On this date in 1990, Queens native Kwame Holland released the second album of his career, A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure, on Atlantic Records. As a follow-up to his debut album, Kwamé the Boy Genius: Featuring a New Beginning, A Day In The Life was a 12-track concept album that described a day in Kwame’s life and his newfound fame.
Backed by famed producer Herby Luv Bug and production by Brothers Grimm and Kwame, sessions took place at Science Lab Studios and Bayside Sound Studios in New York City from March 1989 to February 1990. This album gave birth to two of the biggest singles in Kwame’s career; “Oneovdabigboiz” and “Ownlee Eue”.
Borrowing samples from Syl Johnson’s “Different Strokes” and Bobby Byrd’s “You Know I Got Soul”, Ownlee Eue is arguably one of, if not, Kwame, biggest hit that is associated with his trademark polkadot fashion. Only a few years later, the late Notorious B.I.G. stuck a pin in Kwame’s balloon as he rapped on “Unbelieveable”, “..your life is played out like Kwame and those f****n’ polkadots/ who rocks the spot? Biggie!..”, which signaled the end of Kwame’s popularity and fashion sense.
Salute to Kwame, Herby and the Brothers Grimm for such an important piece of Hip Hop history!
