Bo$$ at WJPC-FM in Lansing, Illinois in April 1993.Photo:Raymond Boyd/Getty
Raymond Boyd/Getty
Rapper Lichelle Marie Laws, known professionally as Bo$$, has died. She was 54.
The legendary rapper was a trailblazer in ‘90s rap, best known for her cult-loved albumBorn Gangstaz, and among the first female artists ever signed toDef Jam. The record label confirmed her death on Wednesday.
The statement continued, “Bo$$ will be remembered as a pioneer in hip hop, being one of the first female rappers signed to Def Jam in the early 1990’s. We extend our prayers and condolences to her family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Bo$$ at WJPC-FM radio in Lansing, Illinois in April 1993.Raymond Boyd/Getty
Bo$$ in New York City in October 1992.Al Pereira/Getty
Al Pereira/Getty
The hip-hop artist subsequently secured a record deal on the West Coast division of Def Jam — making her the first woman to do so — and received acclaim with the release of her 1993 debutBorn Gangstaz. The album, which featured a long list of major producers likeJam Master Jay, Def Jef, and others, went on to reach the No. 3 spot on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The track “Deeper” also peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Tracks.
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Bo$$ was lauded for the hardcore gangster style of her music, which often incorporated irony. According to a 2004 interview withThe Detroit Metro Times, despite the album’s first bout of rave reviews, her satire was lost on some critics who called into question her “gangster” status.
Bo$$ performing in New York City in November 1992.Al Pereira/Getty
She told the outlet, “Critics started f—ing with me, sayin’ ‘She’s from a middle-class neighborhood, how can she be gangsta?’ Ya know I killed a million n—-s on that record. They weren’t getting it. There’s gangsters all over the place — ones that went to Harvard in the business world.”
The “Recipe of a Hoe” rapper eventually relocated to Texas where she worked as a radio DJ, releasing some music on the side and focusing on her health following a 1999 kidney failure.
Law previously toldThe Detroit Metro Timesthat she had aspirations to release another full-length project. She said, “When my record comes out I’m gonna pack up my kidney pills — the 45 I have to take every day — and go wherever."
source: people.com
