Another single from the record, 'You Make Me Wanna' featured Mariah Carey and was a much more commercially driven love song. It remains as his biggest hit, peaking at #11 on the Hot 100. As a result, Jadakiss released the song, 'Why?', which bared his innermost thoughts, and it became one of the biggest hits of that year, spawning a remix featuring Styles P, Common, Nas, and Anthony Hamilton.
Prior to the release, his fans were polled, and most claimed the rapper wasn't personal enough in his lyrical stylings. Jadakiss' second album, Kiss of Death, was released in June 2004. The album produced the single 'Put Ya Hands Up' with the chorus 'Put ya hands up/nah, f**k that/ Put ya hands down' reflecting Jada's distance from the album. Jadakiss has acknowledged the criticism as, generally speaking, valid, saying the record was done less out of inspiration and more out of contract obligations to Bad Boy. The album featured popular guests and producers such as Snoop Dogg and Swizz Beatz, but was written off as repetitive and uninspired. Jada's debut solo album, Kiss the Game Goodbye, was released in August 2001 under the Ruff Ryders/Interscope label. Following this album, they left Bad Boy Records. In 1998, the LOX released Money, Power, Respect.
The LOX's first multi-platinum hit was the tribute to Biggie called 'We'll Always Love Big Poppa' (the B-side to Puff Daddy's 'I'll Be Missing You') in 1997. The group, especially Jadakiss, developed a close relationship with The Notorious B.I.G., during which time Jadakiss was taken under Biggie's wing. They made their first appearance on The Main Source's 1994 LP 'Fuck What You Think' on the track 'Set it Off'. They later signed to Bad Boy Entertainment, where it was suggested that they change their name simply to 'The LOX', which came to stand for Living Off eXperience. Jadakiss founded the rap group the Warlox in 1994 with friends Jamaal, Sheek Louch, and Styles P. He met Dee and Wah of the Ruff Ryders (then a management company), and began hanging out and battling outside of the Ruff Ryders' studio where artists like DMX made their first hits. He and some of his friends were given the opportunity to compete in the 'Jack the Rapper Competition' in Florida, where Jadakiss was noticed for his battle rap ability. He released his solo debut album Kiss Tha Game Goodbye in 2001, and followed this with 2004's Kiss of Death and his most recent album, 2009's The Last Kiss.īy the age of twelve, Jadakiss was a freestyle rapper, engaging in competitions. He is also a member of the rap group The LOX, which he formed in 1994 with friends Jamaal, Sheek Louch, and Styles P. Jason Phillips (born in Yonkers, New York), better known by his stage name Jadakiss, is an American rapper currently signed to Roc-A-Fella Records.