Candyman

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Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, The Candyman attended George Washington Preparation High School with his friend rapper/producer Sir Jinx (Lench Mob, Ice Cube) who introduced The Candyman to his cousin Dr. Dre (World Class Wreckin Crew N.W.A.) to record a three song demo in which The Candyman is featured on the cover art of The N.W.A. And The Posse album. Upon completing the three song demo which was given to Fila AL who took interest in The Candyman and another classmate of his up and coming producer Johnny J (Thug Life , 2Pac). The two would collaborate on an ep for Fila ALs independent label King Quality Records. The ep included Knockin Boots a song that was passed on by all the major recording labels in 1987. Although Knockin Boots started to gain immediate underground buzz , The Candyman's drive to perform led him to call on fellow rapper Tone Loc whom The Candyman had done a few local shows with, and in 1988 The Candyman began to accompany him on stage as well as assist him by choreographing his live performances. During that time The Candyman was able to tour nation-wide and observe the stage presence of headlining acts like Bobby Brown , MC Hammer , N.W.A. , and appeared on the Club MTV Tour with Paula Abdul where The Candyman witnessed the Milli Vanilli on stage blooper first hand. A true learning experience , The Candyman longed for the opportunity to showcase his talent as a solo artist. Meanwhile after two years of touring exposure for The Candyman none of the thousands of fans had a clue that he had a local hit back home in California.



With virtually no radio play Knockin Boots street buzz was gaining momentum from Low Rider Magazine core Latino audience due to a deal struck with Thump Records President Bill Walker to include the song in the Low Rider Magazine Soundtrack Vol 1. Now the major labels were looking for the artist connected to the song that sampled Betty Wrights Tonight is the night along with the catchy hook Ooh boy I love you so performed by Rolls Royce laced well together with clever word play , sexual innuendo , without the use of foul language. A deal was struck with Epic Records and the single was commercially released in Oct-1990. Three years after the initial recording the single sold a million copies, that garnered The Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 Song Writers Award, an American Music Awards nomination for Best New Artist of 1990 (in company of Digital Underground and Vanilla Ice) At a time when Pop-Rap received huge crossover success , The Candyman ushered in a radio-friendly style that had sex appeal and a previous three years worth of undeniable street credibility. The similarities can be found in many of today's hottest artist-Nelly , Kanye West , LL Cool J , and Ludacris. For all of its crossover appeal most Pop-Rappers of the 90s received huge critical backlash and major labels begin signing on abundance of gangsta rappers , even some with absolutely no street credibility. Through it all The Candyman released a less successful follow-up album Play Time Is Over on Epic Records in 1991. I Thought U Knew on I.R.S. Records in 1995, The independently released Phukk Watcha Goin Thru in 1998, And most recently Knockin Boots 2001- A Sex Odyssey in the summer of 2000.