Jesse Bonds Weaver Jr. (born June 22, 1962), better known by the stage name Schoolly D, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Early life, family and education

Schoolly D was born Jesse Bonds Weaver Jr. in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Philadelphia as well as Georgia. He later embraced an Afrocentric style, bringing Afrocentric culture to hip hop along with KRS-One.

Schoolly D contributed songs and music to many Abel Ferrara films, including "P.S.K." and "Saturday Night" (from Saturday Night! – The Album) as well as "King of New York" to Ferrara's film of the same name and the title track from Am I Black Enough For You? that was played during the climactic shoot-out in that film, the title track from How a Black Man Feels, and "Signifying Rapper" (from Smoke Some Kill), which was used in Ferrara's film Bad Lieutenant. Because Led Zeppelin successfully sued because of an uncleared interpolation <!-- What appears to be a sample of Led Zeppelin playing the "Kashmir" riff is audible under the playing of same by studio musicians. Could use a source other than the Ferrara interview. --> of its song "Kashmir" in "Signifying Rapper", the song was omitted from the soundtrack of the film and from subsequent releases of the film.

Discography

Studio albums

  • 1985: Schoolly D
  • 1986: Saturday Night! – The Album
  • 1988: Smoke Some Kill
  • 1989: Am I Black Enough for You?
  • 1991: How a Black Man Feels
  • 1994: Welcome to America
  • 1995: Reservoir Dog
  • 2000: Funk 'N Pussy
  • 2008: Schoolly D's Out Cold
  • 2010: International Supersport
  • 2019: The Real Hardcore
  • 2022: Cause Schoolly D Is Crazy

Compilations

  • 1987: The Adventures of Schoolly D
  • 1995: The Jive Collection, Vol. 3
  • 1996: A Gangster's Story: 1984–1996
  • 2000: Best on Wax (5 Years of Schoolly D)
  • 2003: The Best of Schoolly D
  • 2019: The Official Adventures of... Schoolly D

References

Further reading

  • Article about his graphic career as an album cover designer