A+ | |
---|---|
Birth name | Andre Levins |
Also known as | A+, Young Plus |
Born | August 29, 1981 |
Origin | Hempstead, New York, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Kedar Entertainment UMVD Labels Masta Mix Records Assdroknot Entertainment FochFam Moneyline Records |
Website | myspace.com/youngplus |
Andre Levins, also known as A+ (born August 29, 1981, [1] Hempstead, New York) is an American rapper. As a teenager he released albums in 1996 and in 1999.
A+ began his music career in 1995, after winning a national talent competition sponsored by Def Jam Records. [2] He was the first act signed to Kedar Massenburg's record label, Kedar Entertainment. [2] According to Massenburg, the A+ moniker "means that he's striving for perfection, and he's not really talking about the same things as other young rappers." [2] In 1996, at the age of 14, A+ released his first album, The Latch-Key Child, which featured contributions from Prodigy and Q-Tip. [3] "All I See" was chosen as the lead single, [2] and it peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, [4] staying for 14 weeks. [5]
His second album, Hempstead High, was released in February 1999. [6] Guest appearances on the album included DeBarge, the Lost Boyz and Canibus. [6] [7] The single "Enjoy Yourself", which sampled the 1976 Walter Murphy song " A Fifth of Beethoven", [8] reached the top five of the UK Singles Chart, [9] number 63 of the US Hot 100 [4] for three weeks,) [5] and was also commercially successful in Germany and Japan. [7]
Year | Album | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US R&B/HH [10] |
US Heat. [11] | |||
1996 | The Latch-Key Child | 36 | 17 | |
1999 | Hempstead High | 60 | 19 |
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [4] |
US R&B/HH [12] |
AUS [13] |
UK [9] | |||
1996 | " All I See" | 66
|
29
|
—
|
—
|
The Latch-Key Child |
1999 | " Enjoy Yourself" | 63
|
50
|
26
|
5
|
Hempstead High |