Beanie Sigel

Fun Fact: Sigel's name derives from the street in South Philadelphia where he was raised, Sigel Street. It is also a play on the name of the famous gangster, Bugsy Siegel.

Claim to Fame: Sigel's debut LP, The Truth was released February 29, 2000 on Roc-A-Fella Records. The album went gold and spawned hits like "The Truth" and "Remember Them Days" featuring Eve. The album also had Jay-Z's single, "Anything".

Dwight Grant, also known as Beanie Sigel, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he is in talks with 50 Cent to sign with G-Unit Records who has formed a close association with rappers Jay-Z, Freeway and other former and current artists on the roster. His stage name comes from a street in South Philadelphia, the rapper's former stomping grounds where he worked alongside Senior Durham in the projects.



Beanie Sigel's first major appearance was on The Roots album Things Fall Apart, on the song "Adrenaline!"; six months later, he "ran into Jay" and was signed after an audition. He was featured on "Reservoir Dogs," from Jay-Z's 1998 album Vol. 2. Hard Knock Life, alongside Sauce Money and The L.O.X., as well as the remix to his "Money, Cash, Hoes", which also featured Memphis Bleek and DMX. Sigel was also prominently featured on Jay's 2000 'group' album, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, before releasing his solo debut The Truth in 2000, selling Gold.

After appearing on albums by Sisqo, AZ, and Tha Dogg Pound, Sigel followed up with his sophomore album, The Reason. Its single was "Beanie ", produced by Just Blaze, and the rapper followed his release with high-profile appearances on DJ Clue's The Professional 2, Cam'ron's Platinum Roc-A-Fella debut Come Home With Me, and a single from Nelly's platinum album Nellyville--the track "Roc the Mic ", alongside Freeway, Nelly and Murphy Lee.


The new millennium also saw various Roc artists, including Sigel, engage in a conflict with artists from Ruff Ryders. Beanie was a forerunner of the beef, publicly decrying Jadakiss, the rest of the L.O.X. and DMX. While Sigel and Jadakiss both denied any violent intent, they continued to send shots back and forth until Beanie put out a freestyle over Jada's hit "Put Ya Hands Up". Conversely, Sigel cultivated a friendship with southern rapper Scarface. Having first appeared together on "This Can't Be Life" with Jay-Z from Dynasty, the two would go on to collaborate on Sigel's first two records, Scarface's The Fix, and later on Sigel's 2007 album The Solution. The two extoll their friendship to the point that Scarface eventually declared that he would retire unless he could do a full-length record with Beanie, suggesting the title Mac & Brad and production by Kanye West.

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