K-Solo
K-Solo | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 17, 1965 Brentwood, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Hip-hop artist, rapper |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | Member of Hit Squad; albums Tell the World My Name and Time's Up |
Kevin Madison, professionally recognized as K-Solo (born April 17, 1965), is an American hip-hop artist originating from Brentwood, New York. He played a significant role in the 1990s rap ensemble Hit Squad, collaborating with notable figures such as Redman, EPMD, Das EFX, and Keith Murray.
Career
K-Solo's entry into the music industry began with Rock Squad, led by PMD's older brother Smitty D, before he became the inaugural official member of EPMD's "Hit Squad." His first appearance was on the track "Knick Knack Patty Wack" from EPMD's album Unfinished Business. His debut studio album, Tell the World My Name, mainly produced by PMD, achieved a peak position of No. 45 on the Top R&B Albums chart. This record included the Hot Rap Songs charting single "Spellbound," which marked Erick Sermon's debut as a producer, alongside "Your Moms In My Business," which climbed to No. 2 on the same chart.
In 1992, K-Solo unveiled his second album Time's Up, which introduced producer Sam Sneed to the scene. The album reached No. 135 on the Billboard 200 and No. 36 on Top R&B Albums, featuring singles such as "Letterman" and "I Can't Hold It Back," which attained No. 4 and No. 24 respectively on Hot Rap Singles. Additionally, he appeared on EPMD's Hit Squad track Head Banger alongside Redman, which peaked at No. 11 on Hot Rap Singles.
After EPMD disbanded, K-Solo parted ways with Hit Squad amicably and briefly signed with Death Row Records along with Sam Sneed; however, only unofficial bootleg recordings emerged from this period. In 1996, he collaborated with Redman on "It's Like That," aiming to reestablish his career under the Def Squad label, though no further releases followed.
By 2003, K-Solo toured internationally with PMD and DJ Honda after contributing to PMD’s album The Awakening. The following year, he began working on a new project under his Waste Management Records imprint titled There Will Be Hell to Pay, which has yet to be released.
DMX
Between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, a dispute arose between DMX and K-Solo—who had met during K-Solo’s three-year incarceration—over the original authorship of "Spellbound." While K-Solo’s version was released in 1990 and DMX’s in 1991, DMX asserted that he was the true creator of the track. In DMX’s 1998 single "Get At Me Dog", he disparaged K-Solo, who responded with "The Answer Back," asserting paternity over DMX and airing personal grievances. On Beef II, K-Solo underwent a lie detector examination to validate his claim of authorship; however, the outcome was inconclusive.
In an August 2006 interview, K-Solo proposed resolving their rivalry through a UFC-style bout, highlighting their shared unresolved conflict and suggesting it would be a landmark event in hip-hop culture. He also questioned DMX’s physical preparedness for such a contest.
Reiterating his proposal in January 2007, K-Solo invited DMX and others to settle their differences inside a fighting cage for prize money, emphasizing his own readiness while casting doubt on DMX’s fighting skills.
Following DMX’s death in 2021, K-Solo publicly conveyed his respect and sorrow, mentioning that he visited DMX’s gravesite and reflected on their complex history.
Keith Murray
During a January 2007 interview, K-Solo responded to accusations that Keith Murray had physically assaulted him:
"I was hanging out in the neighborhood watching these guys. My friend Ralph Mann was attacked by some members of Keith Murray’s crew because he disrespected them. I helped launch Murray and Redman’s careers, so I challenged them on a mixtape. Murray’s associates assaulted me on stage and threw me off. They are currently involved in legal proceedings over the incident. But how is it that I got jumped in his club on Christmas Eve and still walked away unharmed? If Murray had confronted me face-to-face, I would have respected that. He believes everyone is against him. Without Kevin Madison, Keith Murray wouldn’t exist—no one would hold him in regard. Why would you fight someone who supported you? I suspect Reggie and Erick encouraged him to act that way. People were hurt when the Hit Squad disbanded. Some can contact J. Prince and cause serious trouble. It’s just foolish. What more do I need to do to prove I’m the 'original rap criminal'? Folks don’t realize what they’re messing with."
After Redman stepped in, the dispute between K-Solo and Keith Murray was settled, and they have since shared the stage multiple times during Hit Squad reunions. K-Solo has also publicly recognized Murray in several interviews following the reconciliation.
Albums
| Year | Title | Chart rankings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | ||
| 1990 | Tell the World My Name | - | No. 45 |
| 1992 | Time's Up | No. 135 | No. 36 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Hot Rap Tracks | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Spellbound" | No. 7 | Tell the World My Name |
| 1990 | "Your Mom's in My Business" | No. 2 | |
| 1991 | "Fugitive" | No. 24 | |
| 1992 | "I Can't Hold It Back" | No. 24 | Time's Up |
| 1993 | "Letterman" | No. 4 |
Filmography
- Beef II (2004)
- 2fast2real (2004)
- 2Fast2real3 (2008)