Showbiz and A.G.

Showbiz and A.G. (also known as Show and A.G.) are an American hip hop duo from The Bronx, New York City. Showbiz is a producer and A.G. (short for André the Giant) is a rapper. The two debuted on Lord Finesse's Funky Technician album in 1990. Show and A.G. are members of the Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) along with Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild and the late Big L.

Showbiz & A.G.
Origin	Atlanta Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Years active	1990–present
Labels	PayDay/FFRR/PolyGram
Associated acts	Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Fat Joe, DJ Koss, DeShawn O.C., Buckwild, Big L
Members	Showbiz (Rodney Lemay) A.G. (Andre Barnes)

History

Career

The duo's first release was an EP titled Soul Clap, released in 1992, also known as Showbiz & A.G. They released their debut album, Runaway Slave, the same year.[1] A short version of their track "Soul Clap" was included on the album, as well as past recordings such as "Catchin' Wreck" and "Party Groove". The posse cut "Represent" featured the first album appearance of rapper Big L. Other album guests included Black Sheep's Dres, Diamond D, Lord Finesse and Deshawn. In 1993, Showbiz became popular for producing KRS-One's single Sound of da Police.

In 1994, Showbiz & A.G. made a guest appearance on Black Sheep's second album Non-Fiction, on the track "E.F.F.E.C.T.". Showbiz soon shortened his name to Show, changing the group name to Show & A.G. Their 1995 album, Goodfellas, featured a darker sound than their debut. Guest artists on the LP included D-Flow, Lord Finesse, DJ Premier, Roc Raida, Dres, Method Man and Diamond D. The most successful song from the album was DJ Premier's Nyte Time Remix to the track "Next Level".

Hiatus

Following the release of Full Scale (EP) in 1998, the duo stopped releasing records and began concentrating on their work with D.I.T.C. as well as solo projects. In 1999, A.G. released his solo debut, The Dirty Version, which featured guest production from Show, Lord Finesse, Buckwild, Diamond D and DJ Premier. Guest MC's included Ghetto Dwellas heavily as well as Fat Joe, Diamond D, O.C., Guru, KRS-One and Big Pun.

In 2000, Show & A.G. teamed up with the other members of D.I.T.C. and released their self-titled group album on Tommy Boy Records. Show was one of the executive producers of the project as well as producing the tracks "Get Yours", "Where You At", "Way Of Life", "Drop It Heavy", "Weekend Nights" and "Stand Strong". A.G. appeared on the songs "Thick", "Day One", "Foundation", "Drop It Heavy", "Stand Strong", "Weekend Nights" and "Tribute", a track made in memory of Big L, who was murdered in 1999.

After a hiatus between the release of the D.I.T.C. album and 2005, Show released his first solo album Street Talk (D.I.T.C.) in November 2005. The album featured 18 new tracks performed by the likes of O.C., Party Arty, Milano, Fat Joe, Sean Price, Big Punisher and Big L over Show's productions. It also saw A.G. and Show reunite as A.G. was featured on 2 of the album's songs, "Chase Game" and "You Ain't A Killer".

A.G.'s second solo album for Look Records titled Get Dirty Radio, released October 31, 2006. A.G.'s Infected Intertainment and Record Label is currently celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the release of Showbiz & AG's "Runaway Slave" LP, one of Billboard's Top Ten Underground LP's.

In 2007, they released a new EP entitled Live Hard on DITC Records, their first new material in nearly a decade.

O.C. and A.G. released a collaborative album called Oasis in 2009. The first single "2 For The Money" featured cuts by DJ Premier and production by Showbiz.

Discography

Showbiz and A.G.

"Soul Clap" (EP) from the album Runaway Slave

• Released: 17 March 1992
• Format: LP
• Label: Payday Records
• Producer: Showbiz, Diamond D
• Tracks: "Intro", "Party Groove (Instrumental)", "Soul Clap (Short Version)", "Catchin' Wreck", "Party Groove (Bass Mix)", "Diggin' In The Crates", "Soul Clap (Off Beat Mix)", "Giant In The Mental"

Runaway Slave (Album)

• Released: 22 September 1992
• Format: LP
• Label: PolyGram
• Producer: Showbiz, Diamond D
• Chart position: #78 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
• Tracks: "Still Diggin'", "Fat Pockets", "Bounce Ta This", "More Than One Way Out Of The Ghetto", "Silence Of The Lambs (Remix)", "40 Acres & My Props", "Runaway Slave", "Hard To Kill", "Hold Ya Head", "He Say, She Say", "Represent", "Silence of the Lambs", "Party Groove (Bass Mix)", "Soul Clap (Short Version)", "Catchin' Wreck", "Party Grove (Instrumental)"
• Singles: "Soul Clap"/"Party Groove", "Fat Pockets"/"Silence of the Lambs (Remix)", "Bounce ta This"/"Hold Ya Head"

Goodfellas (Album)

• Released: 30 May 1995
• Format: LP
• Label: Payday, FFRR
• Producer: Lord Finesse, DJ Premier, DJ Roc Raida, Dres
• Chart position: #23 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #10 Top Heatseekers
• Tracks: "Never Less Than Ill", "You Know Now", "Check It Out", "Add On", "Next Level (Nyte Time Mix)", "Time For", "Got The Flava", "Neighbahood Sickness", "All Out", "Medicine", "I'm Not The One", "Got Ya Back", "Next Level", "You Want It"
• Singles: "Next Level"/"Next Level (Nyte Time Mix)", "Got the Flava"/"You Know Now"

"Full Scale" (EP) from the album Full Scale

• Released: 1998
• Format: 12"
• Label: D.I.T.C.
• Director: Showbiz
• Tracks: "Full Scale", "Drop It Heavy", "Spit", "Q & A", "Raw As Ever", "Full Scale Beats", "Drop It Heavy Beats", "Spit Beats", "Q & A Beats"

Full Scale (Album)

• Released: 24 May 1998
• Format: LP
• Label: D.I.T.C.
• Producer: Showbiz,
• Tracks: "Themes, Schemes & Dreams", "Drop It Heavy", "Q & A", "Full Scale", "Spit", "Time To Get This Money", "Who's The Dirtiest", "Dignified Soldiers", "Put It In Your System", "Raw As Ever", "Dignified Soldiers (Remix)", "Spit (Remix)", "Hidden Crate", "Hold Mines", "Get Dirty"

"Live Hard" (EP) from the album The Show & A Experience

• Released: December 2007
• Format: CD
• Label: D.I.T.C.
• Producer: Showbiz
• Tracks: "Business As Usual", "Can't Relate", "The World is Listening", "Running Man", "Land Of The Free", "Live Hard", "Magic", "Business As Usual", "Can't Relate", "The World is Listening", "Land Of The Free", "Live Hard"

Mugshot Music (Album)

• Released: October 9, 2012
• Format: LP
• Label: D.I.T.C.
• Producer: Showbiz
• Tracks: "Suspended Animation", "God Is Force", "Show & A.", "Here and Now", "South Bronx Shit", "In Trouble", "All Time Greats"(Featuring Party Arty)

Showbiz

Street Talk (Album (with D.I.T.C.))

• Released: 4 October 2005
• Format: CD
• Label: Lumberjack
• Producer: Showbiz, Lord Finesse
• Tracks: "A Whole Lotta", "On My Way", "Chase Game", "Where You At?", "Pounds Up (Remix)", "Back in My Hood", "All Seasons", "A Lotta Love", "That's Bless", "Bronx Tales", "A Look at My Life", "Done in Vain", "Best Behavior", "Show & Prove", "My Bad", "Deal With a Feelin'", "You Ain't a Killer", "Ridin' & Rollin'"

Godsville (Album (with KRS-One))

• Released: 15 February 2011; 8 March 2011
• Format: Music download, CD, LP
• Label: D.I.T.C.
• Producer: Showbiz
• Tracks: "Intro", "Improve Myself", "Show Power", "We Love This" (featuring Jay Nortey), "This Flow", "The Truth", "Legendary", "Hear Me More", "Running in the Dark", "Improve Myself (Touch Version)", "Another Day"

A.G.

Album information
The Dirty Version Released: September 21, 1999 Label: Silva Dom Records Billboard 200 chart position: - R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: - Singles: "Rude Awakening"/"Muddslide"
Get Dirty Radio Released: October 31, 2006 Label: Look Records Billboard 200 chart position: - R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: - Singles: "Frozen"/"Hip Hop Quotable"
Oasis (with O.C.) Released: November 24, 2009 Label: Nature Sounds Billboard 200 chart position: - R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: - Singles: -
Everything's Berri Released: June 29, 2010 Label: Fat Beats Records Billboard 200 chart position: - R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: - Singles: -
Untitled album featuring Snowgoons Released: TBA Label: Goon MuSick Billboard 200 chart position: - R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: - Singles: -
Live from Amsterdam Released: Label: Billboard 200 chart position: - R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: - Singles: -

References

1. Klosowski, Thorin (2010-04-01). "Deferred Hat Tip: Runaway Slave by Showbiz and A.G." Westword. Archived from the original on 2017-12-30. Retrieved 2017-12-29.

External links

• Interview with Show (2007)
• A.G. DITC Myspace site
• A.G. on Red Apples Forty-Five
• Hip Hop Icon Series: A.G.