Major Figgas

Major Figgas is a rap septet from the Erie Avenue section of north Philadelphia. It began with childhood friends Gillie Da Kid and Rolx, who rapped together at Cabrini College with Bump J. The team of Dutch & Spade joined them, along with Ab Liva, and the group was completed by its sole female member, Bianca. By 1998, local tapes had brought them to the attention of the major record labels, but they released their debut album, Figgas 4 Life, independently in November 1999 before signing to Chris Schwartz's Philadelphia-based RuffNation Records, which had a manufacturing and distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records. The album was reconfigured for expanded release, with new tracks added, the first single, "Yeah That's Us," remixed, and the whole thing remastered. RuffNation/Warner Bros. released the new version of Figgas 4 Life on August 22, 2000, by which time "Yeah That's Us" was already in the R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts. (The lineup listed above is according to Major Figgas' Warner Bros. Records press biography, dated August 8, 2000. The CD booklet for Figgas 4 Life lists the group's personnel as Wal-Lo, Gillie Da Kid, Ab Live, Spade, Dutch, Rolx, Bumpie Johnson, Bianca [First Lady], Chops, Rucis, El Dinero, Dirty Rik, P-Nut [20/20], and Lee Spade, though only seven people were pictured on the cover.) ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

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