His song Why, featuring Anthony Hamilton and produced by Havoc of Mobb Deep, became one of the years biggest hits, spawning a remix featuring Styles P, Common and Nas.

He began his career in 1990s as a member of the rap trio The Lox, signing with Bad Boy Entertainment.

After leaving the label in 2000, they joined rap collective the Ruff Ryders.

He is currently signed to the Def Jam label and D-Block Records, the latter of which he co-founded with other Lox members.

He has released three more solo studio albums, another album with the Lox, and an album with fellow rapper Fabolous.

In 2007, Jadakiss signed with Jay-Z s Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings, which, with Ruff Ryders Entertainment, co-released his 2009 album The Last Kiss.

Altogether, he has released five studio albums, most recently Ignatius in 2020.

At age 12, he began selling drugs after his parents asked him to earn his own money.

He soon stopped selling drugs, however, and instead began freestyle rapping for money after watching other people do it on the street corner.

While freestyling, he eventually met longtime friends Sheek Louch and Styles P.

Blige, who, impressed with their lyrics, handed their demo to Puff Daddy, who signed the group to his label Bad Boy Entertainment.

They made their first appearance on The Main Sources 1994 LP Fuck What You Think on the track Set it Off.

They immediately began writing and performing on hit songs with fellow Bad Boy artists, including Puff Daddys Its All About the Benjamins and I Got the Power, Mases 24 Hrs.

Bliges Cant Get You Off My Mind and The Notorious B.I.G.s Last Day.

The group developed a close relationship with B.I.G., during which time Jadakiss especially was taken under his wing.

The Loxs first hit song was a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G.

Well Always Love Big Poppa.

The song was chosen as the B-side to Puff Daddys smash hit B.I.G.

Ill Be Missing You, and received widespread commercial success, achieving multi-platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The success and reception of the song opened the door for them to write more of their own songs, and in 1998, the Lox released their debut studio album, Money, Power Respect.

The album was both a commercial and critical success, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard 200 4 and number 1 on the US Top RBHip-Hop Albums 5 chart, and went on to achieve platinum status.

Though the record was successful, The Lox grew unhappy with Bad Boy Records and Puff Daddy s glossy, radio friendly production, feeling it conflicted with their grimier street aesthetic.

Following the release of their debut album, the group left the label to sign with Ruff Ryders Entertainment.

They released their second album, We Are The Streets in 2000, through Ruff Ryders.

The album featured popular guests and producers such as DJ Premier, The Alchemist, DMX, Eve, Snoop Dogg, Nas and Swizz Beatz and was commercially successful, going on to be certified gold by the RIAA and selling over 200,000 copies during its first week of release.

Jadakiss has acknowledged the criticism as valid, saying the record was done less out of inspiration but rather out of contractual obligations to Bad Boy.

Jadakiss followed this album with Kiss of Death, released in June 2004.

It features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Eminem, The Lox, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Nate Dogg, DJ Quik and more.

Jadakiss Kiss Tha Game Goodbye Zip