Grand Puba

Biography

Maxwell Dixon (born William Brewster Dixon III; March 4, 1966), known professionally as Grand Puba, is an American rapper and record producer, best known as a member of Brand Nubian from New Rochelle, New York. He was formerly a member of Masters of Ceremony.

Early life

Puba was born on March 4, 1966 in New Rochelle. During the late 1970s, Puba first got into hip-hop after purchasing cassettes of his favorite artists such as The Cold Crush Brothers, T-Connection and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Puba attended the Remington Boys Club in New Rochelle. While at his club, a DJ by the name of Grand Mixer DXT would send out cassette tapes, helping Puba learn to rap and write rhymes. His first cousin by the name of Dr. Who (Tod Dixon),, who would later form the group Masters of Ceremony with Puba, would accompany him, banging on tables, and the two would be trading rhymes. Puba was also a breakdancer. He began making beats on cassettes in New Rochelle. When he was finally known, he started DJing at clubs. His first rap group was called the "Tray-Bag MC's".

Career

He made his debut as Grand Puba Maxwell with the group Masters of Ceremony in 1985. Their album Dynamite (1988) was praised by critics, but because of lack of sales, the group soon disbanded and Puba became the lead emcee of Brand Nubian after working out a deal with A&R Dante Ross and signing with Elektra Records. After their debut album One for All (1990), Puba left the group and began a solo career. He released his first solo album Reel to Reel×Reel to Reel1992 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Check tha Resume3:512360° (What Goes Around)4:023That’s How We Move It3:214Check It Out3:335Big Kids Don’t Play3:486Honey Don’t Front4:087Lickshot4:358Ya Know How It Goes4:219Reel to Reel3:5610Soul Controller4:2611Proper Education3:3312Back It Up3:5213Baby What’s Your Name?2:5614360° (What Goes Around) (SD50 remix)4:0115Who Makes the Loot?3:25 on Elektra Records in 1992, alongside DJ Stud Doogie and DJ Alamo, a former member of Brand Nubian. In 1992 Sean "Puffy" Combs tapped Grand Puba to collaborate with up & coming R&B singer Mary J. Blige on her debut album What's the 411? The title song was co-written by Puba and made number one on the R&B charts in the early 1993. He released his second album 2000 in 1995.
Around 1997, he rejoined Brand Nubian, recording a few tracks and leading up to the full-length album Foundation in 1998. Puba said in an interview with Billboard, "I never did go, I just wanted that experience and it was a good thing". In 1999, Grand Puba and Sadat X performed on the track "Once Again" on Handsome Boy Modeling School's concept album So... How's Your Girl? After following Brand Nubian's 2004 record Fire in the Hole, Grand Puba appeared on tracks with Beanie Sigel ("Bread and Butter", also featuring groupmate Sadat X), Missy Elliott ("My Struggles", featuring his onetime collaborator Mary J. Blige), and Ugly Duckling ("Something's Going Down Tonight").
He released his third album Understand This×Understand This23 October 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Grand Pu1:212All Day3:593Issues3:384What U Gonna Do for Me3:575Skit 11:156Don’t Lie to Me2:087Skit 20:218What’s Up Wit It3:579Skit 30:2410Dreams4:2311Skit 40:2212Understand This4:1713Skit 50:4014Baby Mama Drama3:5415Up & Down3:1116Skit 60:3017What U Want4:0418Keep It Moving4:0619Spazz Out 24:0120How Many More2:53 in 2001 on Koch Records.
In 2009, Grand Puba released his fourth solo album, Retroactive×Retroactive9 June 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks1I See Dead People2Hunny3It Is What It Is4How Long?5Good to Go6Same Old Drama7Get That Money8This Joint Right Here9Go Hard10Reality Check11Cold Cold World12Smile (outro)13This Joint Right Here (remix), featuring production from Q-Tip, Large Professor, Kid Capri as well as fellow Brand Nubians. Puba also appeared on the heavy posse cut "Fresh" together with Cormega, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, DJ Red Alert and PMD.
In 2016, he released his fifth album Black from the Future×Black From the Future15 April 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1UDK3:122The More Things Change3:573Tap Out2:424Original2:585It’s Over2:156Think of U3:237Yard3:248Respect3:159Be Mine2:0910Do the One3:0111Magic Man3:1012It’s Been a While3:15.

Personal life

Puba's son, Sonny Dixon, who goes by the name Stunna Gang, is also an emcee.

Solo

Reel to Reel (1992)
2000 (1995)
Understand This (2001)
Retroactive (2009)
Black from the Future (2016)
The Brooklyn Premiere (2024) with Grandmaster Melle Mel and Cappadonna
The Origin: the Retirement Package Volume 1 (2025)

with Brand Nubian

One for All (1990)
Foundation (1998)
Fire in the Hole (2004)
Time's Runnin' Out (2007)
Vamp Bikers with Grandmaster Melle Mel, Grand Master Caz and Grand Wizard Theodore, Directed by Eric Spade Rivas