The LOX | |
---|---|
Also known as | The Bomb Squad, D-Block, The Warlocks |
Origin | Yonkers, New York, United States |
Genres | Hip hop |
Years active | 1994–present |
Labels |
Bad Boy (1995–1999) Ruff Ryders (1999–2010) D-Block (2003–present) Roc Nation/Def Jam (2016–present) |
Associated acts | DMX, Drag-On, N.O.R.E., Mase, Black Rob, Swizz Beatz, Puff Daddy, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, G-Unit, Eve |
Members |
Jadakiss Styles P Sheek Louch |
The Lox (stylized The LOX or The L.O.X.) is an American hip hop group formed in 1994, from Yonkers, New York. The group is composed of East Coast rappers Sheek Louch, Styles P and Jadakiss. They had originally signed to Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records in 1995, before joining Ruff Ryders Entertainment in 1999, and have since launched their own label, D-Block Records.
Jason "Jadakiss" Phillips, David "Styles P" Styles, and Sean "Sheek Louch" Jacobs, began their musical careers in their hometown of Yonkers, New York. As high school students they formed a group called "The Bomb Squad" and began performing at local shows and producing their own demos. In 1994 they appeared on Main Source's "Set It Off" from the album Fuck What You Think. While the local rap scene was being dominated by artists like Raw Rome, Lord Devon and a young DMX, the group began to gain attention for their lyrical style and ability to present tales of urban life. The group eventually changed their name to "The Warlocks" and continued developing a fan base by appearing on underground mixtapes. One of their admirers was the "Queen of Hip hop soul," fellow Yonkers native Mary J. Blige. Mary passed their demo tape on to Bad Boy CEO Sean "Puffy" Combs who signed them to a deal. At the behest of Combs, The Warlocks later changed their name to "The L.O.X" which stands for Living Off eXperience. After signing with Bad Boys, The Lox started gaining a bigger buzz off the strength of their first single "Well, Well, Well" featuring Kasino, which appeared on DJ Clue's 1996 mixtape Show Me the Money.