The Lox

Representing Yonkers, N.Y., the Lox got their start with the Bad Boy family, collaborating with the likes of Puffy and the Notorious B.I.G., as well as Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey. Their tribute to Biggie, "We'll Always Love Big Poppa," was a major hit in 1997, and the following year saw the release of their debut LP Money, Power & Respect. The trio of Jadakiss, Styles, and Sheek soon grew weary of Bad Boy's role in their sound, as Puffy's radio-ready slick production seemed to clash with their thugged-out image. The group went AWOL, hooking up with the Ruff Ryders crew for their 2000 follow-up We Are The Streets. Backed with signature beats from Premier, Swizz, and Timbaland, the Lox returned stronger than ever, asserting their new found creative control with vicious flows and street-flavored hardcore anthems. However, contractual disputes with Diddy forced the Lox to change its name to D-Block, which they've been known as ever since.