ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Kool Moe Dee" hosted by DJButterrock Mohandas Dewese[1] (born August 8, 1962),[2][4] better known by his stage name Kool Moe Dee, is an American rapper, songwriter, and actor.[5] Considered one of the forerunners of the New Jack Swing sound in hip hop, he gained fame in the 1980s as a member of one of the pioneering groups in hip hop music, the Treacherous Three, and for his later solo career. During his career he released a total of seven studio albums (five of them solo), with 1994's Interlude being the last to date.[6]
His fast and aggressive rap style[7] influenced rap figures such as Big Daddy Kane, Beastie Boys, KRS-One, Rakim, Will Smith, N.W.A, Tupac Shakur, Nas, Jay-Z, among others.[8] Among his most famous songs are "Go See the Doctor", "Wild Wild West" and "How Ya Like Me Now".[9]
Kool Moe Dee was ranked No. 33 on About.com's list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007).[10]
Early life
Mohandas Dewese was born in Harlem. He attended the State University of New York at Old Westbury, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications in 1985.[9][11]
Career
Kool Moe Dee participated in one of the first major rap battles, facing Busy Bee after one of his performances in 1981. After the Treacherous Three disbanded, he went solo, releasing a self-titled album that ranked 83 on Billboard. After meeting Lavaba Mallison, who would later become his manager, Kool Moe Dee left Sugar Hill Records for the newly-founded ROOFTOP Records. He co-operated with the young producers Teddy Riley and Mallison, which contributed to the New Jack Swing movement.
Kool Moe Dee released his second album, How Ya Like Me Now, which became his most successful album commercially, achieving platinum status. He then went on to release his third album, Knowledge Is King in 1989, which went gold. In 1990, he performed on Quincy Jones' album Back on the Block along with Melle Mel, Big Daddy Kane, and Ice-T. The album gained critical and financial success and won the 1991 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. In 1991, the release of his album Funke, Funke Wisdom signaled Kool Moe Dee's decline. Moe Dee himself has stated that this was his worst album.[12] He induced his release from Jive Records in 1992. After a two-year hiatus, he released a greatest hits album. In 1994, his album Interlude was released and failed to gain traction. In 1993, he reunited with his fellow ex members of the Treacherous Three to release the album Old School Flava on Ichiban. His last commercial release was the single "Love Love/What You Wanna Do" which was released on Spoiled Brat Entertainment Inc. Moe Dee appeared in the MTV box office bomb Crossroads as a bartender.
