Bronx Style Bob

Early life

Raised in a strict Arab Jamaican immigrant household, Bob was exposed to poets from the ilk of Langston Hughes to Khalil Gibran.

Starting out in The Bronx, New York City, at a time when hip hop was in its embryonic stages, Bob was immersed in urban culture disciplines such as Graffiti, Breakin’, Electric Boogie, DJing, scratching and cutting the record and the MCs rhyming.

He attended John F. Kennedy High School with b-boy superstars, Crazy Legs and Mr. Freeze of the Rock Steady Crew (both, fresh off the movie Flashdance), Fastbreak (from Magnificent Force), DJ Kid Capri, and Glidemaster & Chino (New York City Breakers).

Career

From 1982-to 1985, Bob was the president of the Bronx Style Crew – influenced by growing up around 170 Street/Jerome Avenue, a few blocks from Disco Fever, and around the corner from the Ecstasy Garage, two famous nightclubs.

In the early ‘80s, he was a fixture on the downtown Manhattan scene of clubs and art galleries where punk rock, hip-hop and graffiti artists came together. From clubs like Danceteria, The Roxy, Peppermint Lounge, Negril, and the Mudd Club to the Fun Gallery. "I ran around with graffiti artists...you would have Andy Warhol Truman Capote Barishnikov in a room with Basqiat Futura 2000 Dondi or Zephyr, with rock steady breakin. Jazzy Jay on the set, and taggers hitting up, blunts flowin', and some graffiti artist gettin' stomped out in the corner by a rival crew...it was like a painting," he said.

As a member of Afrika Bambaataa’s Universal Zulu Nation, and taking the name Bronx style Bob, his first release was in 1985 for the soundtrack to the movie, New York Ninja, and in 1986 he soon embark on his first tour as a member of the Magnificent Force breakdance crew.

A global experience

He toured the Middle East and North Africa, visiting Israel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Kuwait, Tunisia, Algiers, Mauritania, Jordan, Dubai, Bahrain, Lebanon and in Syria where he was greeted by relatives of his paternal grandfather in the city of Aleppo.

Upon returning to the states Bob recorded a series of singles for Spring Posse Records with the group the Zulu Kings, which consisted of Grand Master Melle Mel, from the Furious Five, Ice-T, Grand Master Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers, Africa Izlam, Chief Rocker Busy Bee and Microphone King Donald-D.

As a group they would also score the first Hip Hop animation series Street frogs produced by Steve Rifkind for S.R.C records.

Relocating to Paris, France in 1987, he partnered with Dee Nasty on the alternative radio program Radio Nova. Bob went to record three songs with French hip hop pioneer Dee Nasty for his first major label release POUSSE LES BASS on Polydor Records.

Upon his return to the states in 1989 Bob recorded and tour with Ice T and the Rhyme Syndicate for much of 1990-91. They embarked on the BRING THA NOIZ World Tour, which featured Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, EPMD, Big Daddy Kane, N.W.A, MC Hammer, Ice-T and The Rhyme Syndicate, Vanilla Ice and Tone Lōc.

In 1992 he performed on the second stage at the Jones Beach Lollapalooza concert.

LA is brewing

In Los Angeles, in between tour dates with The Syndicate, Bronx Style Bob became a founding member of Los Angeles funk collective Trulio Disgracias featuring members of Fishbone, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Brand New Heavies, Parliament, Funkadelic, Thelonious Monster, Suicidal Tendencies, and The Untouchables. They became opening band for groups like Living Colour, Bad Brains, Soundgarden, and Primus to name a few.

Bob also discovered an experimental rock/metal band from Sacramento, California called the Deftones and he immediately brought them to the attention of Maverick Records's Guy Oseary. With Maverick, the Deftones became a Grammy award-winning multi platinum success.

Bob later signed with Hollywood Records and formed Super 8, an alternative rock band. He contributed to the John Lennon tribute album, "Working Class Hero".

Introspective

After two years of nonstop touring, Bob began recording with longtime collaborator John O’Brien.

Later Bob created a new professional identity, KHALELL, and his new album "People Watching", produced by Matt Wallace (The Replacements, Sheryl Crow, Maroon 5, Faith No More) featured such diverse guest artists as members of Fishbone, Spearhead, Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, poe, and Lyle Workman. "No Mercy" the album's first single would go on to be a staple at pop radio, and Khaleel toured with Shawn Mullins and Everlast, who both occupied top 10 billboard chart positions with "Rockabye and "What It’s Like", respectively.

Bronx Style Bob appeared as guest vocalist on Everlast’s "What It’s Like", "The Endz" on Everlast’s 1998 Triple Platinum Album, Whitey Ford Sings the Blues, and "Eat at Whitey's" released in 2000.

Ultimate collabo

In 2002 Bob collaborated with songwriter Brendan Lynch to a new band, Contact.

Contact became the meeting-place for KHALEEL "Bronx Style Bob" and Brendan Lynch. Contact’s self-titled debut album released on 333/Universal Records produced by Peter Bunetta. It featured guest appearances by the Smokey Robinson, Paul Oakenfold and rapper/folk artist- Everlast. "Working Girl," the Contract first single, became the theme song for four seasons on HBO series, "Cathouse".

The Business

In between touring and recording, Bob became staff writer for EMI Publishing between 1992–2004, placing various songs or featured performance from Motion Pictures like Nightwatch ("Pain") starring Patricia Arquette, The Parent Trap ("Here Comes the Sun") starring Lindsay Lohan, 10 Things I Hate About You (It’s a Shame) starring Heath Ledger, The Perfect Score (Just So You Know)starring Scarlett Johansson, Couples Retreat (DJ Eden East) starring Vince Vaughn, Get Him to the Greek (Chocolate Daddy) starring Russell Brand/Jonah Hill.

Solo

with Heming Borthne, Joel Shearer, John O'Brien, John Steward

Guest appearances