The Last Emperor (rapper)

{{short description|American rapper}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist |image = |caption = | name = The Last Emperor | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Jamal Gray | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1972|5|1}} | alias = | origin = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S. | genre = [[Alternative hip-hop]] | years_active = | label = {{hlist|[[Aftermath Entertainment|Aftermath]]|[[Rawkus Records|Rawkus]]|Raptivism|Red Planet}} | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20061004033310/http://thelastemp.com/ www.TheLastEmp.com] }}

'''The Last Emperor''' is the recording name of '''Jamal Gray''', [[Philadelphia]]-born hip-hop artist. Gray took his stage name from the [[Bernardo Bertolucci]] film epic of the same name (''[[The Last Emperor]]'').<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p380413/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: The Last Emperor|last=DiBella|first=M.F. |publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=25 March 2010}}</ref> He attended and graduated [[Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)]] then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science/International Relations from [[Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)|Lincoln University]].<ref name="oldbio">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060208043122/http://www.thelastemp.com/bio/biopage.htm Jamal "The Last Emperor" Gray Love, Truth, Freedom, Peace, and Justice] WaybackMachine</ref>

He moved to New York and began performing at open mic nights. The Last Emperor was featured in a verse on [[KRS-One]]'s "C.I.A. (Criminals in Action)" with [[Zack de la Rocha]]. Two years after moving to New York he was signed to [[Aftermath Entertainment]], and became a protégé of [[Dr. Dre]].<ref>[http://www.factmag.com/2013/11/03/forgot-about-t-h-e-m-revisiting-dr-dres-forgotten-proteges/7/ Forgot about T.H.E.M.: revisiting Dr. Dre’s forgotten proteges ]</ref> In 2003 it was announced that The Last Emperor had signed to [[Rawkus Records]]. A few singles were released in a period of 6 months, but the label unexpectedly stopped releasing any music. The Last Emperor then formed Red Planet Music to release his debut album, ''Music, Magic, Myth''. Red Planet's releases are distributed by Raptivism.<ref>[http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Last-Emperor/167453384463?v=info Facebook]</ref>

He has opened for such acts as the former [[Def Squad]] ([[Redman (rapper)|Redman]], [[EPMD]], [[Das EFX]] and [[K-Solo]]), [[Common (rapper)|Common]], [[The Roots]], and [[KRS-One]].<ref name="oldbio" /> He has performed at the [[Lyricist Lounge]].<ref name="allmusic" /> He's traveled around the world performing in places like Denmark ([[Roskilde Festival]]), London ([[Jam in the Park]]), and Norway ([[Quart Festival]]).<ref name="oldbio" /> He also appeared as the guest MC for [[Gorillaz]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thelastemp.com/music/musicpage.htm | title=Hth华体会集团网址|下载华体会app }}</ref>

The Last Emperor released his debut album ''Music, Magic, Myth'' (''Palace of the Pretender'' in Europe) in 2003. A single, "Black Apache", was released on Red Planet in September 2006.

The Last Emperor's album titled ''Wizards Wardrobe'' was slated for a release date 27 June 2010 but never materialized, though a music video for the first single "Fine Art" was released.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH01VHTbXk8 The Last Emperor, Fine Art]</ref>

== Discography == '''Albums''' * 2000: ''The Legend of Bigfoot'' (Unofficial, internet leak of early demos) * 2003: ''Music, Magic, Myth'' * 2003: ''Palace of the Pretender'' (European release of ''Music, Magic, Myth'') * 2018: ''"Jungle Jim" Season 1'' (with Haak Filmore) * 2019: ''Lord of the Fly'' (with Haak Filmore) * 2022: ''The Wizard, The Witch, and The Wolfman'' (with Haak Filmore)

'''Mixtapes''' * 2006: ''Hidden Treasures'' * 2009: ''Science Team...Go!<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Last Emperor – Science Team...Go! (2009, CDR) |url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Last-Emperor-Science-TeamGo/release/3400553 |publisher=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>''

'''Singles''' * 1997: ''Bums / Monumental / Secret Wars Part 1'' * 1999: ''Echo Leader / Charlie / Rap Tyranny'' * 2000: ''Fo'rel / Heavyweight Invincible / The Dozen'' * 2001: ''The Banger / The Umph'' * 2003: ''Who’s That / Prisoner'' * 2003: ''Secret Wars Part 2 / Some Love, Some Hate'' * 2003: ''Here We Are'' * 2006: ''Black Apache / Gangsta Groove'' * 2010: ''Fine Art'' * 2011: ''Pots and Pans''

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links ==  *{{official website|http://www.thelastemp.com}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Last Emperor, The}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Rappers from Philadelphia]] [[Category:Underground rappers]] [[Category:1972 births]] [[Category:21st-century American rappers]] [[Category:21st-century American male rappers]]