A+ (rapper)

For Adam Carter, see A-Plus (rapper).

A+
Birth name	Andre Levins
Also known as	A+, Young Plus
Born	(1981-08-29) August 29, 1981 (age 43)
Origin	Hempstead, New York, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Kedar Entertainment UMVD Labels Masta Mix Records Assdroknot Entertainment FochFam Moneyline Records
Website	myspace.com/youngplus

Andre Levins, also known as A+ (born August 29, 1981,[1] Hempstead, New York) is an American rapper. As a teenager he released albums in 1996 and in 1999.

History

A+ began his music career in 1995, after winning a national talent competition sponsored by Def Jam Records.[2] He was the first act signed to Kedar Massenburg's record label, Kedar Entertainment.[2] According to Massenburg, the A+ moniker "means that he's striving for perfection, and he's not really talking about the same things as other young rappers."[2] In 1996, at the age of 14, A+ released his first album, The Latch-Key Child, which featured contributions from Prodigy and Q-Tip.[3] "All I See" was chosen as the lead single,[2] and it peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[4] staying for 14 weeks.[5]

His second album, Hempstead High, was released in February 1999.[6] Guest appearances on the album included DeBarge, the Lost Boyz and Canibus.[6][7] The single "Enjoy Yourself", which sampled the 1976 Walter Murphy song "A Fifth of Beethoven",[8] reached the top five of the UK Singles Chart,[9] number 63 of the US Hot 100[4] for three weeks,)[5] and was also commercially successful in Germany and Japan.[7]

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Peak chart positions
		US R&B/HH [10]	US Heat. [11]
1996	The Latch-Key Child	36	17
1999	Hempstead High	60	19

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions				Album
		US [4]	US R&B/HH [12]	AUS [13]	UK [9]
1996	"All I See"	66	29	—	—	The Latch-Key Child
1999	"Enjoy Yourself"	63	50	26	5	Hempstead High

References

1. Mills, Brad. "A+ - Biography". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-20.
2. Hopkins, Tracy (1996-06-08). "A+ is a Perfect Score for Kedar". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 23. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 19. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
3. Mills, Brad. "Latch-Key Child - Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-20.
4. "A+ Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
5. Top Pop Singles 1955-1999. Joel Whitburn. 2000. Record Research Inc. p. 3. ISBN 0-89820-139-X
6. Conaway, Matt. "Hempstead High - Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
7. Nathan, David (1998-12-19). "A+ Makes Grade at Hempstead". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 51. p. 23. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
8. Kim, Hyun (February 1999). "Revolutions". Vibe. Vol. 7, no. 1. Time Inc. p. 139. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
9. "A: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
10. "A+ Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
11. "A+ Chart History: Top Heatseekers". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
12. "A+ Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
13. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 6.

External links