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Special Ed (rapper)

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Special Ed
Birth nameEdward K. Archer
Born (1972-05-16) May 16, 1972 (age 52)
New York City, U.S.
OriginFlatbush, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
GenresHip-Hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, record producer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1988–present
Labels

Edward K. Archer (born May 16, 1972),[1] known professionally as Special Ed, is an American rapper and producer. Ed is perhaps best known for the songs "I Got It Made", "Think About It" and "I'm the Magnificent" from his debut album Youngest in Charge, released in 1989 when he was 17 years old.[2][3]

Biography

Born in Brooklyn, New York City to an Afro-Jamaican father and Indo-Jamaican mother, Ed was raised in Flatbush before moving to Canarsie, and is identified with East Coast hip-hop. Ed attended Erasmus Hall High School and Samuel J. Tilden High School.[4] At the age of fifteen, he established a rapport with his neighbor Howie Tee, who worked with him on his demo.[5][conflicted source] Ed's debut album Youngest in Charge was released in 1989 and included the songs "I Got It Made", "Think About It" and "I'm The Magnificent", which were produced by "Hitman" Howie Tee. In an interview with Billboard (magazine) writer James Richliano, Special Ed, who co-wrote his songs, said that he, "used to like writing poetry and creative writing in school," and that he, "wrote a lot of lyrics that amused my teachers. Even when I was younger, I could kick a beat with my hands and rhyme at the same time."[5][conflicted source]

Youngest in Charge sold more than half a million copies.[6] In 1990, Ed released his album Legal, the title a reference to his turning eighteen, with the singles "Come On Let's Move It" and "The Mission".[3][7] Ed was later a member of Crooklyn Dodgers, a supergroup put together in order to perform songs for the Spike Lee films Clockers and Crooklyn,[4][3] and he performed "Crooklyn" with Shillz on the 2003 compilation album MuskaBeatz. Ed released a third solo album, Revelations, with the single "Neva Go Back" in 1995,[8] with the track "Freaky Flow" receiving a remix by DJ Premier.

In 2004, Ed released the album Still Got It Made on his own label "Semi." Ed appeared in the film Ganked, alongside Kel Mitchell of Kenan and Kel, and had an uncredited cameo in Juice.[3] He also made an appearance on The Cosby Show as fictional rapper JT Freeze and in a Rick Ross music video entitled "Magnificent".[4][3] He also appeared in the 1992 movie Fly By Night.

In 2008, his song "I Got It Made" appeared in the action-adventure video game Grand Theft Auto IV on the fictional radio station "The Classics 104.1".

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[9] 		US
R&B
/HH
[10]
Youngest in Charge 73 8
Legal
  • Released: July 19, 1990
  • Label: Profile
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download, streaming
 84 15
Revelations
  • Released: June 27, 1995
  • Label: Profile
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download, streaming
 107 12
Still Got It Made
  • Released: October 26, 2004
  • Label: Semi
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums
Title Album details
The Best of Special Ed

As lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US Bub.
[11] 		US R&B
[12] 		US Rap
[13]
"Think About It" 1989 — 68 — Youngest in Charge
"I Got It Made" — 18 9
"Club Scene"[14] — — —
"I'm The Magnificent" 1990 — 37 27
"The Mission" — 25 5 Legal
"Come On, Let's Move It" 1991 — 30 8
"Neva Go Back" 1995 9 68 12 Revelations
"Lyrics" — — —
"Freaky Flow" 1996 — — —
"Think Twice"[a][15] 1997 — — — New York Reality Check 101
"What Up Love?"[16] 1999 — — — Non-album singles
"I Got It Made (Re-Recorded/Remastered)"[17] 2009 — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Think Twice" was released as a split single with "On Some Next Shit" by A.R.A.B.S. featuring Special Ed

Citations

  1. ^ "Special Ed". Hiphopgoldenage.com. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  2. ^ DiBella, M.F. "Youngest In Charge: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e Shapiro, Peter (2005). The Rough Guide to Hip Hop (2nd ed.). Rough Guides. p. 341. ISBN 1-84353-263-8.
  4. ^ a b c Jones, Charisse (September 24, 1995). "Still Hanging in the 'Hood; Rappers Who Stay Say Their Strength Is From the Streets". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Richliano, James (June 24, 1989). "New On The Charts". Billboard Magazine.
  6. ^ Larkin, Colin (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music. Virgin Books. p. 320. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
  7. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Legal: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  8. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Revelations: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  9. ^ "Special Ed Chart History". Billboard 200. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "Special Ed Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  12. ^ "Special Ed - US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "Special Ed - US Hot Rap Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  14. ^ Club Scene (track listing). Profile Records. 1989. PROFT 265.
  15. ^ Think Twice / On Some Next Shit (track listing). Special Ed / A.R.A.B.S. Dolla Cab Ent./Sure Shot Recordings. 1997. DC-001/SSR 001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ What Up Love? / We Come Again (track listing). Dolla Cab Ent. 1999. DC101.
  17. ^ "I Got It Made (Re-Recorded / Remastered) - Special Ed - Release Info". Apple Music. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
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