b. Jesse B. Weaver Jnr., Baltimore, Philadelphia, USA. Posturing street rapper who, together with his DJ Code Money (b. Lance Allen, USA), was an early pioneer of gangsta rap, a format that featured an abundance of violence and vendettas, and the glorification of the MC’s personal armoury. Allied to the usual sexual declamation, it was a limited world view but a partially effective one. Following 1984 singles ‘Maniac’ and ‘Gangsta Boogie’, Schoolly D released an independent, eponymous album that was notable for the track ‘PSK - What Does It Mean’. PSK transpired to be an acronym for Park Side Killers, a gang of Schoolly’s acquaintance in Philadelphia. Though this breakthrough album will ensure Schoolly D’s name remains hallowed in the annals of gangsta rap, he has done little since that would otherwise justify his inclusion. Whereas greater intellects explored gang violence as a means of illustrating the big picture, Schoolly D proved happy merely to indulge in often horrific reportage. Song titles such as ‘Mr Big Dick’ and ‘Where’s My Bitches’ spoke volumes about the lyrical insight displayed on the vast majority of his output.
The first light at the end of the tunnel came with Am I Black Enough For You?, which incorporated a few more socio-political concerns, with cuts such as ‘Black Jesus’ opening up new, potentially much more interesting, avenues of provocation. The title track, too, was more insightful than previous fare led us to expect: ‘All I need is my blackness, Some others seem to lack this’. By the time of his ‘comeback’ album of 1994, released by Philadelphia’s Ruffhouse Records, Schoolly had progressed further still. Renouncing the basic samples that had underscored most of his career, he now employed a full live hardcore band, including Chuck Treece (bass) and Mary Harris (drums) from the Ruffhouse house band. The record was co-produced by the label’s Joe ‘The Butcher’ Nicolo and Mike Tyler. The following year’s self-released Reservoir Dog reverted to the stripped-down style of his earlier records. In the late 90s Schoolly D made contributions to the soundtracks of The King Of New York and The Blackout.
