The music industry and most importantly black culture has lost a legend. Andre Harrell has passed away at 59. During DJ Nice’s popular “Club Quarantine” on Friday night he announced the passing of the music legend. There hasn’t been official word but sources have confirmed his passing. The cause of death is unknown at the time of this publication.
Andre Harrell was one half of the rap group Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde in the early 1980’s. They dropped the hot joint entitled “Genius Rap” in 1981 and me and the homies would walk up and down the block with our JVC boom boxes rocking that joint over and over again!!
Jekyll and Hyde were the only rappers wearing full business suits on the mic. Andre was destined to become a music executive because he was already looking the part 40 years ago.
Without Andre Harrell we wouldn’t have the likes of Heavy D, Mary J Blige, Father MC, Jodeci, Al B Sure, Guy, Lost Boyz, Soul For Real and of course Sean Puffy Combs. He was the one that gave Puffy and shot as an intern with this Uptown Records label off of the hook up of fellow Mount Vernon friend Heavy D.
To take it a step further without Andre, Puffy never gets fired from Uptown to start Bad Boy and we never get Craig Mack’s Flavor in your Ear and the NOTORIOUS BIG!!! Quite simply, Uptown Records changed the game of hip hop and black culture forever!!!
See how all of that works? Harrell got his start as a music industry executive rocking with Russell Simmons in 1983 at Def Jam. After three years ole boy took his talents Uptown and started his own thing in 1986. The game hasn’t been the same since.
I remember the first time I met Andre. I was at the WGCI Music Forum in Chicago in 1992 or ’93 and ole boy was sitting on the panel. The topic was about being in creative control. Someone made the comment that this new cat named R. Kelly was stealing Aaron Hall’s style.
Harrell stopped the person dead in their tracks and said, “R Kelly will be around for the next 25 years making music while Aaron Hall will only be around for the next 2 or so. Why? Because R Kelly writes and produces everything he puts out. Aaron Hall does neither. He’s only a singer. There is no future in that.” WOW!!! The big homie opened my eyes to being in control of life, not just music.
Rest in peace Andre Harrell and thanks for sharing your vision with the world. Hip Hop and black culture is better because of you.