Brand Nubian

Formed in the early 1990s, Bronx-based rap act Brand Nubian were one of the first groups to fully embrace the teachings of the Nation of Islam and integrate the organization's beliefs into their music. The group's founding member, Grand Puba Maxwell, left Nubian to pursue a solo career in 1991 prior to the release of the group's biggest and most controversial release, the 1992 single "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down," which contained blatantly homophobic lyrics. Though members Sadat X and Lord Jamar remained loyal to the 5% Nation, and thus remained relatively controversial, subsequent releases of the track had the offending lines removed. Following solo albums from all members, the original line-up reunited for 1998's FOUNDATION.