J. J. Fad
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J. J. Fad | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Original J.J. Fad |
| Origin | Rialto, California, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active | 1985–1992 2009–present |
| Labels | Uncle Louie Music Group, Ruthless Records |
| Members | Juana Burns (MC J.B.) Dania Birks (Baby D) Michelle Franklin (Sassy C) Mik Levan (Arabian Prince) |
J. J. Fad is an American rap group from Rialto, California, whose name stood for Just, Jammin', Fresh And Def, and were backed by Clarence "DJ Train" Lars.
Origins
JJ Fad was originally a six-member group out of Los Angeles in 1985. Its members were Juana Burns, Dania Birks, Michelle Franklin, Anna Cash, Fatima Shaheed, Juanita Lee The name JJ Fad actually was formed from the first names of the members. The six-member group released one song, 1987's "Another Hoe," which took jabs at Roxanne Shante.
Due to management and financial issues, Cash, Shaheed, and Lee left the group, leaving JJ Fad as a trio with DJ Train as their MC.[1][2]
Supersonic
J. J. Fad gained popularity with a trimmed-down line-up of MC J.B. (Juana Burns), Baby-D (Dania Birks), and Sassy C. (Michelle Franklin). Hailing from Los Angeles, California, the group was one of the original Ruthless Records acts signed by Eazy-E, and they sold 400,000 copies of their 1987 single "Supersonic" independently before Eazy and Jerry Heller had managed to secure a major label recording contract.
Signing the act to Atco Records, both the single "Supersonic" and the album Supersonic went platinum. The album was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella with Arabian Prince, shortly before Dre and Yella gained national fame with N.W.A. J. J. Fad were the first female rap group to earn a Grammy nomination and have a record reach platinum status.[3] Unlike many West Coast rappers of the day, their producers made J.J. Fad sound easily accessible to a pop audience by including many electro elements throughout.
Not Just a Fad
It was three years before the group returned with a follow up album, with Eazy and Heller enjoying success with N.W.A. Not Just a Fad was released in 1991, produced by Yella and overseen by Eazy, but the album failed to make an impact. The group disbanded shortly afterwards. DJ Train died in 1994 of smoke inhalation.
Present day
In 2006, Fergie used an interpolation of "Supersonic", and a sample of "Give It All You Got" by Afro-Rican, for her song named "Fergalicious".
After being out of the music industry for almost two decades raising their families, J. J. Fad reunited and started touring in 2009. "Supersonic" will appear in Dance Central 3 and the game was promoted by J.J. Fad themselves via their Facebook page. They eventually reformed on stage invited by Public Enemy at the House of Blues, the day before the NYC band's induction to Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame.
In October 2013 J. J. Fad and "Supersonic" were referenced in Eminem's critically acclaimed single "Rap God".
Discography
- 1988: Supersonic
- 1991: Not Just a Fad
References
External links
- African-American musical groups
- African-American female rappers
- American girl groups
- Atco Records artists
- Female hip hop groups
- Musical groups established in 1985
- Musical groups disestablished in 1992
- Musical groups reestablished in 2009
- People from Rialto, California
- Ruthless Records artists
- West Coast hip hop groups