Terror Squad

Although Terror Squad rarely issued new material, the collective still drew notice within the East Coast rap environment of the late 1990s and early 2000s, chiefly because its roster included both Big Punisher and Fat Joe. The two prominent Latino artists from the Bronx had already achieved stardom by the time they assembled the crew in 1998, just as ensemble projects gained traction following the Wu-Tang Clan's breakthrough success. Big Pun, in particular, had recently delivered the major success "Still Not a Player," while Fat Joe had been issuing major-label gangsta rap records since 1993. Those two established figures served as the primary draws for Terror Squad, whose additional members comprised Bronx rappers Cuban Link, Armageddon, Prospect, and Triple Seis, as well as vocalist Tony Sunshine. Fat Joe first showcased the outfit on his Don Cartagena album in 1998, spotlighting several participants individually before uniting the full lineup on "The Hidden Hand." The following year brought the group's self-titled debut, which Atlantic issued in September yet failed to generate any notable chart entries.

The sudden death of Big Pun in February 2000 delivered a severe blow that effectively halted the group's momentum. While the remaining members largely receded from view, Fat Joe concentrated on his steadily rising solo path, securing multiple commercial successes in the early 2000s by softening his gangsta persona and working with radio-oriented artists such as Ashanti on "What's Luv?," R. Kelly on "We Thuggin'," and Ginuwine on "Crush Tonight." Throughout that stretch he continued to include his Terror Squad associates on his projects, though rarely on the singles themselves. By then the lineup had shifted, centering on Armageddon, Tony Sunshine, Prospect, and new addition Remy, a spirited female MC who received prominent attention. The collective eventually completed a second album, True Story, which Universal released in July 2004—five years after the initial effort. Its lead track, "Lean Back," quickly gained traction and reached the Top Five of Billboard's Hot 100 before the album arrived in stores. Crafted with signature production from reliable hitmaker Scott Storch, the club-oriented number spread rapidly across urban audiences, its anti-dance dance routine aligning neatly with prevailing nightlife trends; the refrain ("My niggas don't dance, we just pull up our pants/Do the Rockaway/Now lean back, lean back, lean back, lean back") received vivid treatment in the song's entertaining, frequently aired video. The single restored Fat Joe to prominence after the underwhelming response to his prior release, Loyalty in 2002, while also positioning Remy for an eventual solo career. The group later featured their regular producer on the 2006 project Terror Squad Presents DJ Khaled: Listennn, after which they disbanded.