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Lord Finesse

Published March 19th, 2007 in Uncategorized

Lord Finesse is a Hip hop artist and producer, hailing from The Bronx, New York, best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. rap crew.


Recording career

In 1989, Finesse and his former partner DJ Mike Smooth signed to Wild Pitch Records, home to other popular Hip Hop artists like Gang Starr, Main Source, Chill Rob G, Percee P, and O.C.. In 1990, the duo released their debut album Funky Technician. The album featured production from future star beat-makers DJ Premier, Diamond D and Showbiz. Soon after, Finesse became the leader of the popular New York underground crew D.I.T.C., an acronym for ‘Diggin In The Crates’. Future members included Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild and the late Big L.

Finesse returned as a solo artist in late 1991 with his second effort, Return of the Funky Man. The album featured guest appearances from Percee P and AG. The album’s title track peaked at #13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. In 1994, Finesse made a production appearance on The Notorious B.I.G.’s classic debut Ready to Die, on the track “Suicidal Thoughts”. In 1995, he produced a portion of Big L’s debut album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous, including the single ‘”M.V.P.”. He finally returned as an artist in 1996 with the acclaimed album The Awakening. Finesse produced the entire album himself, and enlisted a large number of guests, including O.C., KRS-One, MC Lyte, Akinyele, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, and Kid Capri. The underground single “Actual Facts”, featuring Sadat X, Grand Puba and Large Professor, was included as a hidden track on the album.

Finesse hasn’t released a studio album since this effort, but has continued his production work. In 1997, he produced the title track to O.C.’s acclaimed effort Jewelz. Finesse released a mixtape called Diggin’ On Blue in 1999. Later in the year, he produced the track “The Message” on Dr. Dre’s seminal 2001 album. Finesse is currently working on a Funky Technician remix project, as well as a new D.I.T.C. album. Along with these projects, he and DJ Premier are working on a posthumous Big L album.

In 1998, Finesse provided the vocal sample on the hook to “The Rockafeller Skank”, a hit single by British musician Fatboy Slim from his album You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby. The song features Finesse’s repeated line “Right about now, the funk soul brother. Check it out now, the funk soul brother”.

Lord Finesse returned to the mic on Handsome Boy Modeling School’s album “White People” in 2004. He was featured on the song entitled “Rock ‘N’ Roll (Could Never Hip-Hop Like This) pt. 2, collaborating with such famous old school rappers as QBERT, Grand Wizard Theodore and Jazzy Jay. Chester Bennington & Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park make appearances as well as Rahzel of The Roots.


Discography

Album cover Album information
Funky Technician

  • Released: June 7, 1990
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #93
  • Singles: “Baby, You Nasty”/”Track the Movement”, “Funky Technician”/”Bad Mutha”, “Stricly for the Ladies”/”Back to Back Rhyming”
Return of the Funky Man

  • Released: January 28, 1992
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #95
  • Singles: “Return of the Funky Man”/”Fuck Em”, “Party Over Here”/”Save That Shit”
The Awakening

  • Released: February 20, 1996
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #36
  • Singles: “Hip 2 Da Game”/”No Gimmicks”, “Gameplan”/”Actual Facts”

References