LEZ may refer to:

• Derogative word form lesbian (more commonly les)
• Low emission zone
• IATA code for La Esperanza Airport in La Esperanza, Honduras

Lez may refer to:

• Lez, Haute-Garonne, a commune in Haute-Garonne département, France
• Lez river, a river in Hérault département, France
• Lez Duly, former member of punk band Concrete Sox
• ISO 639 code for Lezgian language

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Jessica Lowndes
Jessica Lowndes at Hollywood Life's 6th Annual Hollywood Style Awards (2009)
Born	Jessica Lowndes (1988-11-08) November 8, 1988 (age 23) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation	Actress, singer-songwriter
Years active	2005–present

Jessica Lowndes (born November 8, 1988) is a Canadian actress, pop singer and song writer. She is best known for her role as Adrianna Tate-Duncan on TV series 90210.

Personal life[link]

Jessica Lowndes was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She studied at Pacific Academy in Surrey and was included on People magazine's list of World's Most Beautiful People of 2009, along with co-stars from the series 90210.^[1]

Jessica Lowndes is of English, Ukrainian and German descent.

Career[link]

Acting[link]

Lowndes got her acting debut in the 2005 TV movie, Saving Milly as Andrea Kondracke. This was followed by a guest role in an episode of Masters of Horror, she was later cast in a recurring role on the sitcom Alice, I Think. She has since made guest appearances on Kyle XY. Her next film role was a supporting role in the Lifetime movie To Have and to Hold released in 2006, this was followed in 2007 by a pilot called Pretty/Handsome which did not get picked up.

In 2008, Lowndes appeared in Autopsy and The Haunting of Molly Hartley along with a recurring role in the drama series Greek as Mandi. Lowndes also landed a recurring role in the series 90210 a spin-off of the 90s TV teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210 as Adrianna Tate-Duncan. In November 2008, her role was upgraded to series regular.

Lowndes starred in the Canadian horror film Altitude in 2010. BuddyTV ranked her #58 on its TV's 100 Sexiest Women of 2011 list.^[2] She also stars in Devil's Carnival, an upcoming short film musical to be screened on tour beginning in April, 2012. ^[3]

Singing[link]

She has been playing the piano since she was five and writing music since she was nine years old.^[4] Lowndes made her musical debut in the pilot episode of TV series 90210 singing in the shows fictional school play, in the 2009 episode "Woman's Intuition". In the 90210 episode "What's Past is Prologue", Lowndes sang "Jolene" for a rock band audition. She also sang a few other songs as the lead female vocalist on 90210's "The Glorious Steinem"'s band. Lowndes also performed "One More Time" (featuring Diego González) in the 90210 episode "Meet the Parent" (season 2, episode 20, final scene). During season 4 of 90210, her single "Fool" was featured and sang by her character in the episode "Benefit of the Doubt".^[5]

In March 2009, she published the song Fly Away on her Myspace page. She was both the writer, singer and lead guitarist in the track.

In September 2009, Lowndes sang God Bless America at a Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium.^[6]

She was featured on rapper Ironik's single "Falling In Love", released on October 24, 2010.^[7][8]

X-Cite Records announced on April 20, 2011 that Lowndes teamed up with French American Idol finalist Jérémy Amelin, to be featured on his new single "Undone", which premiered online on April 29, 2011^[9] and was released worldwide on May 23, 2011.^[10]

Lowndes later revealed on OK! TV, that she was finishing off her album in the United Kingdom.^[11] She explained the album is "sexy, pop dance music, like Rihanna and Katy Perry."^[12]

In mid-late 2011, her first single "Fool" was released on iTunes. On November 11, 2011, Lowndes released another single titled "I Wish I Was Gay".^[13] The official music video was directed by Frank E. Flowers,^[12] and released the same day on her official YouTube channel.^[14] On January 25, 2012, she released her first EP featuring singles 'I Wish I Was Gay' and 'Nothing Like This', along with two new songs 'Stamp of Love' and 'Go Back'.^[15] The soundtrack from Devil's Carnival also features songs with Lowndes singing. On 14 May 2012, her single new The Other Girl premiered on Complex.com. The single will be released on iTunes on May 16 2012. Also she revealed that her debut album will be released later in the year, along with another EP.^[16]

Filmography[link]

Discography[link]

Extended plays

• Nothing Like This EP (2012) U.S. #90^[17] (The Billboard 200)

Singles

Music videos[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jessica Lowndes

• Jessica Lowndes at the Internet Movie Database
• Jessica Lowndes on Twitter

Mobb Deep is an American Hip-Hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S.,^[1] that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast Hip-Hop groups".^[2] The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones Pt. II".^[3] Mobb Deep have become one of the most successful rap duos in Hip Hop having sold over three million records.^[2] The majority of their albums have been critically acclaimed, in particular The Infamous in which is considered to be classic among avid Hip-Hop listeners and general fans.^[4][5] They are partially credited for the resurgence of East Coast rap in the early to mid-'90s. Havoc and Prodigy were also judges for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers and breakthroughs.^[6]

Biography[link]

Origins[link]

Havoc and Prodigy supposedly started their career in music in 1986 and they both attended the High School of Art and Design in New York City. Havoc took the role of kurwa and as secondary musician/rapper while Prodigy assumed the position of primary musician/rapper. Originally dubbing themselves the Poetical Profits, the duo later changed its name to Mobb Deep in order to "reflect their reputation on the streets."^[7] It is rumored that before the groups initial career beginnings, Prodigy was at the age of fifteen when he was featured on the classic movie soundtrack Boyz In The Hood in a track call Too Young. In June 1991, when Havoc and Prodigy were at the age of seventeen they released their debut album as they self-titled, Juvenile Hell which was promoted by the single "Peer Pressure." The album sold poorly and eventually met with harsh reviews that dismissed the duo as just another hardcore group with little to distinguish it from the rest of the hip-hop world, despite production by DJ Premier and Large Professor. However, a few songs from Juvenile Hell had gain recognition such as; "Hit It from the Back," "Locked in Spofford" and "Me and My Crew." Moreover, in 1993 Havoc attended a show as a guest appearance on the critically acclaimed Black Moon album Enta Da Stage on a song titled "U Da Man." In 1994 the duo released a single titled "Shook Ones Part 1", which contained verses that later were incorporated into their most commercially successful song, "Shook Ones Part 2".

Rise to Success[link]

The group saw its first major success with their second album, The Infamous released in 1995. Mobb Deep catapulted to the top of the hardcore hip-hop scene through Havoc and Prodigy's straightforward narration of street life. In this album, Mobb Deep portrayed the struggles of living in New York City's Queensbridge Houses where they grew up. Following the release of The Infamous, Mobb Deep became some of the most prolific artists of the East Coast in regards to the hardcore Hip Hop sub-genre. The production of this album was very dark and sample-based thanks to Havoc, who produced the beats almost exclusively throughout Mobb Deep's career.^[8] Furthermore, the smash hit single "Shook Ones Pt. II" received critical acclaim and was well-received within the Hip Hop community.

Mobb Deep's third album, Hell on Earth was released in 1996 debuting at number six on the Billboard Album Chart; the album continued the duo's portrayal of harsh street life while further pushing them to the forefront of the hardcore Hip Hop scene along with contemporary East Coast Rappers like The Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang Clan collective, Jay-Z and fellow Queensbridge Associate Nas. Both Method Man and Raekwon of the Wu Tang Clan appear on 'Hell on Earth'.

In 1996, they appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD, America is Dying Slowly alongside Biz Markie, Wu-Tang Clan and Fat Joe among many other prominent Hip Hop artists. This compilation was solely meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African American men and this compilation was heralded as "a masterpiece" by The Source Magazine, a Hip Hop Publication. In 1998, the duo collaborated with a reggae dancehall rapper named, Bounty Killer on the track "Deadly Zone" for the soundtrack to Blade. In 1999, they released the highly anticipated Murda Muzik album in which despite extensive bootlegging, the majority of its songs were unintentionally leaked which resulted in delays in the official album release. When the album officially released it eventually debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and quickly received Platinum Certification and further promoted by the popular single "Quiet Storm." Shortly afterward, Prodigy released his long-awaited solo album H.N.I.C in which the artist collaborated with fellow artist on the likes of, (B.G. and N.O.R.E.) and lastly, producers (including The Alchemist, Rockwilder, and Just Blaze).

East Coast vs. West Coast National Feud[link]

Mobb Deep was part of the infamous East Coast vs West Coast Hip Hop rivalry that was fueled and increasingly promoted by the private media. The beef started when Snoop Dogg and the West Coast group, Tha Dogg Pound released "New York, New York" which Mobb Deep, along with Capone-N-Noreaga and Tragedy Khadafi responded with the song "L.A L.A" (This song can be found on Capone-N-Noreaga's debut album The War Report). This song was released during rapper 2Pac's final days of incarceration. Members of 2Pac's group, Outlawz, allegedly attended a Mobb Deep concert; they then visited with 2Pac over public rumoring that the duo had snubbed them at the concert. 2Pac dissed Mobb Deep on multiple tracks, including: "Hit 'Em Up" and "When We Ride on Our Enemies" in which 2Pac makes light of Prodigy's sickle-cell disease. Additional 2Pac diss tracks include: "Bomb First (My Second Reply)" and "Against All Odds", both of which were released on 2Pac's posthumous studio album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. Mobb Deep retaliated on their 1996 release of Hell on Earth, which contains a diss track entitled "Drop A Gem On 'Em."

2000 to 2010[link]

Mobb Deep released Infamy while in 2001 the song "Burn" (featuring Vita) was perceived as a response to Jay-Z's diss song "Takeover" on The Blueprint, as was "Crawlin'," in which Prodigy's two verses both mention Jay-Z. The album marked a major stylistic change in which the duo moved away from a raw, minimalist, stripped-down beat toward a commercial friendly in terms with such songs as "Hey Luv (Anything)." This transition fostered accusations of "selling out". The eventually led the group's fanbase upset and many long-time fans who did not wish to see them veer away from their original style eventually lost some interest in their music. Although these stylistic adjustments opened up by Mobb Deep to a wider audience, many critics and fans consider their style change as a detriment to Mobb Deep's street image and record sales (most evident when comparing the platinum-selling Murda Muzik to Infamy which struggled to attain gold-record status). In 2003, the group split with Loud Records and released Free Agents: The Murda Mix Tape, in which Havoc and Prodigy proclaimed themselves "free agents" and addressed the group's split with its old label and its search for a new label. Jive Records signed the duo later in the year through a deal with the group’s own imprint. Mobb Deep then released Amerikaz Nightmare in 2004 which was seen by the general hip-hop audience as an "weaker release"; this resulted in poor sales and the group’s subsequent departure from the label.^[9] Today, as a result of various mergers, all of Mobb Deep's studio albums from 1995 to 2004 are owned by Sony Music Entertainment.

G-Unit Records[link]

In June 2005, Prodigy and Havoc announced they had signed with 50 Cent's label G-Unit Records. The move was surprising among Hip Hop fans because 50 Cent had ridiculed the group in his song "Piggy Bank". 50 Cent had a connection to Mobb Deep as he grew up in Queens and Havoc had provided production on projects by G-Unit, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo. The relationship strengthened as Prodigy and 50 Cent each received tattoos to pledge their loyalty to each other. Prodigy has the word "G-Unit" tattooed on the side of his right hand and 50 Cent has "Mobb Deep" tattooed on his wrist. As part of their contract with G-Unit, both Prodigy and Havoc were given new Porsches. Later, Mobb Deep signed different artists onto Infamous/G-Unit Records including Nyce, 40 Glocc and Gail Gotti. Mobb Deep released their eighth album, Blood Money in 2006. It features G-Unit members 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Young Buck as well as Mary J. Blige and Nate Dogg. In 2006, Mobb Deep became the first American hip-hop duo to perform in India, via VH1's Hip Hop Hustle. It performed in a nightclub called Enigma. In late 2009, Mobb Deep were released from their contract with 50 Cent's G-Unit label.

2011 to Present Day[link]

On April 4, 2011 a possible new Mobb Deep single leaked on the internet named "Dog Shit", this song features rapper Nas as its collaborator. This is the first official song by Mobb Deep since Prodigy made his return from jail and their first consensual collaboration with Nas in nearly ten years due to their feud (Except member Prodigy & Nas appearing on producer The Alchemist's album 1st Infantry, on song "Tick Tock"). It is produced by Havoc and Alchemist. In the longrun of their relationship, they are also recording an upcoming, self titled album (which will be their ninth studio album) with production from Havoc, The Alchemist, Sid Roams, DJ Premier, MTK, Cardiak and the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League as well as other guest artists such as; Rick Ross, Lil' Kim, Wiz Khalifa, Odd Future and Nas on their new album.^[10] On November 21, 2011, the duo released an EP called Black Cocaine which is an EP promoting their LP which is rumored to be released in the Year of 2012.^[11]

Discography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mobb Deep on Myspace
• Interview with Prodigy - Prodigy Interview of 2006, Hip Hop Publication
• Prodigy Interview of 2007, Hip Hop Publication