Brand Nubian

Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian performing live in 2008.
Background information
Origin	New Rochelle, New York
Genres	Hip hop East Coast Hip hop Alternative rap Conscious Hip hop
Labels	Elektra Records Arista/BMG Records Babygrande Records
Associated acts	KMD
Members	Grand Puba (1989–91, 1997–00, 2003–Present) Sadat X (1989–95, 1997–00, 2003–Present) Lord Jamar (1989–95, 1997–00, 2003–Present) DJ Alamo (1989–91, 1997–2000) DJ Sincere (1992–1995)

Brand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, composed of three emcees: Grand Puba, Sadat X and Lord Jamar, and two DJs: DJ Alamo and DJ Sincere. Its debut album, One for All is one of the most popular and acclaimed alternative hip hop albums of the 1990s, known for socially conscious and political lyrics inspired by the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths.About.com placed the group on its list of the 25 Greatest Rap Groups of All Time.

Brand Nubian formed in 1989 and their first single, "Brand Nubian," was released in 1989. Signed to Elektra Records by A&R man Dante Ross, their debut album, One For All, was released in 1990. Generally acclaimed, the album drew fire for militant Five-Percenter rhetoric on tracks such as "Drop the Bomb" and "Wake Up." The controversy helped selling in excess of 400.000 copies. A version of the Fab Five Freddy-directed video of the single "Wake Up," featuring a black man in white-face makeup, was banned from MTV. On that channel and from official WEA sources, this image was replaced by a Baptist preacher. The singles "Slow Down," "All for One," and "Wake Up" all became hits on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1991.

Shortly after the group's debut release, Sadat X and Lord Jamar quarreled with Grand Puba, and he left the group, along with DJ Alamo, to pursue a solo career. Following this, Lord Jamar and Sadat X asked DJ Sincere to join the group in 1992. The same year, Puba released his solo debut, Reel to Reel.