Profile of Inspectah Deck on Famous Like Me

Inspectah Deck (born Jason Hunter July 6, 1970 in the Bronx, New York) is an African American rapper, producer and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Though he has not achieved the same levels of success in his solo career as some of his fellow Clansmen, he has been a mainstay of the group ever since its debut album.

Biography

Inspectah Deck was born in the Bronx, but moved to Staten Island when he was a child, living in the Park Hill Projects in Clifton, where other members of the future Wu-Tang Clan would live and congregate. He is one of the lesser known Wu-Tangers, though he has been a member since their debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993), a project that he worked on after returning from a jail sentence. He had a high-profile role in the group's early work, delivering the opening verse to the classic underground single Protect Ya Neck, as well as a now-famous verse on the equally successful single C.R.E.A.M. and star turns on Bring Da Ruckus, Da Mystery Of Chessboxin and 7th Chamber. He later appeared on Wu-Tang side projects and solo records like GZA's Liquid Swords and Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, though compared to other members he was relatively quiet during the first round of solo releases. His own debut was originally scheduled for this 1994-1997 period but for undisclosed reasons was held back until after the group's second album. Nevertheless, in 1995 (1995 in music) Deck released his first solo track (technically credited to the whole Clan), "Let Me at Them", on the Tales from the Hood soundtrack.

He provided the Clan's second group album Wu-Tang Forever with many of its highlights, echoing his explosive opener to Protect Ya Neck with the now equally famous opening verse to the hit single Triumph as well as contributing the Stevie Wonder-sampling solo track The City. The album also featured Deck's production debut, arranging the ominous, piano-driven Visionz. This set the scene for his now long-delayed debut album Uncontrolled Substance in 1999 (see 1999 in music) on which he produced most of the beats, his 1970s funk influenced style being quite a radical departure in sound from the style of other Wu-Tang productions of the time. As well as the self-produced tracks, Deck had assistance from Wu producers RZA, True Master and 4th Disciple as well as Pete Rock (on whose Tru Master single Deck made a guest appearance at around the same time). The album did not sell especially well but was a moderate critical success. Between 1999 and the release of the Wu-Tang Clan's second album The W in 2000 (see 2000 in music), Deck continued to contribute beats and guest verses to other Clan members' solo projects, including GZA's Beneath the Surface, RZA's Bobby Digital In Stereo, and Method Man's Tical 2000: Judgement Day.

Deck released his second album The Movement in 2003 (2003), which was mostly produced by Ayatollah and featured a slightly more commercially minded style than his debut. Like his debut, it received mixed but generally positive reviews and relatively moderate sales success. In 2005, Deck began recording a new album, which is expected to be released in 2006. A track titled "Get Your Weight Up", presumably from the as yet untitled new album, was released on the internet in August 2005.

Samples

• Download sample of Inspectah Deck on "Visionz" from Wu-Tang Clan's Wu-Tang Forever album, a track he also produced.

Aliases

• Rebel INS
• Fifth Brother
• Rollie Fingers
• Manifesto
• Charliehorse
• Ayatollah

Discography

Albums

• 1999 Uncontrolled Substance
• 2003 The Movement

Singles & EPs

• 1998 "REC Room"
• 1999 "Word On The Street"
• 2003 "The Movement"
• 2003 "Big City"

Appears On

(vocals only unless otherwise stated)

• 1993 Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
• 1994 "Mr. Sandman" (from the Method Man album Tical)
• 1995 "Guillotine (Swordz)" (from the Raekwon album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx)
• 1995 "Cold World" & "Duel Of The Iron Mic" (from the GZA album Liquid Swords)
• 1996 "Assassination Day" (from the Ghostface Killah album Ironman)
• 1996 "Let Me At Them" (song by the Wu-Tang Clan, from Tales Of The Hood soundtrack)
• 1996 "America" (song by the Wu-Tang Clan, from America Is Dying Slowly compilation)
• 1997 "Semi Automatic Full Rap Metal Jacket" (song by the Wu-Tang Clan, from High School High soundtrack)
• 1997 Wu-Tang Forever (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
• 1998 "S.O.S." & "Execute Them" (from the Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm compilation, vocals & beat and vocals only respectively)
• 1998 "Cross My Heart" (from the Killah Priest album Heavy Mental)
• 1998 "Spazzola", "Elements" & "Play IV Keeps" (from the Method Man album Tical 2000: Judgement Day, vocals & beat, beat only and vocals only respectively)
• 1999 "True Master" (from the Pete Rock album Soul Survivor)
• 1999 "Beneath The Surface" (from the GZA album Beneath The Surface, beat only)
• 1999 "Beneath The Surface (Remix)" (GZA single)
• 1999 "Kiss Of A Black Widow" (from the RZA album Bobby Digital In Stereo, beat only)
• 1999 "Tres Leches (Triboro Trilogy)" (from the Big Punisher album Capital Punishment)
• 1999 "No Exit (Extended Video Version)" (Blondie single)
• 1999 "Above The Clouds" (from the Gang Starr album Moment Of Truth)
• 1999 "Rumble" & "Glide" (from the U-God album Golden Arms Redemption, vocals only and beat only respectively)
• 1999 "Stay True" (from the Ghostface Killah album Supreme Clientele, beat only)
• 2000 "Verbal Slaughter" (from the Dwellas album The Last Shall Be First)
• 2000 The W (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
• 2001 Iron Flag (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
• 2001 "Revenge" (from the Cappadonna album The Yin & The Yang)
• 2001 "Speaking Real Words" (from the 7L & Esoteric album The Soul Purpose)
• 2002 "Killa Beez" (from the Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Sting compilation)
• 2002 "The X (Y'all Know The Name)" (from the X-Ecutioners album Built From Scratch)
• 2003 "Always NY" (from the Mathematics album Love, Hell Or Right)
• 2003 "Sparring Minds" (from the GZA album Legend of the Liquid Sword)
• 2003 "Get Away From The Door" (from the Cappadonna album The Struggle)
• 2003 "Muskateers Of Pigs" (from the Raekwon album The Lex Diamond Story)
• 2004 "Silverbacks" (from the Masta Killa album No Said Date)
• 2004 Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1 (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
• 2005 "Strawberries & Cream" & "Spot Lite" (from the Mathematics album The Problem)
• 2005 "A Star Is Born" (from the Streetlife album Street Education)

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