Special Ed
Encyclopedia
Special Ed is the performing name of Edward Archer (born May 16, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York), an American
hip hop
musician of Jamaica
n descent. Hailing from Brooklyn
in New York City
, he was raised in Flatbush
before moving to Canarsie, and is identified with East Coast hip hop
. Ed is best known for the songs "I Got It Made" and "I'm The Magnificent", produced by "Hitman" Howie Tee
and released in 1989 on the Youngest in Charge album, recorded when Ed was 16 years old. The album sold more than half a million copies. In 1990, he released his album Legal, the title a reference to his turning eighteen, with the singles "Come On Let's Move It and "The Mission".
He was later a member of Crooklyn Dodgers
, an ad hoc group who came together to perform for the Spike Lee
films Clockers and Crooklyn
, and he performed "Crooklyn" with Shillz on the 2003 compilation album
MuskaBeatz. Ed released a third solo album, Revelations, with the single "Neva Go Back" in 1995, with the track "Freaky Flow" receiving a remix by DJ Premier
. In 2004, Ed released the album Still Got It Made on his own label "Semi."
of Kenan and Kel, and had an uncredited cameo in Juice
. He also made an appearance on The Cosby Show
as fictional rapper "JT Freeze".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
musician of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n descent. Hailing from Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he was raised in Flatbush
Flatbush
Flatbush or Flat Bush can refer to a number of places:*Flatbush, Brooklyn, a community of Brooklyn, New York City, United States*Flatbush, New Zealand, a suburb of Manukau City, New Zealand...
before moving to Canarsie, and is identified with East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City, USA during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the East Coast...
. Ed is best known for the songs "I Got It Made" and "I'm The Magnificent", produced by "Hitman" Howie Tee
Howie Tee
Hitman Howie Tee is an English-born hip-hop DJ and producer of West Indian origin but raised in Brooklyn NY. Howie Tee is best known for his work with U.T.F.O, Chubb Rock, Special Ed and The Real Roxanne....
and released in 1989 on the Youngest in Charge album, recorded when Ed was 16 years old. The album sold more than half a million copies. In 1990, he released his album Legal, the title a reference to his turning eighteen, with the singles "Come On Let's Move It and "The Mission".
He was later a member of Crooklyn Dodgers
Crooklyn Dodgers
The Crooklyn Dodgers are a hip-hop supergroup based in Brooklyn, New York City, consisting of rotating members.They appeared in three separate incarnations since 1994. The first two incarnations recorded for the soundtracks for Spike Lee films, Crooklyn and Clockers, respectively...
, an ad hoc group who came together to perform for the Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
films Clockers and Crooklyn
Crooklyn
Crooklyn is a 1994 semi-autobiographical film co-written and directed by Spike Lee. The film takes place in Brooklyn, New York and the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant during the summer of 1973. Its primary focus is a young girl, Troy , and her family...
, and he performed "Crooklyn" with Shillz on the 2003 compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
MuskaBeatz. Ed released a third solo album, Revelations, with the single "Neva Go Back" in 1995, with the track "Freaky Flow" receiving a remix by DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
. In 2004, Ed released the album Still Got It Made on his own label "Semi."
In Other Media
Special Ed appeared in the film Ganked alongside Kel MitchellKel Mitchell
Kel Johari Mitchell is an American actor, comedian, singer, rapper, screenwriter, producer, parodist, dancer and musician. He was best known for his work as a regular cast member of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That, his portrayal of Kel Kimble on the Nickelodeon sitcom Kenan & Kel,...
of Kenan and Kel, and had an uncredited cameo in Juice
Juice (film)
Juice is a 1992 American crime drama film that stars rapper Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps. Additional cast members include Jermaine "Huggy" Hopkins, Khalil Kain, Samuel L. Jackson, and features cameo appearances by Queen Latifah, EPMD, Special Ed, Ed Lover, Doctor Dré, Flex Alexander, Fab Five...
. He also made an appearance on The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
as fictional rapper "JT Freeze".
Discography
- Youngest in ChargeYoungest in ChargeYoungest in Charge is the debut album from the then-15-year-old Brooklynite hip hop artist Special Ed. The album had sold more than 500,000 copies.In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Sources 100 Best Rap Albums Ever.-Track listing:...
(1989) - LegalLegal (Special Ed album)Legal is the second album from the rapper Special Ed. Two singles were released from the album, "Come On, Let's Move It" and "The Mission."- Track listing :#Come On, Let's Move It#The Mission#Ya Not So Hot#I'm the Magnificent #I'm Special Ed...
(1990) - RevelationsRevelations (Special Ed album)Revelations is the third album by the rapper Special Ed from 1995.-Track listing:# Lyrics# Neva Go Back# Rough to the Endin'# Walk the Walk# It's Only Gettin' Worse# Just a Killa# Rukus# Freaky Flow# Won't Be Long# Crazy# Here I Go Again...
(1995) - The Best of Special EdThe Best of Special EdThe Best of Special Ed is the greatest hits album by the rapper Special Ed and it was released in 2000.-Track listing:#I Got It Made#Neva Go Back#Come On, Let's Move It#I'm the Magnificent #Ready 2 Attack#The Mission...
(2000) - Still Got It MadeStill Got it MadeStill Got It Made is the 2004 album by the rapper Special Ed, his fourth album.-Track listing:#Special#N.Y.C.#Really#Bouncin'#Who's the Man#Smile#All Night, All Day#I Know You#Kryptonite#We Gon Ride#Somebody Gotta Bleed#Dying Young...
(2004)