Lichelle Legal guidelines, higher often called the pioneering gangster rapper BO$$, died Monday from kidney failure. She was 54.
Regardless of being born and raised in Detroit, Legal guidelines grew to become greatest often called part of the burgeoning West Coast gangster rap scene within the early ’90s. With desires of launching a rap profession, she moved to NYC. However after being unable to make something occur within the birthplace of rap, she determined to go to Los Angeles.
Legal guidelines continued to wrestle to make ends meet as soon as in L.A., however issues started to show round when she met West Coast rap legend DJ Quik. Quik took Legal guidelines beneath his tutelage and linked her with a bevy of rappers with whom she would later collaborate, together with AMG, who put her on a track on his debut album.
In 1993, after the success of Queens-based group Onyx, Def Jam Data co-founder Russell Simmons determined that the historic label wanted to take full benefit of the rising recognition of gangster rap. He determined to launch L.A.-based Def Jam West (DJ West) and search for artists from California who introduced the identical vitality as N.W.A and Loss of life Row’s roster of hitmakers. Legal guidelines, beneath the title BO$$, was Simmons’ first signee to DJ West and was one of many first feminine rappers ever signed to Def Jam.
An acronym for Bi—es On Some Sh–, BO$$ was really a duo that consisted of Legal guidelines and her DJ, Irene “Dee” Moore. Their debut album Born Gangstaz was launched in Could 1993 and bought near 400,000 copies. It featured manufacturing by a few of Def Jam’s heavy-hitters, together with Jam Grasp Jay and Erick Sermon.
The Barry White-sampling “Deeper” was a standout monitor on the album and featured BO$$ speaking concerning the stresses of making an attempt to maintain cash in her pocket with out succumbing to the pull of the streets and falling deeper and deeper into a lifetime of crime.
Regardless of the relative success of their debut, BO$$ by no means had an opportunity to launch a sophomore challenge. After an album filled with gangster and avenue tales, a Wall Avenue Journal article referred to as into query the fact of Legal guidelines’ claims. The fallout resulted in BO$$ being dropped from DJ West.
In 2017, Legal guidelines suffered a stroke after being identified with renal illness. A 2021 GoFundMe raised $18,000 to help along with her medical payments.
Upon information of her loss of life, many rappers paid tribute to Legal guidelines with posts on social media.
Hip-hop pioneer Kurtis Blow took to Instagram to pay his respects, writing: “The Hip Hip Alliance is saddened by the passing of our Beloved ‘BO$$.’ First Detroit Feminine Gangsta rapper signed to Def Jam. She is going to by no means be forgotten and can reside in our hearts endlessly. We ship our honest condolences to her household, associates, Detroit, and your entire world. RIP legend.”
Bun B posted a photograph of Legal guidelines on Instagram and referred to as her “the most effective feminine MCs and a pricey pal.”
DJ Premier additionally posted on Instagram and revealed that Gang Starr did a remix to “Deeper” that Def Jam by no means dropped. “Again in 1993 she got here to D&D and recut her vocals to my beat. It was so RAW,” he remembers. “We had a great session consuming 40’s, puffin Lah, and vibing.”
The story first appeared on Billboard.com.
