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Robert Lee Green, Jr. (born July 2, 1970), better known by his stage name Spice 1, is an American rapper from Hayward, California.^[2] He began releasing albums in 1992 and was ranked number 56 in The Source magazine's Top 115 Hip-Hop Artists from 1988 to 2003.

Career

Jive Records (1991 – 1999)

Green said in an interview that his stage name is an acronym for "sex, pistols, indo, cash and entertainment".^[3] He was first discovered by rapper Too Short and was part of "The Dangerous Crew", in 1988 along with a few other rappers known as Goldy, Rappin 4-Tay, Rappin' Ron-N-Ant Diddley Dog, Father Dom, Ant Banks, Danger Zone, and a few more. In 1991, he put out his first EP, Let It Be Known, which was not widely distributed. In 1992, he released his self-titled debut Spice 1, a vivid and fatalistic^{[according to whom?]} gangsta rap album. He followed it with an even more bitter and nihilistic release,^{[according to whom?]}187 He Wrote, in 1993.

Spice 1 released six albums under Jive Records along with one greatest hits album. Though it was reported by Jive that he had an album called Full Metal Jacket, Spice 1 has stated that this information was false.^[4] The album was never released and it is uncertain whether any songs were recorded for the project. He was to collaborate with 2Pac on an album called "One Nation", before that artist's death in 1996.^{[citation needed]}

In 1996, Spice 1 appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD, America is Dying Slowly, alongside many prominent hip hop artists such as Biz Markie, Wu-Tang Clan, Organized Konfusion, and Fat Joe. The CD, intended to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African-American men, was heralded as "a masterpiece" by The Source magazine.

While Spice 1 was signed to Jive, three of his albums reached gold certification. According to the RIAA, these albums were Spice 1, 187 He Wrote and AmeriKKKa's Nightmare.^[5] He continued to have success, though later albums sold fewer than 500,000 units.

The biggest song in Spice's career was "Trigga Gots No Heart" from the Menace II Society soundtrack and his album 187 He Wrote. It was overshadowed on the charts by "Streiht Up Menace" by MC Eiht from the same soundtrack. In 1999, Spice 1 released his last album with Jive, Immortalized. Receiving good reviews, it was not well promoted and didn't sell as expected. According to Spice 1, he left Jive Records because they wanted him to clean up his image.

Spice 1 also released his fourth album with Jive Records called "1990-Sick" in 1995, the same year he decided to turn himself in to the police after having a warrant for illegal gun charges, the same time in the summer of '95 he was laying low from the Oakland police while making the album. He released his video 1990-Sick (Kill 'Em All) after being released. The album got good reviews, being charted number 3 in Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

In 1997 Spice 1 released his fifth album The Black Bossalini, still on Jive Records, while being nicknamed (a.k.a. Dr. Bomb from da Bay). The album got production from Ant Banks, a Bay Area rapper and producer, Clint "Payback" Sands, Mike Mosley, Paris and Rick Rock. It peaked #28 on the Billboard 200, and #5 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, with features from WC, Big Skye, Ice-T, Too Short, Kokane, MC Breed, Yukmouth & Mack 10. His song on the album "The Thug In Me" was dedicated to 2Pac, with whom Spice 1 was very close friends, and they had recorded a few songs together.

Independent artist (2000–present)

Spice 1 has released more than 10 group and solo albums since his release from Jive. Spice started his own record label called Thug World Music Group and signed his first artist, Q Bosilini in 2018.

Personal life

Green attended Mt. Eden High School in Hayward.^[6]

Green was shot in the chest on the morning of December 3, 2007, while sitting in his Cadillac Escalade outside his parents' home in the 26000 block of Chiplay Avenue in Hayward. The shooting is believed to be motivated by robbery, rather than any sort of rivalry.^[6] While recovering from a collapsed lung, he discussed the shooting 6 days later from his hospital bed.^[7]

Discography

Studio albums

• 
  Spice 1 (1992)


• 
  187 He Wrote (1993)


• 
  AmeriKKKa's Nightmare (1994)


• 
  1990-Sick (1995)


• 
  The Black Bossalini (1997)


• 
  Immortalized (1999)


• 
  The Last Dance (2000)


• 
  Spiceberg Slim (2002)


• 
  The Ridah (2004)


• 
  Dyin' 2 Ball (2005)


• 
  The Truth (2005)


• 
  Haterz Nightmare (2015)


• 
  Throne of Game (2017)

Collaboration albums

• 
  Criminal Activity with Criminalz (2001)


• 
  NTA: National Thug Association with Bad Boy (2003)


• 
  The Pioneers with MC Eiht (2004)


• 
  Thug Lordz Trilogy with Thug Lordz (2006)


• 
  Keep It Gangsta with MC Eiht (2006)


• 
  Criminal Intent with Jayo Felony (2007)


• 
  Thug Therapy with Bossolo (2015)

References

External links

• 
  Spice 1 on Facebook