Throughout June, we've been saluting Black Music Month with profiles of Hip-Hop artists from the 80s and 90s. As a part of his Soul's Survivors series, Dean Meminger catches up with rapper Mr. Cheeks who is from South Jamaica, Queens.
The Lost Boyz debut album hit in 1996 and quickly rose up the rap charts. Twenty years later, Mr. Cheeks says he's still doing his thing.
"As a 90s artist or a late 80s artist or whatever, we are still working," the rapper said. "Here or across seas, we are still putting that work in. So it feels good to still do that."
Mr. Cheeks was often the lead performer for Lost Boyz. He says he started rhyming on the streets and parks on New York in the late 80s. Often interchanging a roughneck style with that of a lady's man, the hits started rolling for Lost Boyz.
Many of Lost Boyz songs told stories of growing up in tough areas of the city, selling drugs and trying to survive. However, they were always trying to keep their Queens neighborhood in the spotlight, which was already home to several successful rappers during the 80s and 90s.
"When we came into the game, we never knew where it would take us to," the rapper said. "We just knew we had the love for this, to make music. All we wanted to do is make music.
"We never thought we would make it to see twenty five when we were coming up the way things were going."
Tragedy struck Lost Boyz when member Freaky Tah was shot and killed in 1999.
Life was tough and their songs reflected that. Their rap love song 'Renee' about losing a girlfriend to gun violence was a big hit.
"You can't be afraid to go at it," the rapper said. "I was never afraid to go at it. I always wanted to make music like Teddy Pendergrass, but in my hip-hop way. I always wanted to make music like Marvin Gaye, but the way I do it."
And Mr. Cheeks says that is what he continues do.