Jesse West

Jesse West
Birth nameJesse Williams III
Also known as
  • 3rd Eye
  • Dirty Apple Slim
  • Dirty Traxx
Born (1967-12-04) December 4, 1967 (age 56)
OriginThe Bronx, New York City, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Years active1989–present
Labels
  • Motown
  • MCA
Formerly ofThe Hitmen
Website[1]

Jesse West, a.k.a. 3rd Eye (born December 4, 1967, in the South Bronx, New York) is a producer/rapper. He grew up in the Bronx River Projects, where the Master/Teacher DJ Afrika Bambaataa founded the Universal Zulu Nation.

History

Born Jesse Williams III, he was one of the first rappers signed to Motown Records and, in 1989, released the album "No Prisoners". He then went on to produce hit songs with many artists including GZA, Xzibit, Heavy D and KRS-One among others. One of Bad Boy Records' original "Hitmen", West recorded Biggie Smalls first demo as well as produced remixes for songs on Mary J. Blige's album, What's the 411?

As rapper 3rd Eye, it has been argued that Jesse West was the first rapper to use the term "bling" [1] on Super Cat's 1993 hit "Dolly My Baby (Remix)" - a song that West produced and also featured Puff Daddy and a young Biggie Smalls in his recording debut.

Jesse West continues to create tracks and produce music for artists.

Discography

Solo Albums

Year Song/Album Label
1989 No Prisoners Motown
1997 360° (single) Sure Shot Records
1998 24/7 (single feat. NINE) Loud Records
1999 Planets DeClic & Alpha Entertainment

Production Credits

Year Song Artist Album/Label
1991 "Come Do Me" GZA Words From A Genius/Cold Chillin' Records
1992 "Slow Down", "Silky", "A Bunch of Niggas" Heavy D & The Boys/Uptown Blue Funk/Uptown
1993 "Ease Up" 3rd Eye & Group Home Who's The Man (soundtrack)/Uptown
1994 "What", "You Know My Name" Top Quality Magnum Opus/PMD Records
1994 "No Shorts and No Sleep" PMD Shade Business/PMD Records
1996 "Exclusive Debut" Ill Biskits Chronicles of Two Losers/Atlantic
1996 "Richman, Poorman" Nine Cloud 9/Profile Records
1997 "Step Into A World" KRS-One I Got Next/Jive Records
1998 "What U See Is What U Get" Xzibit 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz/Loud Records
2001 "Supreme Alphabet" Positive K Creative Control Records
2004 "Lyrical High" 3rd Eye & Zone 7 Hit Squad-Zero Tolerance/Boondox Records
2006 (entire album) Beans 'N' Apples Come Fuk Wit Us/GLOK
2010 (3 tracks) Krs-One & Greenie "It's All Good"/Azoos[2][3]

Remixes

Year Song Artist(s) Label
1993 "Dolly My Baby" Super Cat w/ 3rd Eye, Puff Daddy, Biggie Smalls, Mary J. Blige Columbia/SME Records
1993 "What's the 411" Mary J. Blige Uptown/MCA Records
1993 "Reminisce" Mary J. Blige Uptown/MCA Records

Other Appearances

"Guest Appearances"

Year Song Artist(s) Album Label
2009 "How You Really Want It" Busta Rhymes Back on My B.S. (iTunes only) Conglomerate, Universal Motown

Sampling

  • "For James" - James Brown "Funky Drummer", "Soul Power"
  • "The Master" - Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime", Grace Jones "Slave to the Rhythm"
  • "I Saw You" - Jackson Five "My Little Baby"

References

  1. ^ Bling Etymology Archived 2011-08-06 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Jesse West : Brooklyn Bodega". Archived from the original on 2010-06-28. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  3. ^ "Hip-Hop Pioneer KRS-One Producing Rap Music for Greenie | RAPWEEKLY.COM". Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  • Platform 8470: The Official Hip Hopzine [2]