Showbiz & A.G.

Hailing from the Bronx in New York, the duo allied with Diamond D launched their own imprint, Showbiz Records, to issue their 1991 self-titled debut EP after finding no other route into hip-hop. The project sparked immediate interest and secured them a contract with a larger label. AG had already traded freestyle rhymes against Lord Finesse during their high-school years, an association that ultimately connected him with Showbiz. Once the pair joined forces, they canvassed New York in an unsuccessful attempt to land a recording agreement. Momentum shifted only after the EP arrived, driven chiefly by the impact of its “Diggin’ In The Crates” track, which placed them at the center of attention. Their visibility rose further when Showbiz delivered a widely praised remix of Arrested Development’s “Tennessee.” Both ensuing albums earned recognition as benchmarks of freestyle rap. AG later began a solo career.