Kwame' - The Boy Genius

by Ran

MC Lyte and Kwame'

Kwame' the Boy Genius featuring a New Beginning

A Day in the Life: A Pokadelic Adventure

Nastee

Kwame' Holland was born in 1973 to Tahir Holland and Carol Drew. He was named after Kwame Nkrumah, the first prime minister and president of Ghana. Kwame' and his younger brother, Nahim, were raised in the East Elmhurst section of Queens, New York. His childhood neighbors were Eric "Eric B." Barrier, Christoperh "Kid" Reid, Christoper "Play" Martin and Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor. Holland attended school with Azor's younger brother Steve.

Introduced to music at an early age, Holland received a drum set for his ninth birthday from his grandfather's friend, jazz legend Lionel Hampton.

After hearing Holland's self-produced demo tape, Azor secured a deal with Atlantic Records for the teenager. Holland's debut album, Kwame' the Boy Genius featuring a New Beginning, was released in 1989. The album featured the hit songs, "The Rhythm" and "The Man We All Know and Love". The music video for "The Man We All Know and Love" featured cameos by Malcolm Jamal Warner; rapper Dana "Dana Dane" McLeese; and Holland's neighbors Martin, Reid and Azor. Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper of Salt-n-Pepa also appeared as one of Holland's love interests.

Holland's penchant for wearing polka dot clothing became his signature style and ignited a widespread fashion trend.

Holland's sophomore album, A Day in the Life: A Pokadelic Adventure, featured his protege, vocalist Tasha Lambert, with whom he also enjoyed a romantic relationship.

Ironically, Holland's most enduring lyrics are the ones that he wrote for someone else. While hanging out with Dana Dane and New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe-member Michael Bivins, Holland wrote the rap verse performed by Bivin's band-mate Ronnie DeVoe on BBD's biggest hit, "Poison" -- the title track of the group's debut album, released in 1990. After Bivins played Holland a demo of the song, he wrote the verse on a napkin.

The music video for the title song of Holland's 1992 album, Nastee, featured his older cousin, future movie star Mark "Vin Diesel" Sinclair, portraying Holland's nemesis. The video was intended to be an introduction for Sinclair, who Holland had planned to produce as a rap protege. The video was also notable for the absence of Holland's signature polka dots.

After Nastee failed to live up to the success of Holland's previous two albums, he requested a release from his record contract in the hopes of securing another one at a different label. When he was unable to secure a new deal, he was forced to move back in with his mother and little brother in Queens.

In 1994, Holland released his fourth album, Incognito, on Ichiban Records.

In 1999, working under the pseudonym K-1 Million, Holland began a successful second career producing tracks for other artists, including Mary J. Blige and LL Cool J. He later produced songs for Will Smith and Christina Aguilera.

In 2004, Holland co-produced the Lloyd Banks hit "On Fire" with rapper Eminem.

In 2006, Holland's brother Nahim died from AIDS-related complications.

In 2015, Holland founded Make Noise Records and signed singer Vivian Green. Green's album, Vivid, produced entirely by Holland, featured the hit "Get Right Back to My Baby".