Hollywood, CA – In the late 90s, Bad Boy Records was one of the prime labels to be on. Jadakiss, Sheek Louch and Styles P — collectively known as as The LOX — were included on Bad Boy’s illustrious roster at the time.
The three talented Yonkers, New York MCs previously went by the group name Warlocks until Bad Boy bossman Diddy made them change it to The LOX once they officially signed their contracts.
“He said, ‘Ya’ll The LOX,” Jada recalled during an interview with GroovyTracks’s Jeremy Hecht. “It’s no more Warlocks, ya’ll figure it out. Ya’ll The LOX. He just changed our name and walked out the room.”
But Jada said they trusted Diddy’s judgment since he was skilled in marketing. Three years into their contract (and shortly after the release of their 1999 platinum album Money, Power, Respect), the trio demanded to be let out of their Bad Boy contracts. Jada recalls the very moment they all decided to make their exit.
“It was probably after the argument with Diddy when Styles threw the chair at Puff,” Kiss remembered. “I ain’t sure, but that was probably the last straw for that. Prior to that, there was conversation amongst the group and things of that nature but after that little incident happened, that’s when we decided to part ways.”
After The LOX left Bad Boy, they signed to Ruff Ryders and released their 2000 sophomore effort We Are the Streets.
Jadakiss is currently prepping the release of his first album in five years, Ignatius, which is scheduled to drop on February 28. Earlier this week, he released the video for the album’s first single “Kisses To The Sky” featuring Rick Ross and Emanny.
In a previous #DXCLUSIVE clip, Jada named Drake, J. Cole, YBN Cordae and Young Thug, who he thinks raps some “incredible shit,” as some of his favorite new wave rap acts.
The full interview with Jadakiss is expected to drop February 18. In the meantime, peep the video of Jadakiss discussing The LOX’s exit from Bad Boy Records up top.
88