ArtistInfo

Fresh Kid Ice

1964-2017 US, Port of Spain
of Hip-Hop/Rap
A.k.a. Christopher S. Wong Won Chinaman (3) Chris Wong Won

Fresh Kid Ice was the rap name of Chris Wong Won, also known as Chinaman (3) (born May 29, 1964, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - died July 13, 2017, Miami, Florida, USA) a Trinidadian-born American rapper and one of three founding members of The 2 Live Crew. He grew up in New York City, eventually joining the U.S. Air Force for a four year stint. In 1983, while stationed in Riverside, California, he got together with Amazing Vee (Yuri Vielot) and Mr. Mixx (David Hobbs) and formed The 2 Live Crew. In 1984, Mr. Mixx contacted Macola Record Co. landing a manufacturing and distribution deal for the group's self-owned Fresh Beat Records. They recorded two songs: "The Revalation" and the B-side mid-tempo song "2 Live" which Fresh Kid Ice performed as the lone vocalist. Once released, the song's combination of sustained 808 kick drum and Fresh Kid Ice's lyrics such as "like Luke Skywalker I got the force" caught the attention of Ghetto Style DJ Luke Skyywalker (Luther Campbell) in Miami, who also was promoting a teen club there known as Pac-Jam. Luke contacted Macola and booked the group for a performance in Miami. Shortly after, Amazing V left the group making Fresh Kid Ice the sole vocalist for the next few releases. Eventually the group recruited rapper Brother Marquis (Mark Ross) from The Caution Crew, and promoted Luke Skywalker from manager to a member of the group as their hype-man. During the group's tenure with Luke Skyywalker Records, Fresh Kid Ice began his own record label known as Miami Bass Records (2), initially hoping for a manufacturing and distribution deal with Luke, but scoring it instead with Hot Productions. There he fostered talent such as MC Smart (2), Balli and The Fat Daddy. The 2 Live Crew officially broke up in late 1990, although they recorded one more album together in 1991 for Luke Records. Fresh Kid Ice began Ice Cold Productions and landed yet another deal with Joey Boy Records that resulted in one compilation entitled Masters Of The Bass, which included acts such as Shake G, Top Rank (3), Underground Regulators, and Dem Boyz (3). When the other members of The 2 Live Crew left Luke Records, Fresh Kid Ice remained onboard releasing the solo album The Chinaman in 1992. In 1994, Luke and Fresh Kid Ice recruited a new rapper named Verb (Larry Dobson) and touted themselves as The New 2 Live Crew. After Luke Records went bankrupt, Fresh Kid Ice departed and reunited with Mr. Mixx and Brother Marquis signing with Lil' Joe Records to release Shake A Lil' Somethin' in 1996. Fresh Kid Ice and Brother Marquis remained as The 2 Live Crew to release The Real One in 1998 and in the same year recorded songs for the Jerry Springer (2) movie Ringmaster (1998). After Brother Marquis dropped out, Fresh Kid Ice focused on getting Chinaman Records off the ground to foster new talent such as new school rappers Big Ed, Fish 'N' Grits, and The X-Rated Rydaz. At the same time Insane Clown Posse reached out to Fresh Kid Ice pointing out to him that ICP was an acronym for both their group name and Ice Cold Productions. The matter was resolved amicably and they subsequently toured and recorded together often. Fresh Kid Ice and his new talent were touring as The 2 Live Crew until late 2006 when Joseph Weinberger put a stop to it as he obtained the rights to the group's name from the acquisition of Luke's catalog after Luke Records' bankruptcy. This in effect also ended the proposed The 2 Live Crew reunion. At the time of his death, Chris Wong Won was the Corporate General Manager of Nu Focuz Entertainment LLC & Owner of Chinaman Records LLC.

Genres

• Hip-Hop/Rap
• Electronic

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