Ahmad (rapper)
| Ahmad | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ahmad Ali Lewis |
| Born | October 12, 1975 |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels |
Giant, Reprise, Warner Bros. Records, Interscope, Universal Records Gotee/Lookalive Records, EMI Records WeCLAP |
| Associated acts | 4th Avenue Jones |
Ahmad Ali Lewis (born October 12, 1975), simply known as Ahmad (often stylized AHMAD), is an American hip hop recording artist, songwriter, motivational speaker and author from Los Angeles, California. He is perhaps best known for the 1994 single "Back in the Day," a nostalgic song that became a fixture for nostalgia in hip-hop culture. Ahmad is also a former member and founder of the hip-hop fusion band 4th Avenue Jones.
Ahmad made his recording debut in 1993 on the soundtrack of The Meteor Man with the song "Who Can." Released when Ahmad was 18, "Back in the Day" the remix version (produced by Maurice Thompson & Jay Williams of Barr 9 Productions) hit No. 26 on the US pop charts and No. 19 on the U.S. R&B charts on the strength of its hook, sung over a sample of the Teddy Pendergrass song "Love TKO." It also reached No. 64 in the UK Singles Chart. It was the first single off his first album, Ahmad. The remix of "Back in the Day" is also featured on the soundtrack of The Wood, a 1999 motion picture. Ahmad secured his first recording contract as a senior in high school and earned a gold record for his chart-topping hit.
Ahmad later formed the hip-hop fusion band 4th Avenue Jones. 4th Avenue Jones signed a recording deal with Interscope Records.
After a brief hiatus from music to focus on academia, Ahmad graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Sociology. Ahmad was accepted to Stanford University after graduating valedictorian from Long Beach City College and receiving the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, the largest private scholarship for two-year college transfer students in the United States. The Los Angeles Times ran a front-page article highlighting Ahmad's transition from artist to scholar.
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