MCJ and Cool G

Infobox Musical artist
Name = MCJ and Cool G
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Halifax, Nova Scotia
Genre = Hip hop
Years_active =
Label =
Past_members = James McQuaid
Richard Gray

MCJ and Cool G were a four time Juno Award nominated Canadian hip hop duo from Halifax, Nova Scotia.cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/M/MCJ_And_CoolG.html|title=MCJ And CoolG|work=Canadian Pop Encyclopedia|publisher=Canoe Inc.|accessdate=2008-10-02]

The duo were James McQuaid (MCJ), originally part of the Halifax hip hop group New Beginning and Richard Gray (Cool G). [cite web|url=http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=4&csid2=779&fid1=1014|title=Halifa Hip-hop Anticipates the Big Bang|last=Quinlan|first=Thomas|date=2000-05-01|work=Exclaim!|accessdate=2008-10-08] They relocated to Montreal in 1988 to get in to the music business. In 1989 they signed to Capitol Records in Canada, becoming the first Canadian rap group to be signed to a major label. In 1990 they released their debut album "So Listen" which featured the singles "So Listen" and "Smooth as Silk" which exemplified their Rhythm and Blues influenced style. [cite web|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002924|title=Rap|last=Caudeiron|first=Daniel|work=Encyclopedia of Music in Canada|publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada|accessdate=2008-10-02] [cite book|last=Mitchell|first=Tony|title=Global Noise: Rap and Hip-hop Outside the USA|publisher=Wesleyan University Press|date=2001|pages=310|isbn=9780819565020|url=http://books.google.ca/books?id=itcAedBA5CIC&pg=PA310&dq=%22MCJ+and+Cool+G%22&client=firefox-a&sig=ACfU3U1Pp_Un9uF7RsqxKEI000diy4wQBA|accessdate=2008-10-02]

The duo called their style of music "Double R&B" (Rap, Rhythm and Blues) due to the fact that MCJ was the rapper and Cool G mostly sang the choruses. Their sound was New Jack Swing which was popular at the time.

MCJ and Cool G have been nominated for four Juno Awards. In 1991, they were nominated for Best R&B/Soul Recording with "So Listen", Rap Recording of the Year with "So Listen", and Single of the Year with "So Listen". In 1994, they were nominated for Best R&B/Soul Recording with "Love Me Right". [ [http://www.junoawards.ca/archive_past.php Juno Awards Archive] . "Juno Awards Artists Sumary". Artist Name: MCJ & Cool G. Retrieved on October 2, 2008]

The African Nova Scotia Music Association awarded them the Music Pioneer Award in 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.ansma.com/gallery-ansmaawards2007.html|title=ANSMA Award Winners 2007|work=ANSMA web site|publisher=African Nova Scotia Music Association|accessdate=2008-10-08]

References

External links

* [http://www.njs4ever.com/halifax.html New Jack Swing profile]
* [http://www.yorku.ca/aconline/music/rap.html African Canadian Online profile]