Album Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| "We Don't Need It" | 1996 | None | Sunset Park |
| "White Chalk, Pt. 2" | None | Original Gangstas | |
| "Fuck You" | Lil' Kim | Hard Core | |
| "Young Cassanovas" | 1997 | Cam'ron, Mase | How to Be a Player |
| "Young G's Perspective" | 1998 | Blackjack | Cell Block Compilation 2: Face/Off |
| "Biggie" | 1999 | The Notorious B.I.G. | Born Again |
| "Do What You Like" | 2000 | Lil' Kim | The Notorious K.I.M. |
| "Chinatown" | 2001 | DJ Clue?, Lil' Kim, Lil' Cease | The Professional 2 |
| "Get Up, Stand Up" | DJ Clue?, Lil' Kim | Stadium Series Part 3 Let The Games Begin! | |
| "Just Us" | 2006 | The Heatmakerz | Pre Crack |
| "If They Don't Die" | 2016 | Daddy-O | Daddy-O Presents Junior Mafia And Freestyle Fellowship – Unreleased EP |
| "Steal & Rob" |
Filmography
- Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A. (2004)
- Reality Check: Junior Mafia vs Lil' Kim (2006)
- Life After Death: The Movie (2007)
- Notorious (2009), which includes a depiction of the group
External links
- Junior M.A.F.I.A. profile at hiponline.com
- Articles with short description
- African-American musical groups
- Hip-hop collectives
- Hip-hop groups from New York City
- Musical groups from Brooklyn
- East Coast hip-hop groups
- Gangsta rap groups
- Lil' Kim
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- 1994 establishments in New York City
- 2007 disestablishments in New York (state)
- Musical groups established in 1994
- Musical groups disestablished in 2007