# Mr. Cheeks

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American rapper (born 1971)

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Mr. Cheeks Background information Born Terrance Cocheeks Kelly[1] (1971-03-28) March 28, 1971 (age 55) Queens, New York City, U.S. Genres Hip hop Occupation Rapper Years active 1991–present Labels Universal, Diane's Boy Member of Lost Boyz

Musical artist

**Terrance Cocheeks Kelly** (born March 28, 1971), known professionally as **Mr. Cheeks**, is an American rapper. He is best known for his 2001 single "[Lights, Camera, Action!](/source/Lights%2C_Camera%2C_Action!_(Mr._Cheeks_song))" (featuring [Missy Elliott](/source/Missy_Elliott), [P. Diddy](/source/Sean_Combs) and [Petey Pablo](/source/Petey_Pablo)), which peaked at number 14 on the [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100). Prior, he performed as a member of the hip hop group [Lost Boyz](/source/Lost_Boyz) from 1995 to 1999, and thereafter signed with [Universal Records](/source/Universal_Records_(1995%E2%88%922006)) to pursue a solo career.

"Lights, Camera, Action!" preceded the release of his debut studio album *[John P. Kelly](/source/John_P._Kelly_(album))* (2001), which was met with moderate critical and commercial reception along with its follow up, *[Back Again!](/source/Back_Again!_(Mr._Cheeks_album))* (2003). He is also known for guest appearance on [Lil' Kim](/source/Lil'_Kim)'s 2003 single "[The Jump Off](/source/The_Jump_Off)," which peaked at number 17 on the *Billboard* Hot 100.

## Biography

### 1991–2019: Lost Boyz

Mr. Cheeks, who was mentored by his uncle [Gil Scott-Heron](/source/Gil_Scott-Heron), along with bandmates Freaky Tah (1971–1999), Spigg Nice and Pretty Lou made up [Lost Boyz](/source/Lost_Boyz). The Lost Boyz practiced a sincere, [literate](/source/Literacy), non-sensational style of New York [hip-hop](/source/Hip_hop_music) and produced a number of singles including; "Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless" (1994), "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz" (1995) and "Renee" (1996). Lost Boyz gained worldwide critical acclaim following the release of the albums; *Legal Drug Money* in 1996, *Love, Peace & Nappiness* in 1997, *LB IV Life* in 1999, *LB Next Generation* in 2019 and *Legacy* in 2020.

### 2001–09: Solo career

Mr. Cheeks became a solo artist in 2001. His debut solo album, *[John P. Kelly](/source/John_P._Kelly_(album))*, named for both his cousin and his grandfather, featured the hit single "[Lights, Camera, Action!](/source/Lights%2C_Camera%2C_Action!_(Mr._Cheeks_song))". The album also included a collaboration with longtime friend and business partner, [Stephen Marley](/source/Stephen_Marley_(musician)), (son of reggae artist [Bob Marley](/source/Bob_Marley)) featuring the [ballad](/source/Ballad) "Till We Meet Again" (recorded in Freaky Tah's memory) and the [reggae](/source/Reggae)-flavored "Mama Say". In 2003, Mr. Cheeks released the follow-up album, *Back Again!*[2] The single off the album was "Crush On You" and it featured [Mario Winans](/source/Mario_Winans). In the fall of 2003, Cheeks separated from Universal, forming his own label, Diane's Boyz. Cheeks was also featured on [Lil' Kim](/source/Lil'_Kim)'s single, "[The Jump Off](/source/The_Jump_Off)."

## Discography

### Solo albums

- *[John P. Kelly](/source/John_P._Kelly_(album))* (2001)

- *[Back Again!](/source/Back_Again!_(Mr._Cheeks_album))* (2003)

- *Ladies and Ghettomen* (2004)

- *Raised* (2015)

### with Lost Boyz

- *[Legal Drug Money](/source/Legal_Drug_Money)* (1996)

- *[Love, Peace & Nappiness](/source/Love%2C_Peace_%26_Nappiness)* (1997)

- *[LB IV Life](/source/LB_IV_Life)* (1999)

- *Next Generation* (2019)

- *Legacy* (2020)

### Singles

#### As lead artist

List of singles as a lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album US [3] US R&B [4] US Rap [5] US Rhyth. [6] "Lights, Camera, Action!" 2001 14 1 1 25 John P. Kelly "Friday Night" (featuring Horace Brown) 2002 — 87 16 — "Crush on You" (featuring Mario Winans) 2003 — 52 — — Back Again! "What We Do" 2006 — — — — Non-album single "The Ryan Show Theme Song" (featuring Hamptons Dave and Ryan Verneuille) 2020 — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

#### As featured artist

List of singles as a featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album US [3] US R&B [4] US Rap [5] US Rhyth. [6] AUS [7] BEL (FL) [8] GER [9] ITA [10] NLD [11] UK [12] "The Jump Off" (Lil' Kim featuring Mr. Cheeks) 2003 17 8 7 8 59 27 78 20 83 16 La Bella Mafia

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Mr. Cheeks on ASCAP.com"](https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/320955955).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Mr Cheeks back again on new album"](http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/72011/mr-cheeks-back-again-on-new-album). *Billboard*. Retrieved March 23, 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-US-100_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-US-100_3-1) ["Mr. Cheeks – Chart History: Hot 100"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191230020633/https://www.billboard.com/music/Mr-Cheeks/chart-history/HSI). *Billboard*. Archived from [the original](https://www.billboard.com/music/Mr-Cheeks/chart-history/TFC) on December 30, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-US-R&B-sin_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-US-R&B-sin_4-1) ["Mr. Cheeks – Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191229211957/https://www.billboard.com/music/Mr-Cheeks/chart-history/BSI). *Billboard*. Archived from [the original](https://www.billboard.com/music/Mr-Cheeks/chart-history/BSI) on December 29, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-US-Rap-sin_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-US-Rap-sin_5-1) ["Mr. Cheeks – Chart History: Hot Rap Songs"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191229165749/https://www.billboard.com/music/Mr-Cheeks/chart-history/RAP). *Billboard*. Archived from [the original](https://www.billboard.com/music/Mr-Cheeks/chart-history/RAP) on December 29, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-US-Rhythmic_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-US-Rhythmic_6-1) ["Mr. Cheeks – Chart History: Rhythmic Songs"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191229231610/https://www.billboard.com/music/Mr-Cheeks/chart-history/TFC). *Billboard*. Archived from [the original](https://www.billboard.com/music/Mr-Cheeks/chart-history/TFC) on December 29, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The ARIA Report: Issue 689 (Week Commencing 5 May 2003)"](https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030506140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030507-0000/Issue689.pdf) (PDF). [Australian Recording Industry Association](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association). p. 3. Archived from [the original](http://www.aria.com.au/Issue689.pdf) (PDF) on February 23, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BEL-Fl_8-0)** ["Discografie Mr. Cheeks"](https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Mr.+Cheeks#charts). *ultratop.be* (in Dutch). Retrieved January 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GER_9-0)** ["Discographie von Mr. Cheeks"](https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche?artistId=Mr.+Cheeks). *[GfK Entertainment](/source/GfK_Entertainment_charts)* (in German). Retrieved January 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ITA_10-0)** ["Single Top 20 – 08/05/2003"](https://italiancharts.com/weekchart.asp?year=2003&date=20030508&cat=s). *italiancharts.com*. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NLD_11-0)** ["Discografie Mr. Cheeks"](https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Mr.+Cheeks). *dutchcharts.nl* (in Dutch). Retrieved January 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-UK_12-0)** ["Lil' Kim Ft Mr Cheeks"](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/13692/lil-kim-feat--mr--cheeks/). *[Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company)*. Retrieved January 21, 2024.

## External links

- [Mr. Cheeks](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p351461) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier))

- [Mr. Cheeks](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0154896/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Mr. Cheeks](https://www.facebook.com/mrcheekslbmafia) on [Facebook](/source/Facebook)

v t e Lost Boyz Mr. Cheeks Freaky Tah Studio albums Legal Drug Money (1996) Love, Peace & Nappiness (1997) LB IV Life (1999) Compilations Lost Boyz Forever Singles "Lifestyles of the Rich & Shameless" "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz" "Renee" "Music Makes Me High" "Get Up" "Me and My Crazy World" Featured singles "Can't Be Wasting My Time" Related articles Discography John P. Kelly ("Lights, Camera, Action!") Back Again! "Come See Me" "The Jump Off"

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States France BnF data Artists MusicBrainz Other IdRef

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mr. Cheeks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Cheeks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Cheeks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.