PERCEE P

The Legendary PerceeP

Percee began rhyming in 1979 at age ten. He grew up in the Boogie Down’s Patterson Projects, and by middle school was known as one of the dopest MCs in the Bronx. Before he finished high school, he was a New York legend. Percee went to elementary and middle school in the Bronx, but went to high school in Manhattan, where an influx of students from all over New York took word of his assaulting battle rhymes — some opponents were left crying — back to their boroughs. Percee’s flow — he lays words end to end like dominoes, forming tight angles around whatever beat he’s on — was innovative against the simpler rap style popular in the early eighties, and was instantly influential all over the city.

His style has been cited as a major influence on the likes of Pharoahe Monch (that’s him on the ‘Lung Collapsing Lyrics’ intro) and basically all of DITC (via Lord Finesse, who he battled in ’89). He’s cut records with everyone from Kane & Kool Keith to Aesop Rock & Jurassic 5 and outshined just about all of them. That’s his voice on DJ Shadow’s ‘Napalm Brain, Scatter Brain’. I could go on… In short, aside from Big Daddy Kane, he’s the illest quote unquote fast rapper to ever touch the mic. But because he’s only recorded about 18 verses in as many years, not a lot of heads know what’s up.”– www.cocaineblunts.com