Duane Hughes, better known by his stage name Spyder D, is an American old-school rapper and producer from New York City.
Career
1980s
"Big Apple Rappin' was released on his own Newtroit Records in 1980, placing it among hip-hop's earliest single releases. Another notable release was "I Can't Wait (To Rock The Mike)," a version of the Nu Shooz hit "I Can't Wait" released in 1986 as a single. Other Spyder D releases include "Buckwheat's Rap" (released by Profile in 1985), and "Smerphie's Dance," which has been sampled on other tracks including How We Do by The Game.
Childhood schoolmate Russell Simmons later became his manager and mentor in 1983. Spyder produced several tracks for artists such as Infinity Machine's DJ Divine, Sparky D, Roxanne Shante', as well as a string of tracks for independent labels such as Profile Records, Select Records, Spring Records, and a joint label venture with Next Plateau (launching Fly Spy Records). He also managed Power Play Studios in Queens, from various stints from 1983 to 1998. He lived in Los Angeles between 1989 and 1992, where he worked with KDAY-AM's Greg Mack and Curtis Harmon.
Spyder co-engineered and recorded his first full album, Gangsta Wages, with multi-platinum "remixologist" Greg Royal, which was released through his own Hype-Hop label. The imprint was distributed through Macola Records who, at the time also signed 2 Live Crew and Dr. Dre’s World Class Wrecking Crew. Spyder worked in the studio with Malcolm McClaren on writing lyrics for Sparky D for McClaren's Hip-Hop/Opera fusion.
1990s
In 1996, after once again taking over the reins as Power Play Studios full time manager, Spyder began a dual role as both engineer and manager for the renowned studio.