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Positive K scored a major rap hit with 1992's "I Got a Man." Leading up to that, the Bronx-born rapper cut a few underground compilation appearances, including one -- "I'm Not Havin' It," a duet with MC Lyte -- that upped his profile significantly.

A guest spot on Grand Puba's debut album, along with a self-released, Big Daddy Kane-produced single ("Nightshift"), set the stage for The Skills Dat Pay da Bills. His debut full-length, released on Island subsidiary 4th & Broadway, balanced Nation of Islam themes with gangsta-isms and more pop-based moments. Meanwhile, he kept his Creative Control label in operation, signing and cultivating new talent.