Years active 1988 (1988)–present Associated acts New Beginning Albums So Listen, Love Me Right | ||
Past members James McQuaidRichard Gray Origin Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada (1988) Members Cool G, James Edward McQuaid Genres Hip hop music, New jack swing Similar Hip Club Groove, Michie Mee, Ghetto Concept, Dubmatique, Dream Warriors | ||
MCJ and Cool G were a four-time Juno Award–nominated Canadian hip hop duo from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The duo were James McQuaid (MCJ), originally part of the Halifax hip hop group New Beginning, and Richard Gray (Cool G). They relocated to Montreal in 1988 to get into 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.
The duo called their style of music "Double R&B" (Rap, Rhythm and Blues) because 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.
The African Nova Scotian Music Association awarded them the Music Pioneer Award in 2007.
Songs
So ListenSo Listen · 1990
Smooth as SilkSo Listen · 1990
Dope EnuffSo Listen · 1990