Tragedy Khadafi
Tragedy Khadafi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Percy Lee Chapman August 13, 1971 Queensbridge Housing Projects, Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, music producer |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Known for | Originating the term "illmatic"; member of Juice Crew; executive producer of Capone-N-Noreaga's The War Report |
Percy Lee Chapman (born August 13, 1971), better recognized by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi (previously known as Intelligent Hoodlum), is a rapper and music producer hailing from the Queensbridge Housing Projects in Queens, New York City. He is acknowledged for originating the term "illmatic" on Marley Marl's 1988 release In Control, Volume 1, a phrase that later inspired Nas' acclaimed debut album Illmatic.
Biography
Khadafi's career commenced as one half of the duo Super Kids alongside Queensbridge-based producer DJ Hot Day. Their output caught the attention of Marley Marl, who produced their 1986 singles "The Tragedy (Don't Do It)" and "Stunt of the Block". He joined the Juice Crew as an affiliate, working alongside notable figures such as Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, and MC Shan. In 1987, performing under the name MC Percy, he featured on "Juice Crew All Stars" and released the final Super Kids single. Following a conviction for robbery at age 16 and subsequent incarceration at Elmira Correctional Facility, he adopted the moniker "Intelligent Hoodlum" and dropped a self-titled album via A&M Records. This project was produced by Marley Marl and Large Professor and included singles like "Back to Reality" and "Arrest the President".
During the 1990s, Chapman released a sophomore album titled Tragedy – Saga of a Hoodlum (1993), which contained tracks such as "Street Life/Mad Brothers Know His Name" and "Grand Groove/Get Large". He also contributed the title track to the Posse (1993) soundtrack, signaling a move away from purely socially conscious hip hop themes. Collaborations with artists like Capone, Noreaga, and Mobb Deep on "L.A L.A" preceded his rebranding as Tragedy Khadafi in 1997. He then formed the group CNN, which was signed to Penalty Records. As executive producer for Capone-N-Noreaga's debut album The War Report, he made numerous appearances before Noreaga ended their partnership following Capone's imprisonment. In 1998, Khadafi teamed up with Michael Butler (Imam T.H.U.G.) to create Iron Sheiks, releasing an EP that featured the underground favorite "True Confessions".
His third studio album, Against All Odds, faced delays due to disputes with record labels but was eventually released in 2001. This album introduced rapper HeadRush Napoleon and included diss tracks aimed at Noreaga over creative differences. Subsequent projects comprised Still Reportin'... (2003), the independent release Thug Matrix (2005), and a collaborative effort with Black Market Militia. Later works include Blood Ballads and Thug Matrix 2, both issued in 2006.
Khadafi's journey and influence were chronicled in Tragedy: The Story of Queensbridge, which portrayed his upbringing in Queensbridge, time spent incarcerated, and significant contributions to hip hop culture.
In December 2007, he was convicted on charges related to narcotics distribution and sentenced to a maximum of four years in prison; however, he was granted early parole and freed in June 2010.
During a 2014 Reddit AMA session, Khadafi shared his feelings of being "hurt" by the killing of Muammar Gaddafi, describing it as an "embarrassing blotch on America's history."
In 2021, he reunited with N.O.R.E. on the track "We Still Here" from N.O.R.E.'s album Hidden Files, which also featured Raekwon and Planet Asia.
Throughout his extensive career, Khadafi has worked alongside esteemed artists including Raekwon, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Ghostface Killah, Styles P, A.G., Cormega, Sticky Fingaz, Pete Rock, KRS-ONE, Jadakiss, Black Thought, Sheek Louch, Ja Rule, Nature, Blaq Poet, Chuck D, Canibus, Vinnie Paz, Apathy, Celph Titled, and DMX.
Since releasing The War Report, he has made numerous guest appearances. Notably in 2013 on Marco Polo’s “Astonishing” alongside Large Professor and Inspectah Deck; in 2017 on Recordkingz’s “I Cried”; and in 2021 on “In Too Deep (London 2 Queens)”, a British hip hop collaboration.
In the current decade, Khadafi has featured on tracks by Canadian artists such as Nec Nymbl’s “Gates of Abbadon” (2021), The Mighty Rhino’s “We Gon’ Stomp Shit” (2022), as well as multiple songs from Ill Bill’s album Billy. As of June 2023, his most recent guest appearance is on Cuban Link’s single "Jewelry".
Studio albums
| Album Details |
|---|
Intelligent Hoodlum (under the name Intelligent Hoodlum)
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Tragedy: Saga of a Hoodlum (as Intelligent Hoodlum)
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Against All Odds
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Still Reportin'...
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Thug Matrix
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The Death of Tragedy
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Thug Matrix 3
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Pre Magnum Opus
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The AuraPort
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The Mahdi Files
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The Builders
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Hidden Files
|
Compilation albums
- 2001 – Thug Matrix 41-18
- 2005 – Q.U. Soldier
- April 17, 2006 – Blood Ballads
- May 9, 2006 – Thug Matrix 2
- 2011 – Hood Father
- 2017 – The Kuwait Tapes
Collaborative albums
- 1998 – Iron Sheiks EP (collaboration with Imam Thug as Iron Sheiks)
- 2005 – Black Market Militia (with Killah Priest, Timbo King, Hell Razah, William Cooper as the group Black Market Militia)
- 2009 – Lethal Weapon (partnered with Trez)
- 2012 – Militant Minds EP (with Blak Madeen)
- 2013 – Golden Era Music Sciences (as Tragic Allies under the name 7 G.E.M.S.)
- 2017 – Rare Fabric (with Frost Gamble)
- 2018 – Immortal Titans (collaboration with BP)
- 2019 – Full Metal Jacket EP (with Ras Ceylon & Dawit Justice)
- 2019 – Camouflage Regime (featuring Vinnie Paz)
- 2021 – Truth Hurts EP (with Shawneci Icecold)
- 2023 – Rebel Kings EP (alongside Endemic Emerald)
Guest vocal contributions
- 1986:: "The Tragedy (Don't Do It)" (single by Super Kids)
- 1986:* "Stunt of the Block" (featured on compilation EP "The Juice Crew")
- 1987:: "The Super Kids Live at Hip Hop U.S.A"; "Go Queensbridge" (Hot Day Mastermix single)
- 1987:* "Juice Crew All Stars" (single titled Evolution)
- 1988:* Tracks "The Rebel" and "Live Motivator" on Marley Marl's album In Control, Volume 1
- 1991:* "America Eats The Young" and "Keep Control" from Marley Marl's album In Control, Volume 2
- 1993:* Featured on Funkmaster Flex's single "Six Million Ways to Die"
- 1995:: Appeared on Funkmaster Flex's album The Mix Tape Volume 1 – 60 Minutes of Funk: track "Let's Be Specific"; also featured on Juice Crew's album Cold Chillin's The Juice Crew Story Greatest Hits as part of Juice Crew All-Stars
- 1996:: Provided vocals for "The Turnaround" (Thug Remix) single by Real Live; appeared on Mobb Deep’s EP "Pre Hell" with "First Day of Spring"
- 1997:: Featured on DJ Krush’s album MiLight’’ with the song "Real"; multiple contributions to Capone-N-Noreaga’s album The War Report’’; appeared on Mic Geronimo’s album Vendetta’’ with track "Usual Suspects"
- 1998:: Appeared on Sporty Thievz’s album Street Cinema’’ with "Raw Footage"; featured on Pete Rock’s album Soul Survivor’’ with "Strange Fruit"
- 2000:* Vocals on Jedi Mind Tricks’ album Violent By Design’’ for the song "Genghis Khan"; featured on compilation QB Finest’’ with "Da Bridge 2001"
- 2001:* Contributions include Cormega’s album The Realness’’ ("They Forced My Hand") and Screwball’s album Loyalty’’ ("Too High Too Low"); additional features across various compilations and singles
- 2002-2005:* Participated in multiple compilations and mixtapes such as The Anti-Backpack Movement, Imam Thug’s Die Hard, Jedi Mind Tricks’ Visions of Gandhi, and Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture
- 2007-2010:* Guest spots on albums by Hell Razah, Killa Sha, Big Left, Almighty, Ras Ceylon, Cormega among others
- 2011-2013:* Featured on projects from Divine, Nutso, Ras Ceylon, Cormega, Planet Asia, Vinnie Paz, Large Professor, Snowgoons, N.O.R.E., Marco Polo and others
- 2014-2017:* Collaborations include work with HRSMN, Moon Crickets, Capone-N-Noreaga, Discourse, Blaq Poet & Comet, GQ Nothin Pretty, DJ Rybe, Ju Muny, Endemic Emerald & Skanks the Rap Martyr
- 2018-2023:* Recent guest appearances encompass Ghostface Killah’s album The Lost Tapes, Truth’s records The Fight for Survival and For All Intents and Purposes, collaborations with Sauveur Eloheem, Nec Nymbl, The Mighty Rhino, Cuban Link & Sha as well as Ill Bill’s release Billy
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1971 births
- African-American male rappers
- 21st-century American male rappers
- American hip-hop record producers
- A&M Records artists
- Black Market Militia members
- Five percenters
- Living people
- Rappers from Queens, New York
- Gee Street Records artists
- Underground rappers
- 21st-century American rappers
- Record producers from New York (state)
- 21st-century American male musicians
- Juice Crew members