Positive K

{{short description|American rapper}} {{Infobox musical artist  |name = Positive K |background = solo_singer |image = Positive K 2018.png |caption = Positive K in 2018 |birth_name = Darryl Gibson |alias = Pos K |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|8|9}} |origin = [[The Bronx, New York]], U.S. |death_date = |genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] |occupation = {{hlist|[[Rapper]]|[[songwriter]]}} |years_active = 1985–present |label = {{hlist|[[First Priority Music]]|[[Atlantic Records]]|[[Elektra Records]]|[[Island Records|Island]]|[[PolyGram Records]]|[[Capitol Records]]|Creative Control|PosK Records|Mic Check Records}} |website = [http://www.positivek.com PositiveK.com] }} '''Positive K''' (sometimes stylized as '''+K''') (born '''Darryl Gibson''' on August 9, 1967) is an American [[rapping|MC]] and [[songwriter]] from the [[Bronx]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], and one of the original artists of the [[First Priority Music]] camp. He is best known for his songs "[[I'm Not Havin' It]]" (a duet with [[MC Lyte]]) and his 1992 hit "[[I Got a Man]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pe.com/entertainment/stories/PE_Fea_Ent_D_music.nelly.1d80f3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716121348/http://www.pe.com/entertainment/stories/PE_Fea_Ent_D_music.nelly.1d80f3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2006|title=Furtado adds to musical history|last=Coyle|first=Jake|date=June 22, 2006|work=[[Press-Enterprise]]|access-date=26 May 2011}}</ref>

==Early life== Darryl Gibson was born August 9, 1967, and was raised in the Bronx, New York and spent much of his childhood near Richman (Echo) Park where early hip hop DJs [[Grandmaster Flash]], DJ Sinbad and [[Busy Bee Starski|Busy Bee]] would throw block parties. He was inspired as a child to rap when one day [[The Fearless Four (band)|The Fearless Four]] were performing in his neighborhood and invited him to say a rhyme on their mic.<ref name="unkut">{{Cite web|url=http://www.unkut.com/2013/08/positive-k-the-unkut-interview/|title=A Tribute To Ignorance (Remix)|website=Unkut.com|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref> Gibson's first musical endeavor was a short-lived rap group with his family named Disco Cousins, and he rapped under the name Baby Breeze.<ref name="unkut" />

Later, while a member of the [[Five-Percent Nation]], Gibson joined the rap group Almighty God Committee from [[Queens]], rapping under the name Positive Knowledge Allah. However, after their DJ played the wrong side of a record at a televised rap contest and the rest of the group walked offstage, Gibson continued on as a solo act under the shortened name Positive K.<ref name="unkut" />

==Solo career== [https://drglenntoby.com/ Glenn Toby], a fellow Queens rapper known as [https://www.mrsweetyg.com/ Mr Sweety G], produced Positive K's first solo record "Getting Paid" for the short-lived [[independent label]] Star Maker Records. The track brought him recognition after it was included on the label's showcase album ''Fast Money'', a 1986 compilation featuring [[Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock]]'s debut recording and a track by hip hop pioneer [[Crash Crew|Disco Dave]].

In 1987, Positive K signed to Nat Robinson's [[First Priority Music]] under the management of Lumumba Carson (the son of activist [[Sonny Carson]]) who would later become better known as [[X-Clan]] founding member [[Professor X The Overseer (hip hop)|Professor X The Overseer]].<ref name="unkut" /> With the guidance and production skills of [[Grand Puba]] of [[Brand Nubian]] and [[Daddy-O (musician)|Daddy-O]] of [[Stetsasonic]], Positive K released a number of songs that appeared on various [[underground hip hop|underground]] compilations. His 1989 duet with [[MC Lyte]] "I'm Not Havin' It" was Positive K's first song to land on a Billboard music chart and it helped further establish his reputation in hip hop.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/347151/positive-k/biography|title=Positive K: Biography|publisher=Billboard|access-date=Sep 18, 2014}}</ref> Positive K soon left First Priority Music, feeling there was favoritism happening with the owner's relatives on the label.<ref name="unkut" />

After leaving First Priority Music, Positive K began working closely with [[Big Daddy Kane]], whom he'd met through a mutual friend. He would bring Positive K on stage to freestyle with [[Jay-Z]] and [[Sauce Money]].<ref name="unkut" /> Guest spots on [[Brand Nubian]]’s ''One for All'' and [[Grand Puba]]'s ''Reel to Reel'' along with his self-released, Big Daddy Kane-produced single "Nightshift" generated enough interest to land him a major record label deal.

''[[The Skills Dat Pay Da Bills]]'', Positive K's [[1992 in music|1992]] full-length debut on Island Records, balanced themes of [[Nation of Gods and Earths]] with [[gangsta rap|gangsta]]-isms and more [[pop music|pop]]-based moments. The album's most successful single was "[[I Got a Man]]," a track loosely based on his earlier duet with MC Lyte "I'm Not Havin' It." This time, however, he [[pitch-shifting|pitch-shifted]] his own vocals to perform the lines of the track's female rapper himself.<ref name="centrictv">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/topic/bet-her|title=BET Her|website=BET.com|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-16-ca-35809-story.html|title=Rap and Feminism Do Mix : Surprise! Videos by Positive K and Paris put a positive spin on respect for women|date=16 May 1993|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref> "I Got A Man" reached No. 14 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] in early 1993. Meanwhile, he kept his Creative Control label in operation, signing and cultivating new talent.

Later that year, Positive K was featured in a remix of the song "Come To Butt-head" with [[Beavis and Butt-head]] on the soundtrack album for the film ''[[The Beavis and Butt-head Experience]]''. The song is hidden at the end of the album on the same track as "[[I Got You Babe]]," performed by Beavis and Butt-head with [[Cher]]. The same year, Positive K briefly appeared in the [[Robert De Niro]] film ''[[A Bronx Tale]]'' as an angry protester<ref name="centrictv" /> and was featured on [[WPPT (TV)|WYBE]]'s ''Old School Show'', where he was awarded the No. 3 slot on the list of early hip hop pioneers.

After touring extensively to promote ''The Skills Dat Pay Da Bills'', Positive K focused his efforts on other interests. Island Records had wanted him to record a full album with Grand Puba, but only one song, "Back Together Again," was recorded and the track never saw release. Instead, he started a promotion company, handling record promotions for [[Def Jam Recordings]] and [[London Records]], and booked acts in his Harlem studio.<ref>{{cite book|title=Billboard Dec 14, 1996|page=21|quote=''He toured extensively, blew the muck up, then exited the spotlight. He wasn't chillin' though. "I started my own promotion company ... That demanded a lot of time, and I was also booking my studio in Harlem..."''}}</ref> During this time, he also worked with [[Outkast]], [[Rampage (rapper)|Rampage]] and [[Puff Daddy]].<ref name="unkut" /> Eventually he became fed up with the music business and took a short break from it.<ref name="unkut" />

In late 1996, Positive K re-emerged and told Billboard Magazine that his sophomore album, due out in February 1997, would be named ''Straight to the Moon''. He explained the album, like his debut, would be released on both his personal record label Creative Control as well as Island Records, and would feature guest appearances by [[Al Green]] and [[Harry Connick Jr]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Billboard Dec 14, 1996|page=21|quote=''The title of K's forthcoming set, due in February '97 on Creative Control/Island, is "Straight To The Moon"... The set will feature such songs as "Be Good To Me, " a planned collaboration with buttery black pop preacher Al Green; a remake of "Mr. Bojangles" featuring Harry Connick Jr... and "Black Cinderella," the respectful lead track from the album that was produced by Teddy Riley.''}}</ref> Its [[Teddy Riley]]-produced lead single "Black Cinderella" saw an independent label 1996 release on PosK Records but the full album never materialized.

Positive K has continued to release music over the last 20+ years without duplicating his earlier success of "I Got a Man," earning him the status of [[one hit wonder]]. In 2007, he appeared on [[Nas]]'s track "Where Are They Now ('90s Remix)." In 2008, a compilation album ''Back to the Old School'' was released under the EchoVista label. In 2015, Positive K teamed with [[Nice & Smooth|Greg Nice]] on his song "Make It Happen"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/officialpositivek/positive-k-make-it-happen-feat-greg-nice|title=Positive K - Make It Happen feat. Greg Nice|access-date=25 June 2021|website=Soundcloud.com}}</ref> which led to a pairing that would result in a full-length album in 2017, preceded by its lead single was "Bring It."<ref name="DGMFB">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/DaGreatMinds|title=DaGreatMinds on Facebook|website=[[Facebook]] |quote=''Legendary hip hop artists Greg Nice & Positive K are GREAT MINDS. ... BRING IT is the first single''}}</ref> The pair refer to themselves individually as PK Dolla and N.I. and collectively as Gr8te Mindz, but the album is sold online under the artist name "Positive K and Greg Nice."

Positive K told Unkut in 2013 that his next solo effort would be titled ''Pos K in the Extreme'', but it has yet to surface.<ref name="unkut" />

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard 200|US]] <ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Positive K|chart=Billboard 200}}|title=Positive K Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=2017-03-03}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US R&B]] <ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Positive K|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums B}}|title=Positive K Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=2017-03-03}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''[[The Skills Dat Pay da Bills]]'' | * Released: November 3, 1992 * Label: [[Island Records|Island]], [[PolyGram Records|PolyGram]] * Format: [[Compact Disc|CD]], [[LP record|LP]], [[Compact Cassette|MC]], [[Music download|digital download]] | 168 || 50 |- ! scope="row"| ''Back to the Old School'' {{small|(compilation)}} | * Released: September 16, 2008 * Label: Echo-Vista * Format: CD, digital download | — || — |- ! scope="row"| ''Gr8te Mindz'' {{small|(with [[Nice & Smooth|Greg Nice]])}} | * Released: March 10, 2017 * Label: Brainbust * Format: CD, digital download | — || — |- | colspan="14" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2" width="50" | Year ! rowspan="2" | Song ! colspan="3" | US ! rowspan="2" width="30" |[[Singles Top 100|NL]] <ref>{{cite web|url= https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Positive+K|title=Dutch Charts > Discografie Positive K|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=May 10, 2025|language=Dutch}}</ref> ! rowspan="2" width="30" |[[Recorded Music NZ|NZ]] <ref>{{cite web|url= https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Positive+K|title=charts.org.nz > Positive K|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref> ! rowspan="2" width="30" |[[UK Singles Chart|UK]] <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28857/positive-k/|title=Official Charts > Positive K|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref> ! rowspan="2" | Certifications ! rowspan="2" | Album |- ! width="30" | [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] <ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1993-03-20/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=March 20, 1993|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref> ! width="30" | R&B ! width="30" | Rap |- | 1987 | align="left" width="275px" | "Quarter Gram Pam" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | rowspan="3" width="175px" | single only |- | rowspan="2" | 1988 | align="left" | "[[I'm Not Havin' It]]" (with [[MC Lyte]]) | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | — |- | align="left" | "Step Up Front" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | 1991 | align="left" | "Night Shift" | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | rowspan="4" | ''The Skills Dat Pay da Bills'' |- | rowspan="2" | 1992 | align="left" | "[[I Got a Man]]" | 14 | 10 | 1 | 14 | 41 | 43 | * RIAA: Gold<ref>{{cite certification | region=United States | artist=Positive K | title=I Got a Man| type=single | access-date=July 5, 2018}}</ref> |- | align="left" | "Ain't No Crime" | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | — |- | 1993 | align="left" | "Carhoppers (Radio Version)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | 1995 | align="left" | "Mr Jiggalino" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | rowspan="9" | single only |- | rowspan="2" | 1996 | align="left" | "What You Want" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left" | "Black Cinderella" | — | 92 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 1997 | align="left" | "How Yah Livin'" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan="2" | 1999 | align="left" | "E & J" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left" | "Feel Good 'Bout Myself" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2001 | align="left" | "Supreme Alphabet" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2009 | align="left" | "I'm Not Havin' It (re-recorded)" / "I Got a Man (re-recorded)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2015 | align="left" | "Make It Happen" (with Greg Nice) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2017 | align="left" | "Bring It" (with Greg Nice) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ''Gr8te Mindz'' |} <ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/347151/positive-k/chart|title=Positive K - Chart history : Billboard|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/347151/positive-k/chart?f=367|title=Positive K - Chart history (R&B/Hip-Hop) : Billboard|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/make-it-happen-feat-greg-nice-single/1093396495 |title=Make it Happen (Feat. Greg Nice) - Single by Positive K on Apple Music |website=[[iTunes]] |access-date=2017-04-17 |archive-date=2017-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418082813/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/make-it-happen-feat-greg-nice-single/id1093396495 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DGMFB" /><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/1989-09-23|title=Hot Rap Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/1992-05-16|title=Hot Rap Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/1993-07-03|title=Hot Rap Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.positivek.com/ Positive K's official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Positive K}} [[Category:1967 births]] [[Category:20th-century American male rappers]] [[Category:20th-century American rappers]] [[Category:Five percenters]] [[Category:Island Records artists]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Rappers from the Bronx]] [[Category:21st-century American rappers]] [[Category:21st-century African-American rappers]] [[Category:20th-century African-American musicians]] [[Category:21st-century African-American male rappers]] [[Category:21st-century American male rappers]]