Jaheim | Main

A multi-talented artist, Jaheim is most famous for his R&B vocals, although he has also rapped, modeled, and acted, and appeared in Source and other hip-hop publications. Hip-hop balladeer Jaheim Hoagland hails from New Brunswick, NJ, where he grew up in the 176 Memorial Parkway Homes public housing project. Misfortune hit early: his father died in 1981, when he was only two years old. Coming from a musical family helped him overcome the tragedy and the many pitfalls of his environment. His grandfather, Victor Hoagland, sang with many top groups, including the Drifters, and their family reunions were big songfests. Singing at family reunions and local talent shows preceded a successful tryout at the Apollo Theater's notoriously tough talent show. The smooth crooner, who sounded like a hybrid of Teddy Pendergrass and Luther Vandross, won the contest three times when he was 15.

Two years later, he experienced more tragedy when his mom died. But Hoagland kept the faith and became a sensation in New Jersey at talent shows. Four years after his mom's death, he recorded a tape that led to a deal with Divine Mill Records (a division of Warner Bros.). Hoagland received good reactions from two singles -- "Could It Be" and "Lil' Nigga Ain't Mine" -- on BET video shows. Appearing with Hoagland on his first album was an all-star crew: RL (from Next), Blackstreet, and Darren and Cliff Lighty. His second album, Still Ghetto, was released at the tail end of 2002. Another Top Ten hit, it placed two singles in the Top 40, "Fabulous" and "Anything." Ghetto Classics followed in early 2006 (Valentine's Day, to be exact) and became his first number one album. The Makings of a Man was released in December 2007. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide