The Microphone Prince was born May 6, 1967 in Brooklyn New York.  His family moved to the Bronx when he was two years old and at the age of 12 he began writing rhymes after hearing Rappers delight in the summer of 1979. 

 

It was at the high school of Art & Design that he met Busy D (Capone Gangster of Comedy) and formed The T-Rock & The Turnout 2. They went on to record “Who’s the Captain” & “Yvonne & Corey” on an independent label. Mixed by DJ Red Alert, both songs got extensive airplay on the only two Hip Hop radio shows at the time. Red Alert & Mr. Magic’s Rap Attack. Wil Smith changed his name to Fresh Prince & wrote “Girls ain’t nothing but trouble” after hearing The Microphone Prince “Girls” on WBLS. (According to Fly Ty Williams of Cold Chillin / Juice Crew fame) 

The two toured with the Juice Crew and performed at the Beacon Theatre and other venues with the likes of Eric B & Rakim, Stetsasonic & Fresh Prince, Roxanne Shante & The Juice Crew. 

 

The Microphone Prince also had one of the first daytime Hip Hop radio shows in 1983 @ Medgar Evars college in Brooklyn 91.5 WNYE. The first to play artists such as Special Ed, Nice & Smooth and give DJ’s they’re first “on air” radio time. (Jazzy Joyce & Mr. C were early guests) the show focused on breaking new music, live rapping on air and interviewing members of groups not normally interviewed. (Dancers like Scoob & Scrap etc). 

 

Around 1984 Paradise from X-Clan, (who was TMP’s DJ) GAVE UTFO the outline for Yvonne, a routine written by TMP & Capone and they wrote Roxanne Roxanne based on that. TMP & Capone ambushed UTFO at a performance at the Stardust Ballroom in the Bronx. “Not only had they copied the Yvonne concept, they were performing in OUR hood!” They refused to battle and walked away unscathed. Years later Kangol sang on Tito & TMP’s song “leave him” and Kangols 12 year old son produced “Floss Game” featuring Tito, TMP & Big Daddy Kane. 

 

In 1991, Next Plateau / Polygram was looking to break the first Puerto Rican MC by recording a full length LP. Tito from the Fearless 4 was the prime candidate. He was not interested at the time and sent TMP to the Master OC. Becoming the first Puerto Rican MC to release a solo LP. TMP was signed in 1992 and completed his LP Trunk of Funk with NO guest appearances. The first single “Smooth Criminal” featured Greg Nice of Nice & Smooth on the hook and the video. It was produced by Hip Hop legends Master OC (Fearless 4) and Charlie Chase (ColdCrush Brothers) and TMP. 

 

The second single was a “Trunk of Funk” remix by Marley Marl & was to feature the Lords of the Underground in the video. Sales of the album narrowly missed Polygrams  75,000 copy threshold and the project was scrapped. Next Plateau, however, recorded another single on TMP called “Las Mujeres” a Spanish language club record which generated another two years of Interest and performances for TMP. 

 

The Mid to late 90’s were all underground mix tape years for TMP except for his appearance on the freestyle song called “Still Loving You” by Kimberly. 

 

In 2001, Kool G Rap ignited Tito’s lyrical flames and invited him to appear on “Pop a collar” featuring Nas & Az. This was the catalyst which birthed The IronClad movement spearheaded by Tito & TMP (Boriquaz 4 Life) a self financed effort which included wrapped tour buses & trucks, 4 videos and a tour. But before that all popped off, Tito ran TMP through cyphers with the Likes of G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and Akinyelle to show the industry what they were dealing with. The Akinyelle cypher was a three way phone battle. Tito, TMP & Ak. “That shit was like the third fight between Rocky and Apollo” Nobody saw it but it was legendary. 

 

Kool G Rap said Big Puns SOUL went into my body after hearing me spit. “Tony Touch stopped a song (All out warfare) three times, skipped over every one else’s parts to listen to my verse. Then came over and hugged me and said to please keep what Pun started going” I tried. 

 

Towards the end of the IronClad run, Star from Hot 97 was looking to get at Jay Z. After the whole “Allyah” debacle. TMP supplied the flames for Star who played “The real take over” every day, 3 times a day and went at Jay Z HARD with it. Prompting calls from Def Jam. This eventually led to Star & Hot 97 parting ways as Jay was a stock holder. Jay responded with several subliminals but refused to create another 50 cent by openly accepting TMP’s challenge. 

 

TMP Is currently working on a project titled “The Master Class”  an attempt to gear our culture towards mature ideas like accepting responsibility, unity, family, love and teaching and leading our community and culture by example. 

 

The Microphone Prince. 

Bronx Representative