| Tony D | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Birth name |
Anthony Robert Depula |
|
Also known as |
Grand Poobah Tony D, Harvee Wallbangar, Don Nots, Don Sluggo |
|
Born |
June 28, 1966 |
|
Origin |
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
|
Died |
April 4, 2009 (aged 42) |
|
Genre |
|
|
Occupation |
Rapper, record producer, DJ |
|
Years active |
1988-2009 |
|
Label |
Body Rock (1987) |
|
Associated acts |
Crusaders for Real Hip-Hop, Poor Righteous Teachers, YZ |
Anthony Robert Depula (June 28, 1966 - April 4, 2009), better known by his stage name Tony D, was an American rapper, record producer and DJ from Trenton, New Jersey. He was an influential artist in the New Jersey hip hop scene and the careers of Poor Righteous Teachers and YZ. Depula served as the frontman of Crusaders for Real Hip-Hop.
Depula made his debut in 1988 with two singles on his independent label Rebel Records. He released the instrumental hip hop album, Music Makes You Move, in 1989. Its song "Adam's Nightmare", served as the basis of the 1991 chart-topping song "O.P.P." by fellow New Jersey act Naughty by Nature without Tony D's input – the subsequent dispute was settled out of court. Depula released the album Droppin' Funky Verses in 1991, on which he rapped and produced. The following year, he formed Crusaders for Real Hip-Hop and released Déjà Vu - It's '82.
Depula largely depended on production for the rest of his musical career and released several instrumental hip hop albums. He signed with British label Grand Central Records in 1995 and produced abstract hip hop songs. Depula founded the record label Cha-Ching Records in 1999. He worked as a second-hand record seller during the final years of his life.[1]
Depula was killed in a car accident near his home in Hamilton, New Jersey.
Discography[]
Studio albums[]
- 1989: Music Makes You Move
- 1991: Droppin' Funky Verses
- 1994: Flav (Beats) from the Cave
- 1997: Pound for Pound
- 2001: Master of the Moaning Beats
- 2004: The Jersey Devil
Extended plays[]
- 1995: Central J Parlay EP
- 1996: Trenton Connection EP
References[]
- ↑ Emery, Andrew (April 21, 2009). "Tony D: Unsung hero of hip-hop". The Guardian.