Derek W.
Murphy (born December 29, 1968),[2] better known as Sadat X, is an
American rapper, best known as a member of alternative hip hop group Brand
Nubian.[3] Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian
president Anwar Sadat.
Early life
[edit]
Sadat X was born in the Bronx, New York City.[4] He and DJ Alamo are childhood friends
who grew up together in the Bronx, where Sadat and his family lived at Concourse
Village.[5][6] Sadat's father and Alamo's father knew each other and grew up together
in Harlem, New York City at Lincoln Projects.[7] At age 11, he and his parents moved
to New Rochelle where he met future Brand Nubian bandmates Grand Puba and Lord
Jamar.[8] He first started rapping after his father brought him a turntable to DJ. He was
known as "DJ D-Rock" and "Kid Paradise". According to Jamar, Sadat's father had an
extensive record collection of different genres of music to where Sadat would use for
the group's discography of their albums.[9][10] During his time while attending high school,
he became a member of the Five Percent Nation after seeing one his family members
and friends being involved as 5 Percenters.[11]
Career
[edit]
Sadat made his debut with Brand Nubian in 1989, with the release of their debut single
"Brand Nubian" b/w "Feels So Good". The group's debut album, One For All, was
released on December 4, 1990, featuring the singles "All For One", "Wake Up" and
"Slow Down".
Sometime around 1995, other members of Brand Nubian split up after releasing two
albums, In God We Trust in 1993 and Everything Is Everything in 1994, while Sadat
continue to make guest appearances and collaborations on albums with Diggin' in the
Crates, as well as various artists. He would make an appearance on Biggie's "Come
On" song, the original track that was supposed to be on Biggie's first album Ready to
Die. The song was produced by Bronx native Lord Finesse.
In 1996, Sadat recorded on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD America Is
Dying Slowly, alongside Biz Markie, Wu-Tang Clan, Fat Joe and others. The CD, meant
to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African American men, was called "a
masterpiece" by The Source.[citation needed] . He began working on first solo album, Wild
Cowboys. The album was released on July 15, 1996, on Loud Records, featuring
production work by DJ Ogee, Diamond D, Pete Rock, DJ Alamo, Minnesota, Da
Beatminerz, Showbiz from Showbiz & A.G., Buckwild, Dante Ross, Ant Greene Father
Time and Ali Malek.
In 1997, Sadat and Brand Nubian reunited together while recording some material for
the group's new project.[12] In 1998, he and Brand Nubian released their fourth
album Foundation[13]
In 1999, he collaborated with Chicago-based rapper Common along with Talib Kweli on
a Hi-Tek track-produced song called "One-Nine-Nine-Nine".
On October 3, 2006, Female Fun Music released Sadat's third album, Black October.
On March 23, 2010, Sadat X released Wild Cowboys II, the sequel to his 1996 solo
debut Wild Cowboys, on Fat Beats Records. The album featured guest appearances
from Ill Bill, Kurupt, A.G., Brand Nubian, Rhymefest and others, with production
from Pete Rock, Diamond D, Buckwild, Sir Jinx, Will Tell and Dub Sonata. On February
23, 2010, he released an EP, containing five songs from the album and complementary
instrumentals. The first single from the album was "Turn It Up" which features and is
produced by, Pete Rock. In 2015, Sadat appeared in Mya Baker's documentary
film Afraid of Dark which examined the experiences of Black men in America.[14][15] In
2022, Sadat released his 12th studio album, Science of Life.
Other work
[edit]
In 2009, Sadat X and music producer Will Tell developed a wine-tasting web series
entitled True Wine Connoisseurs. The wine show with a hip hop twist is now in its 5th
season.[citation needed] The series was shown on a YouTube channel directed and produced
by Tom Calabraro.[16]
Legal issues
[edit]
On December 22, 2005, Sadat was arrested in Harlem and charged with criminal
possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.[17]
Personal life
[edit]
Sadat X is involved in teaching children. He has worked as an elementary school
teacher in New Rochelle, New York, qualified as a firefighter, and coaches children's
basketball for the New York City Basketball League.[18] He also played point guard for
the Howard University basketball team.[19] He has a daughter.[20]
Discography
[edit]
Studio albums
[edit]
Wild Cowboys (1996)[3]
Experience & Education (2005)
Black October (2006)
Generation X (2008)
Brand New Bein' (2009)
Wild Cowboys II (2010)
No Features (2011)
Love, Hell or Right (2012)
Never Left (2015)
Agua (2016)
The Sum of a Man (2017)
Science Of Life (2022)
Extended plays
[edit]
The State of New York vs. Derek Murphy (2000)
Collaboration albums
[edit]
XL (with El Da Sensei) (2018)
The Gods Have Arrived (with Agallah) (2020)
Compilation albums
[edit]
Various artists original compilations
America Is Dying Slowly (1996)
The Foundation (2019)
With Brand Nubian
[edit]
One for All (1990)
In God We Trust (1993)
Everything Is Everything (1994)
Foundation (1998)
Fire in the Hole (2004)
Time's Runnin' Out (2007)
With Trinity
[edit]
20 In (2013)
Guest appearances
[edit]
(1991) "Nitty Gritty" from Mr. Hood by KMD
(1991) "Show Business" from The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
(1992) "A Day in the Life" from Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop by Diamond D
(1995) "Play It Cool" from 2000 by Grand Puba
(1995) "What I Wanna Do" from V... As In Veronica by Veronica
(1996) "Actual Facts" from The Awakening by Lord Finesse
(1996) "Heart Full of Sorrow" from Truth Crushed to Earth Shall Rise Again by House of
Pain
(1996) "Touch Y'all (Remix)" from The Raw Factor by Omniscence
(1996) "Wild Cowboys in Bucktown" from Da Storm by O.G.C. (Originoo Gunn Clappaz)
(1998) "Money (Dollar Bill)" from Whitey Ford Sings the Blues by Everlast
(1998) "Funky Beat" from Whitey Ford Sings the Blues by Everlast
(1999) "Static" from Black Elvis/Lost in Space by Kool Keith
(1999) "Come On" from the posthumous album Born Again by rapper The Notorious B.I.G.
(1999) "One-Nine-Nine-Nine" from album Soundbombing II by Rawkus Records
(2000) "Games" from the posthumous album The Big Picture by Big L
(2001) "Don't Get It Twisted" from Infectious by Jigmastas
(2007) "Da God" from Jesus Price Supastar by Sean Price
(2008) "Stay In Ya Lane" from Operation Take Back Hip Hop by Craig G & Marley Marl
(2008) "Keep It Classy" from Ja tu tylko sprzątam by O.S.T.R.
(2008) "The Return" from Clin d'oeil by Jazz Liberatorz
(2010) "There Will Be Blood" from Nineteen Ninety Now by Celph Titled and Buckwild
(2013) "Sam Peckinpah" from Legends Never Die by R.A. the Rugged Man
(2017) "Música para Planchar" from Servicios Ambulatorioz by Alcolirykoz
(2018) "Hood Operatic" from Brooklyn rapper Rashid Amir's album Graffiti Lips
(2018) "Loot" from the album Speakeazy Suave-Ski featuring Sadat X
(2019) "Anti Mumble Rap" DJ Symphony featuring Sadat X & Ceazar
(2020) "Real Hip-Hop" - DJ Symphony featuring Jeru the Damaja, Psycho Les & Sadat X
(2021) "Riot Gear" - Ben Shorr & DJ Boogie Blind featuring Sadat X of Brand
Nubian & Edo.G aka Ed O.G.
(2021) "Sadat X's Interlude (Feat. Sadat X)" - Sun Gin featuring Sadat X