Da Band

Da Band
Origin	New York City, New York
Genres	Hip Hop
Years active	2002–2004
Labels	Bad Boy (2002-2004)
Associated acts	Sean Combs, Wyclef Jean, The Madd Rapper
Past members
Sara Stokes Dylan Dylinjah Chopper "Young City" Babs Ness Freddy P

Da Band was a rap group put together by P. Diddy.

Career

During the preliminary period 40,000 participants tried out for a spot in the group but Diddy narrowed it down to six artists.^[1] For several weeks the group was subjected to vigorous and sometime demeaning tasks, including walking from midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn to purchase a Junior's cheesecake for Diddy, and Ness' battle with Harlem MC Jae Millz. The group's story was documented by three seasons of MTV's Making the Band 2 reality series. Their debut album, Too Hot for TV, was released in September 2003.

After Da Band

On the Season Three finale, the group effectively ended when Diddy dissolved them and chose to keep Ness, Babs, and Chopper "Young City" on the label. Ness and Babs were to be a duo ^[2] and Chopper was to be a solo artist on Bad Boy South.^[3] Chopper would eventually leave the label and was followed by Babs sometime later leaving Ness the group's only member still signed to Bad Boy. Ness has worked as a songwritter for Diddy on albums such as 2006's Press Play. The group members have since been working on solo projects and have maintained good relationships with each other except Chopper and Ness who are currently involved in a dispute.

Band Members

• Sara Stokes (born in 1974) - a Port Huron R&B singer ^[4]
• Dylan Dilinjah (born Dylan John in 1980) - a Brooklyn reggae vocalist ^[5]
• Chopper "Young City" (born Kevin Barnes ^{[6] [7] [8]} in 1983) - a New Orleans MC (Chopper recorded under the alias of Rodney Hill ^[9] in an attempt to avoid prosecution by the law.)
• Babs (born Lynese Wiley in 1979) - an MC from Brooklyn ^[10]
• Ness (born Lloyd Mathis in 1977) - an MC from Philadelphia ^[11]
• Freddy P (born Frederick Watson in 1981) - a Miami MC ^[12]

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Peak chart positions		Certifications
		U.S.	U.S. R&B
2003	Too Hot for TV Released: September 30, 2003 Label: Bad Boy	2	1	US: Gold

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions			Album
		Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	Hot Rap Tracks
2003	"Bad Boy This, Bad Boy That"	50	15	13	Too Hot for TV
	"Tonight"	-	110	-

References

1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p628149
2. ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487040/da-bands-new-reality-solo-albums-movies.jhtml
3. ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487040/da-bands-new-reality-solo-albums-movies.jhtml
4. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p628149
5. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p628149
6. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Hits-Times-Kevin-Barnes/dp/B004T6VVEA
7. ^ http://www.musictapp.com/chopperyoungcity/
8. ^ http://www.xxlmag.com/news/latest-headlines/2006/08/young-city-from-making-the-band-2-arrested-for-armed-robbery/
9. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p628149
10. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p628149
11. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p628149
12. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p628149

External links

• Da Band at Allmusic
• Bad Boy's Da' Band at MTV
• Babs' Official Music Myspace
• Sara's Official Music Myspace
• Sara's Music
• Dylan's Official Music Myspace

Preceded by O-Town

Making the Band winners 2002

Succeeded by Danity Kane