Attrell Cordes (May 19, 1970 – June 17, 2016), known as Prince Be, was the primary vocalist of Jersey City hip-hop duo PM Dawn and one of the most distinctive voices of the early 1990s alternative hip-hop era.
In the Record§
His father died of pneumonia during his childhood, and his mother later married George Brown, founding drummer of Kool & the Gang, who became stepfather to Attrell and his younger brother Jarrett.
He co-wrote and performed 'Set Adrift on Memory Bliss' (1991), which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and brought PM Dawn -- and Jersey City -- to the top of the American pop chart.
His lyrical style blended introspection, spirituality, and surreal imagery in a way that set PM Dawn apart from every other act in early 1990s hip-hop.
Sources§
- Wikipedia — Attrell Cordes — link
- Archive research: The Jersey City Sound, 2026
- Attrell Cordes, Wikipedia — link
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