{{Short description|American actor, rapper, and flat-earther}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Lord Jamar | image = Lord Jamar on the QuietRoom in 2020.jpg | caption = Lord Jamar in 2020 | background = solo_singer | alias = | birth_name = Lorenzo Dechalus | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|9|17}} | origin = [[New Rochelle, New York]], U.S. | birth_place = [[The Bronx]], [[New York City]], U.S. | genre = [[Hip-hop]] | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|DJ|record producer|actor|podcaster}} | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|sampler|keyboard|turntable}} | years_active = 1989–present | label = {{hlist|[[Babygrande Records|Babygrande]]|[[Koch Records|Koch]]|[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]|[[Loud Records|Loud]]}} | website = | current_member_of = [[Brand Nubian]] }}
'''Lorenzo Dechalus''' (born September 17, 1968),<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&dq=%22DJ+Alamo%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA2824 | title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | isbn=9780822536673 | last1=Larkin| first1=Colin | year=2011 | publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> known professionally as '''Lord Jamar''', is an American rapper, DJ, record producer, actor, podcaster and [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theorist]]. He is a founding member of the [[hip-hop]] group [[Brand Nubian]], which was formed in 1989. In 1996, he discovered [[Dead Prez]] and got them signed to [[Loud Records]].
==Early life== Jamar was born in [[The Bronx]], but was raised in [[New Rochelle, New York|New Rochelle]].<ref name="quietroom">{{cite web |title=F.D.S #141 - LORD JAMAR - TALKS EMINEM, BRAND NUBIAN HISTORY, MALCOLM X & MUCH MORE - FULL EPISODE | date=January 25, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQm6lK28L2o |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/VQm6lK28L2o |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|via=YouTube |publisher=QuietRoom |access-date=May 27, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Jamar has [[Afro-Guyanese people|Afro-Guyanese]] heritage on his father's side, and he is the eldest of three brothers.<ref name="quietroom"/> He was introduced to hip hop music in the 1970s through a friend who lived in his neighborhood, and he would listen to tapes of [[The Cold Crush Brothers]], [[Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five]] and [[The Sugarhill Gang]].<ref name="quietroom"/> DJ Daryll C of [[Crash Crew]] used to take Jamar to hip hop shows in New York City.<ref name="quietroom"/> Jamar both sold and used [[crack cocaine]] during his teen years, but stopped after people he knew received [[Indictment#Types|sealed indictments]].<ref name="quietroom"/> He dropped out of high school after failing ninth grade, and worked a few short-term jobs prior to signing a record deal.<ref name="quietroom"/>
==Career== Brand Nubian's debut studio album, ''[[One for All (Brand Nubian album)|One for All]]'', was released in 1990 and is regarded by ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' as one of the all-time greatest hip hop albums.<ref name="rl">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocklist.net/source.htm|title=The Source 100 Best Rap Albums|access-date=May 14, 2018|publisher=RockList.net}}</ref>
Brand Nubian's third studio album, ''[[Everything Is Everything (Brand Nubian album)|Everything Is Everything]]'' was released in 1994. In 1996, he discovered [[Dead Prez]] and got them signed to [[Loud Records]]. As an actor, Jamar is best known for his role of Supreme Allah on the TV series ''[[Oz (TV series)|Oz]]''. He has appeared on ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'', ''[[Third Watch]]'', and ''[[The Sopranos]]''. He has also worked as a [[hip hop production|producer]] for artists such as [[Dead Prez]], [[Buckshot (rapper)|Buckshot]], Shaka Amazulu the 7th and [[Tom Browne (trumpeter)|Tom Browne]]. His group went on to release their fourth album ''[[Foundation (Brand Nubian album)|Foundation]]'' in 1998, with [[Grand Puba]] and DJ Alamo making their return to appear on the album.
He released his debut solo album ''[[The 5% Album]]'' (an album dedicated to the [[Nation of Gods and Earths]]) on June 27, 2006. Like his onscreen character on ''[[Oz (TV series)|Oz]]'', Jamar is a member of the [[Nation of Gods and Earths]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-08-04 |title=God, the Black Man and the Five Percenters |url=https://www.npr.org/2006/08/04/5614846/god-the-black-man-and-the-five-percenters |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=NPR |language=en}}</ref>
Jamar currently co-hosts a podcast, ''Yanadameen Godcast'', with fellow rapper [[Rah Digga]].
==Personal life== In October 2000, Lord Jamar was arrested for slapping his wife, Dana Whitfield. The police found an unlicensed gun and two bullet proof vests in their home. He was later charged with assault and weapons possession.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rocco|last=Parrascandola|url=https://nypost.com/2000/10/22/nubian-rapper-hit-wife-cops/ |title='NUBIAN' RAPPER HIT WIFE: COPS|work=[[New York Post]] |date=October 22, 2000 |access-date=January 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2000/10/22/rapper-in-wife-beating-bust/ |title=RAPPER IN WIFE-BEATING BUST|work=[[New York Daily News]] |date=October 22, 2000 |access-date=August 6, 2025}}</ref>
==Views==
=== Disagreement With Kanye West === Jamar released a [[diss track]] directed at [[Kanye West]] on February 4, 2013, titled "Lift Up Your Skirt", and stated that "[[gay]] has no place in hip-hop"; the [[LGBT representation in hip hop music#Negative representation of women and homosexuality|song's homophobic lyrics]] attracted attention.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/andrew-martin/listen-lord-jamar-disses-kanye-west-on-homophobic-new-song-lift-up-your-skirt|title=Listen: Lord Jamar Disses Kanye West on Homophobic New Song|first=Andrew|last=Martin|magazine=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|date=February 4, 2013|access-date=February 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2013/02/04/kanye-west-kilt-lord-jamar-diss-track/|title=Lord Jamar Is Mad At Kanye West's Kilt On Diss Track|first=Sowmya|last=Krishnamurthy|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=February 4, 2013|access-date=February 8, 2013|archive-date=February 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210082839/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2013/02/04/kanye-west-kilt-lord-jamar-diss-track/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Disagreement With DJ Vlad === In a September 2013 interview on [[VladTV]], Jamar declared that white rappers were "guests in hip hop"; he criticized [[Macklemore]]'s "[[Same Love]]" for its pro-LGBT message.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hiphopwired.com/257070/lord-jamar-calls-white-rappers-guests-slanders-hopsin-on-twitter-photos//|title=Lord Jamar Calls White Rappers "Guests," Slanders Hopsin On Twitter [PHOTOS]|work=Hip-Hop Wired|date=September 24, 2013|access-date=November 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25530/title.lord-jamar-says-white-rappers-are-guests-in-hip-hop|title=Lord Jamar Says White Rappers Are Guests In Hip Hop|work=HipHopDX|date=September 23, 2013|access-date=November 7, 2014}}</ref> [[Eminem]] responded to Jamar with the track "Fall" from his 2018 album ''[[Kamikaze (Eminem album)|Kamikaze]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mylrea |first1=Hannah |title=Ouch. All the people Eminem disses on surprise album 'Kamikaze' |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/people-eminem-disses-surprise-album-kamikaze-2372804 |newspaper=[[NME]]|date=September 4, 2018 |access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> Jamar responded to Eminem on his podcast.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zidel |first1=Alex |title=Lord Jamar Responds To Eminem's Diss On "Kamikaze" Track "Fall" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/132592-lord-jamar-responds-to-eminems-diss-on-kamikaze-track-fall-news |website=HotNewHipHop |date=September 10, 2018 |access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref>
=== Disagreement With BLM === Lord Jamar has publicly stated that he does not support the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement. Jamar's primary reason for his opposition is his belief that the movement was not created for the Black community, but rather by "you know, George Soros and his fucking boys." He has articulated this viewpoint in various interviews and discussions, suggesting that the movement's origins or intentions do not align with his understanding of what serves the Black community's interests.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-02 |title=RappeLord Jamar Doesn't Support Black Lives Matter: 'It's... |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rapper-lord-jamar-doesnt-support-black-lives-matter-because-its-not-our-movement-1515039 |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref>
=== Holocaust Denial === In a 2020 appearance with [[Nation of Islam]] [[influencer]] [[Rizza Islam]], Jamar promoted [[Holocaust denial]]; he denied the death of six million Jews in the [[Holocaust]], stating that at most 500,000 died, and claiming that six million Jews were not even present in Europe at the time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liphshiz|first1=Cnaan|date=December 3, 2020|title=Rapper Lord Jamar says 500,000 Jews at most died in the Holocaust|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/rapper-lord-jamar-says-500000-jews-at-most-died-in-the-holocaust-651008|website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|access-date=March 31, 2021}}</ref>
=== Flat Earth === In October 2024, Lord Jamar publicly expressed his belief in a [[flat Earth]] during an appearance on an episode of the In Godfrey We Trust Podcast. His statements were based on what he described as "common sense" observations rather than scientific evidence. He argued that if the Earth were a sphere, pilots would constantly have to tilt their planes' noses down to avoid flying into space, a practice which he stated they do not do.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEW52tgAFMM |title=Lord Jamar Proves Flat Earth To Godfrey {{!}} Offers To Debate Neil deGrasse Tyson |date=2024-10-07 |last=In Godfrey We Trust Podcast |access-date=2025-11-04 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
Lord Jamar's claims led to a public debate with science communicator David Farina, widely known by his YouTube channel name, "Professor Dave Explains." The debate, which took place on another In Godfrey We Trust Podcast episode, featured Farina systematically debunking Jamar's arguments using scientific principles and observational evidence. The exchange garnered significant attention online, with many viewers and commentators noting that Farina's responses directly addressed and refuted Jamar's points.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Muhammad |first=Iyanna |date=2025-01-12 |title=Lord Jamar Debates Flat Earth w/ a Science Communicator |url=https://mediatakeout.com/lord-jamar-debates-flat-earth-w-a-science-communicator/ |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=Media Take Out |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Politics === Jamar supported [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign|2024 presidential campaign]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Trent |date=2024-10-22 |title=16 Rappers Who Are Still Supporting Donald Trump |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/rappers-support-donald-trump-2023/ |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}</ref>
==Discography== {{See also|Brand Nubian discography}}
===Studio albums===
* ''[[The 5% Album]]'' (2006)
===Guest appearances=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of guest appearances ! Title ! Year ! Other performer(s) ! Album |- ! scope="row"| "Show Business" | rowspan="2"| 1991 | [[A Tribe Called Quest]], [[Sadat X]], [[Diamond D]] | ''[[The Low End Theory]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "Verbal Intercourse (Non-Cross-Over Resistance Version)" | [[Professor Griff]], Killa Ranks, Sadat X, [[Wise Intelligent]] | ''Verbal Intercourse'' (VLS) |- ! scope="row"| "Where Ya At? (Extended Version)" | 1995 | [[Mobb Deep]], [[Chuck D]], DA Smart, Erule, Merchant, [[RZA]], [[Killah Priest]], [[Sunz of Man]], [[List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates#Brooklyn Zu|Brooklyn Zu]] | ''[[One Million Strong]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "Bluesanova" | rowspan="2" | 1996 | [[Dead Prez]] |''Hip Bop'' |- ! scope="row"| "Live Wires Connect" | [[UGK]], [[Keith Murray (rapper)|Keith Murray]] | ''[[Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (soundtrack)|Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood: The Soundtrack]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "[[Tell Me (Groove Theory song)|Tell Me (6 Karat Hip Hop Mix)]]" | rowspan=3"| 1997 | [[Groove Theory]], Sadat X | ''Check the Vibe'' |- ! scope="row"| "Collaboration of Mics" | [[Artifacts (group)|Artifacts]], [[Lord Finesse]] | ''[[That's Them]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "Street Parables" | [[Shabazz the Disciple]] | ''Street Parables'' (VLS) |- ! scope="row"| "That Real Live" | 2000 | QNC | ''Lean To'' (VLS) |- ! scope="row"| "Oz Theme 2000" | rowspan="3"| 2001 | [[Kool G Rap]], [[Talib Kweli]] | ''[[Oz (soundtrack)|Oz: The Soundtrack]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "Fightin' Clocks Remix" | [[Ilacoin]] | ''Fightin' Clocks Remix'' (VLS) |- ! scope="row"| "Keep It Movin" | Grand Puba | ''[[Understand This]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "The Classic Mix Part II" | rowspan="2"| 2003 | DJ Armsteady, Sadat X | ''The Enyce Experience'' |- ! scope="row"| "Nitty Gritty (Dog Spelled Backwards Mix)" | [[KMD]], [[Busta Rhymes]], Sadat X | ''[[Best of KMD]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "Important Shit" | 2005 | [[Jus Allah]], [[Agallah]] | ''[[All Fates Have Changed]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "Chosen Few" | 2006 | Sadat X | ''[[Black October (album)|Black October]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "U-Riders" | 2007 | U-Fam | ''The War on Hip Hop'' |- ! scope="row"| "Angel Dust" | rowspan="2"| 2008 | [[Hasan Salaam]] | ''Children of God'' |- ! scope="row"| "Igod" | Shaka Amazulu the 7th, [[List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates#Darkim Be Allah|Darkim Be Allah]] | ''The Black Stone of Mecca'' |- ! scope="row"| "Engage the Enemy Remix" | rowspan="3" | 2009 | Blak Madeen | ''Sacred Defense'' |- ! scope="row"| "Deep Space (Jay da Flex & Yoof Remix)" | RZA | ''Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture, Vol. 2: Enter the Dubstep'' |- ! scope="row"| "I See Dead People" | Grand Puba, [[Rell (singer)|Rell]] | ''[[Retroactive (album)|Retroactive]]'' |- ! scope="row" | "Up Against the Wall" |2010 | [[Group Home]], MC Ace | ''Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal'' |- ! scope="row"| "Apocalyptic Shit" | rowspan="2"| 2011 | rowspan="2"| [[List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates#Lord Superb|Lord Superb]] | rowspan="2"| ''Perb Made It Possible'' |- ! scope="row"| "Every Hood's a Harlem" |- ! scope="row"| "Industry RMX 2" | 2015 | [[Large Professor]], [[Inspectah Deck]], [[Cormega]], [[Roc Marciano]], Sadat X | ''[[Re:Living]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "When the Gods Sing" | rowspan="3"| 2016 | Sadat X, Dizhwar | ''Never Left (Deluxe Edition)'' |- ! scope="row"| "I’m a gay black man" | [[List of Wu-Tang Clan affiliates#School of the Gifted|School of the Gifted]] | ''WuMinati III: Divine Evil'' |- ! scope="row"| "Cut and Dry" | Sadat X | ''Agua'' |- ! scope="row"| "Street Disciples" | 2017 | [[Hell Razah|Heaven Razah]], [[Army of the Pharaohs|Block McCloud]], Rasul Allah | ''Zayin: You Only Live Twice'' |- |}
==Filmography==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2000 | ''[[Da Hip Hop Witch]]'' | Himself | |- | 2002 | ''Morning Breath'' | Devon | Short |- | 2004 | ''L-o-v-e'' | Melvin | Short |- |- | 2005 | ''Funny Valentine'' | Tim | |- | 2006 | ''They're Just My Friends'' | Light | |- | 2007 | ''Wifey'' | Jevin 'Huss' Jones | TV movie |- |rowspan=2| 2009 | ''Father's Day'' | Rammel | Short |- | ''Buffalo Bushido'' | Torchy | |- | 2010 | ''Drugs 101'' | Chucky | Short |- | 2016 | ''Kill for Me'' | Skull | |- | 2020 | ''Drug Affected'' | Chucky | |- |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |rowspan=2| 2001 | ''[[OZ (TV series)|Oz]]'' | Kevin 'Supreme Allah' Ketchum | Recurring cast: Season 4 |- | ''[[100 Centre Street]]'' | — | Episode: "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" |- | 2002 | ''[[Law & Order]]'' | Leon Griggs | Episode: "Attorney Client" |- | 2003 | ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' | Bad Ass / Javier / Leon | Guest cast: Season 4–5 |- | 2004–05 | ''[[Third Watch]]'' | Raymond Morris | Recurring cast: Season 6 |- | 2006 | ''[[The Sopranos]]'' | Da Lux | Episode: "[[The Fleshy Part of the Thigh]]" |- | 2007 | ''[[Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show]]'' | Himself | Episode: [[Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show#Episode 3|Episode #1.3]] |- | 2011 | ''[[Rescue Me (U.S. TV series)|Rescue Me]]'' | D'brickshaw | Recurring cast: Season 7 |- | 2012 | ''[[Elementary (TV series)|Elementary]]'' | Raul Ramirez | Episode: "You Do It to Yourself" |- | 2013 | ''[[Person of Interest (TV series)|Person of Interest]]'' | Grishin | Episode: "Relevance" |- |rowspan=2| 2016 | ''[[The Night Of]]'' | Tino | Recurring cast |- | ''Money Power Respect'' | Himself | Episode: "Opening Arguments" and "Till Death Do Us Manage" |- |rowspan=2| 2018 | ''[[Unsung (TV series)|Unsung]]'' | Himself | Episode: "Brand Nubian" and "Digable Planets" |- | ''[[Hip-Hop Evolution]]'' | Himself | Episode: "Do the Knowledge" |- | 2020 | ''[[For Life (TV series)|For Life]]'' | Elijah | Episode: "Character and Fitness" |- | 2020–21 | ''[[The Last O.G.]]'' | Divine | Guest cast: Season 3–4 |}
===Documentary=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! Year ! Title |- | 2004 | ''[[And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop]]'' |- | 2010 | ''The Furious Force of Rhymes'' |- | 2012 | ''[[Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap]]'' |- | 2018 | ''[[Black, White & Blue]]'' |- |rowspan=2| 2021 | ''The Sixth Borough of Hip-Hop'' |- | ''Buck Breaking'' |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p189291|label=Lord Jamar}} *{{IMDb name|0416194}}
{{Brand Nubian}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jamar, Lord}} [[Category:1968 births]] [[Category:African-American male actors]] [[Category:21st-century American male rappers]] [[Category:African-American record producers]] [[Category:American hip-hop record producers]] [[Category:American Holocaust deniers]] [[Category:American people of Guyanese descent]] [[Category:Rappers from the Bronx]] [[Category:American male television actors]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Five percenters]] [[Category:Musicians from New Rochelle, New York]] [[Category:Rappers from New York (state)]] [[Category:Indie rappers]] [[Category:21st-century American rappers]] [[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]] [[Category:21st-century African-American rappers]] [[Category:20th-century African-American people]] [[Category:Brand Nubian members]] [[Category:21st-century African-American male rappers]]