Ray’s career has blossomed over the past several years thanks in part to a spree of features where his skills were undeniable. Ray’s style is different, but the same core elements of Michigan’s current generation of rappers shine through in his dark production and effortless demeanor. That, and a lot of basketball references. It wasn’t until more recently that Michigan rap became known for what we know now: sinister pianos alongside witty and crass lyrics that make you cover your mouth to muffle your laughter. Dilla’s masterful production, or Danny Brown’s drug-aided concept albums. Once Peezy heard that, we started making music.”īefore this current era, Michigan rap was defined by the horrorcore and personal trauma of Eminem, J. “I knew how to make progress reports on the computer. The story of how they connected is the stuff adolescent legends are made of.

He started rapping around the same time, alongside fellow Detroit rapper Peezy. Started messing with females in high school.” I stayed my size in high school though, so I had to get off that. “I played football for a minute, but then I switched to basketball. I played sports growing up,” he explains. His 2014 album Love, Marriage & Divorce was a collaboration with Toni Braxton that earned them both a Grammy for Best R&B Album.“East Side of Detroit is known for being wild, but it was cool, honestly.Babyface wrote and produced the soundtrack for the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale.4 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving him the biggest pop hit of his career. His 1994 single “When Can I See You” reached No.In 1993, Babyface won his first Grammys, taking home Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) and Best R&B Song for Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road.” The single stayed atop the Billboard Hot 100 for a record 13 weeks.1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. On the strength of the singles “Whip Appeal,” “It’s No Crime,” and “Tender Lover,” Babyface’s 1989 sophomore album, Tender Lover, landed at No.(He would eventually go on to establish his own label called Soda Pop Records in 2009.) The label’s roster included icons like TLC, Usher, OutKast, and Toni Braxton. Babyface and Reid founded LaFace Records in 1989.They later formed a production duo that scored hits for artists like Bobby Brown, Karyn White, and Johnny Gill. During the early ’80s, Babyface played keyboards in the group The Deele, which is how he met L.A.He got the nickname Babyface-a testament to his youthful appearance-from legendary funk bassist Bootsy Collins.From an early age, he wrote songs to express his emotions and dreamed of a professional career in music. Babyface was raised in a family of six in Indianapolis, Indiana.He’s also crafted hits for everyone from Madonna and Boyz II Men to Eric Clapton and Fall Out Boy.

Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Babyface ruled the charts in the ’90s with his smooth R&B sound.

Babyface songs