Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. was an American hip hop/new jack swing group best known for its debut single and highest-charting song, "Do the Right Thing" from its album A Shade of Red, which peaked at #13 on the UK Singles Chart in 1989. The song was featured on the soundtrack of Wes Craven's horror film The People Under the Stairs.

Career

The group was led by emcee David "Redhead" Guppy (an actual redhead), who also played keyboards. The F.B.I. consisted of Joseph "D.J. Wildstyle" Mann, Bo Roc, Lt. Squeak, Buzz, and Poochie.

A Shade of Red contained two other singles, "Pump It, Hottie", which reached #2 on the US Hot Rap Singles Chart in 1990, and "We Rock the Mic Right". The album was produced by Redhead and Teddy Riley's little brother Markell Riley of the duo Wreckx-N-Effect and was heavily influenced by the new jack swing trend at the time.

In 1991, the group released its second and final album, The Album with No Name. Recorded at Hillside Studios, Englewood, New Jersey, and Soundtracks Studios, New York, The Album with No Name peaked at 182 on the Billboard 200, while the song "3-2-1 Pump" reached #52 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The group also appeared on a track of the soundtrack of the 1991 film New Jack City. That same year, Guppy made his acting debut in the film Strictly Business, which also starred Halle Berry.

In 1992, Guppy co-wrote the song "Two Can Play That Game", which was recorded by Bobby Brown on his album, Bobby.

In 1993, Redhead Kingpin returned with Gicci Brown, D.J. Wildstyle, and Knowledge to form a new group called Private Investigators. Private Investigators had a harder-edged hip hop sound, and released one album titled React Like Ya Knew on Virgin/EMI. Guppy changed his name to Dawüd Nurrid-Diyn.

In 2000, Redhead Kingpin produced a track on the Nutty Professor II: The Klumps soundtrack entitled "No (You Didn't Say)" by Kandice Love.

In 2006, Redhead Kingpin was featured on the Nas single "Where Are They Now."

References ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 454. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.  ^ Musiclab.co.jp ^ Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. Billboard Chart History ^ David Guppy's IMDb page ^ Two Can Play That Game, allmusic.com ^ "Private Investigators - React Like Ya Knew CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 1993-08-24. Retrieved 2012-03-31.  External links Allmusic Profile "Pump It, Hottie" Video "Do the Right Thing" Video "Mash up the Mic" by Private Investigators Video