Song:I'll Do 4 U
Album:Uptown Records Block Party Vol. 2
I'll Do 4 U was a top 20 hit in 1990 for rapper Timothy "Father MC" Brown. A few of his other songs charted but this was his biggest hit. The most notable thing about this song is it features a pre-fame Mary J. Blige on backup vocals. Brown was born Apr. 28, 1968 in New York City. After releasing a single independently with 1st Fleet Crew, Brown signed with Andre Harrell's Uptown label distributed by MCA. Of course that was also the home of Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs as a producer. They were the executive producers on Brown's 1990 debut album Father's Day. I'll Do 4 U topped the rap chart and reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The main sample is the Cheryl Lynn hit Got To Be Real. It's a little too recognizable for me. The song and most of the album was produced by Mark Cory Rooney and Mark Morales who was Prince Markie Dee of the Fat Boys. As I said, Mary J. Blige is on backup vocals. It looks like this was her first recorded appearance. She had signed with Uptown and Combs hadn't decided what to do with her yet. Some of Brown's other singles charted but I'll Do 4 U is the song most fans will remember. You can get it on this various artists comp. Brown also appeared on a couple of Ray Parker Jr. albums. When his 1992 album Close To You didn't have any hits, Combs brought Teddy Riley in to produce the 1993 album Sex Is Law. That was also unsuccessful and his final Uptown album. Brown continued to record occasionally. His most recent album was in 2003. It doesn't look like he has done anything lately. Here's the video for I'll Do 4 U by Father MC featuring Mary J. Blige.
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