Buff1
Encyclopedia
Jamall Bufford, formerly known as Buff1, is an Ann Arbor, Michigan
based rapper
/songwriter
. His roots lie with the Ann Arbor rap crew known as the Athletic Mic League (AML
), with whom he released two studio albums (Sweats and Kicks, and Jungle Gym Jungle—The second of which was put out through Barak Records). He is currently managed by A-Side Worldwide. His debut album "Pure
" was called "incredible" and "classic" by Okayplayer
. "Pure
" includes features from notable Michigan Hip-Hop artists, including Guilty Simpson
, Elzhi
, Invincible, One Be Lo
, and Monica Blaire as well as production from the Lab Techs, Mr. Porter, and Waajeed
.
Based on his presence in Michigan's hip-hop scene and the critical response to his album "Pure," Real Detroit Weekly
named Jamall Bufford the Best Solo Rap Artist of 2007.
After a tour for his first album, he started working on and soon released his second full-length LP, "There's Only One." URB Magazine's review called the production "a lengthy album without weakness." For "There's Only One," Bufford enlisted help from producers, including Black Milk
, and Zo! as well as AML
cohorts 14KT and the Lab Techs. Features on the album include Mayer Hawthorne
a.k.a DJ Haircut, DJ Rhettmatic
, and Black Milk, who emcees the song he produced for the album ("Never Fall").
Jamall Bufford has shared the stage with some of the biggest acts in hip-hop (Eminem
, Mos Def
, De La Soul
, Slum Village
, Jurassic 5
, Dead Prez
, Talib Kweli
, Little Brother and Ghostface Killah
), and has toured extensively throughout Europe, and the U.S.
Bufford is listed on URB Magazine's Next 100 (acts to look out for nationally) for 2009.
In 2010 Bufford began working with DJ Rhettmatic (of The World Famous Beat Junkies) on a collaborative project, Crown Royale, and a nationwide tour with Mayer Hawthorne.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
based rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
/songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. His roots lie with the Ann Arbor rap crew known as the Athletic Mic League (AML
AML
AML may refer to:* AML, stage name of Canadian TV producer, TV host and singer Anne-Marie Losique* Academia Mexicana de la Lengua, or Mexican Academy of Language, a national academy in Mexico responsible for regulating the Spanish language...
), with whom he released two studio albums (Sweats and Kicks, and Jungle Gym Jungle—The second of which was put out through Barak Records). He is currently managed by A-Side Worldwide. His debut album "Pure
Pure
-Computing:* A pure function* Pure Software, a company founded in 1991 by Reed Hastings to support the Purify tool* Pure-FTPd, FTP server software* Pure , functional programming language based on term rewriting-Companies and products:...
" was called "incredible" and "classic" by Okayplayer
Okayplayer
Okayplayer.com is an online hip-hop and alternative music website and community, described by Rolling Stone as a "tastemaker" and "an antidote to dull promotional Web sites used by most artists". The group was co-founded by The Roots' drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson as a loose musical...
. "Pure
Pure
-Computing:* A pure function* Pure Software, a company founded in 1991 by Reed Hastings to support the Purify tool* Pure-FTPd, FTP server software* Pure , functional programming language based on term rewriting-Companies and products:...
" includes features from notable Michigan Hip-Hop artists, including Guilty Simpson
Guilty Simpson
Byron Simpson, better known by his stage name Guilty Simpson is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He was previously known as Guilt. Over time, he saw that there were more emcees using the alias. In order to set himself apart from the others, he added his last name to become Guilty Simpson. He is...
, Elzhi
Elzhi
Jason Powers is a hip-hop artist from Detroit, Michigan. Many Underground fans know him as "Detroit's Best Kept Secret". As a former member of Slum Village he now records as a solo artist...
, Invincible, One Be Lo
One Be Lo
Nahshid Sulaiman better known by his stage name One Be Lo is an alternative hip hop artist from Pontiac, Michigan. He is well respected for being one half of the former rap duo Binary Star, and has released a number of well-received solo albums...
, and Monica Blaire as well as production from the Lab Techs, Mr. Porter, and Waajeed
Waajeed
Waajeed is a Detroit-born music producer, and one half of the hip hop and R&B group Platinum Pied Pipers. He formed the Bling47 record label in 2002,which has released his work and projects by J Dilla and the vocalist Tiombe Lockhart...
.
Based on his presence in Michigan's hip-hop scene and the critical response to his album "Pure," Real Detroit Weekly
Real Detroit Weekly
Real Detroit Weekly is a weekly newspaper distributed free of charge every Wednesday, that focuses mainly on entertainment news from Hollywood and the metro Detroit nightclub scene...
named Jamall Bufford the Best Solo Rap Artist of 2007.
After a tour for his first album, he started working on and soon released his second full-length LP, "There's Only One." URB Magazine's review called the production "a lengthy album without weakness." For "There's Only One," Bufford enlisted help from producers, including Black Milk
Black Milk
Curtis Cross, better known as Black Milk, is a hip hop producer and MC from Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:In 2004, he formed B.R. Gunna, with Young RJ, and Fat Ray, and together they released Dirty District: Vol. 2, a follow up to a compilation released in 2001 by Slum Village, which he had...
, and Zo! as well as AML
AML
AML may refer to:* AML, stage name of Canadian TV producer, TV host and singer Anne-Marie Losique* Academia Mexicana de la Lengua, or Mexican Academy of Language, a national academy in Mexico responsible for regulating the Spanish language...
cohorts 14KT and the Lab Techs. Features on the album include Mayer Hawthorne
Mayer Hawthorne
Mayer Hawthorne is an American singer, producer, songwriter, arranger, audio engineer, DJ, rapper and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The stage name "Mayer Hawthorne" is a combination of Cohen's real middle name and the name of the street he grew up on in Michigan...
a.k.a DJ Haircut, DJ Rhettmatic
DJ Rhettmatic
DJ Rhettmatic is a member of the Beat Junkies DJ crew. Rhettmatic began his DJ career in 1983 with the DJ group Double Platinum, and was one of the founding members of Beat Junkie crew....
, and Black Milk, who emcees the song he produced for the album ("Never Fall").
Jamall Bufford has shared the stage with some of the biggest acts in hip-hop (Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
, Slum Village
Slum Village
Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...
, Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
, Dead Prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
, Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
, Little Brother and Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
), and has toured extensively throughout Europe, and the U.S.
Bufford is listed on URB Magazine's Next 100 (acts to look out for nationally) for 2009.
In 2010 Bufford began working with DJ Rhettmatic (of The World Famous Beat Junkies) on a collaborative project, Crown Royale, and a nationwide tour with Mayer Hawthorne.
Discography
- Small City, Big Name Mixtape CD 2006
- Pure CD 2007
- There's Only One CD 2008
- It's A 1derful Life Mixtape CD 2009
- Crown Royale (as Crown Royale with DJ RhettmaticDJ RhettmaticDJ Rhettmatic is a member of the Beat Junkies DJ crew. Rhettmatic began his DJ career in 1983 with the DJ group Double Platinum, and was one of the founding members of Beat Junkie crew....
) CD 2010