La the Darkman

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = La the Darkman

| background = solo_singer

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_name = Lason Jackson

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|7|23|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = New York City, New York

| origin = Brooklyn, New York

| death_date =

| genre = Hip hop

| occupation = Rapper

| instrument =

| years_active = 1995–present

| label = {{hlist|Aphilliates Music Group|Embassy Entertainment|SRC Records|Republic Records|Universal Motown Records}}

| associated_acts = Wu-Tang Clan, DJ Drama, Willie the Kid, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, DJ Muggs, GZA, RZA, Bronze Nazareth, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, J-Love

| website =

}}

Lason Jackson (born July 23, 1979), better known as La the Darkman,{{cite web|url=https://allhiphop.com/exclusives/wu-tang-clans-nearly-mythical-once-upon-a-time-in-shaolin-album-saga-continues/|title=Wu-Tang Clan’s Nearly-Mythical "Once Upon A Time In Shaolin" Album Saga Continues|date=February 26, 2024|work=XXL|access-date=October 23, 2024}} is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated rapper and MC.

Biography

Jackson was born in New York City, New York and grew up Crown Heights, Brooklyn with his brother William Jackson.{{cite web|last=Langhorne|first=Cyrus|title=DJ DRAMA & LA THE DARKMAN FEUD REVEALED, "THAT'S WHAT THE DRUGS & GOING BROKE WILL DO TO SOME PEOPLE"|url=http://www.sohh.com/2011/02/dj_drama_la_the_darkman_feud_revealed_th.html|publisher=SOHH|access-date=November 13, 2012|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130609051451/http://www.sohh.com/2011/02/dj_drama_la_the_darkman_feud_revealed_th.html|archive-date=June 9, 2013}} He negotiated his first deal while finishing high school and was a protégé of the Wu-Tang Clan having grown particularly close with various members. Jackson later secured a distribution deal through Navarre Distribution, with whom he released his debut album Heist of the Century in 1998. He later toured with several singers and groups such as 50 Cent and the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as launching his own management company and clothing store.{{cite web|url=https://allhiphop.com/exclusives/from-wu-tang-to-heist-of-the-century-reissue-la-the-darkman-is-back-with-a-vengeance/|title=From Wu-Tang To "Heist Of The Century" Reissue: LA The Darkman Is Back With A Vengeance|date=February 25, 2024|work=AllHipHop|access-date=October 23, 2024}} Jackson later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked with Aphilliates Music Group and Embassy Entertainment, later negotiating label deals with both companies.{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/la-the-darkman-the-next-movement/|title=La The Darkman: Next Movement|date=December 19, 2007|work=XXL|access-date=October 23, 2024}} He also worked in a business capacity for DJ Drama, setting up booking arrangements and endorsement deals. Jackson also executive produced the album Gangsta Grillz vol.1 and vol.2 which both albums hit #2 and #4 on the Billboard charts.{{cite web|title=La The Darkman Returns With A SRC/Universal Deal|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6551/title.la-the-darkman-returns-with-a-src-universal-deal|publisher=HipHopDX|access-date=13 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913063117/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6551/title.la-the-darkman-returns-with-a-src-universal-deal|archive-date=13 September 2012|url-status=dead}}

Reception

The independently released Heist of the Century later peaked at 37 on Billboard's "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" in May 1998.{{cite web|title=Heist of the Century|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=la the darkman|chart=all}}|publisher=Billboard|access-date=13 November 2012}}

Rapper/actor Drake mentioned Jackson during a MTV interview calling him one of the "Hottest MCs in the Game".{{cite web|title=Drake Picks La The Darkman And Willie The Kid For 'Hottest MCs'|url=http://rapofthe-darkman-and-willie-the-kid-for-hottest-mcs/|publisher=MTV|access-date=13 November 2012}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Vibe praised Jackson's participation in the Uncontrolled Substance album, calling his overtures "seductive".{{cite book|title=Review: Uncontrolled Substance|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YygEAAAAMBAJ&q=darkman&pg=PA174|publisher=Vibe|access-date=13 November 2012|date = August 1999}}

Discography

=Albums=

Heist of the Century (1998)
La Paraphernalia EP (2014)
La Familia EP (2015)
La Luminati EP (2016)
Play by La Rules EP (2017)
The Lavish vs The Savage EP (2017)

=Appearances=

Blah Blah Blah - Blahzay Blahzay{{Cite web |title=tidal |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/63662442}} (1996)
Soul Assassins I - DJ Muggs (1997)
So Good (So Dirty Remix) - Davina, Ol' Dirty Bastard{{Cite web |title=tidal |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/221955253}} (1998)
N☆☆☆a Please - Ol Dirty Bastard (1999)
Uncontrolled Substance - Inspectah Deck (1999)
Beneath the Surface - GZA (1999)
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (soundtrack) (1999)
Bi-Polar - Vanilla Ice (2001)
Saviorz Day - Sunz of Man{{Cite web |title=tidal |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/125852727}} (2003)
The Greatest Story Never Told - Shyheim (2004)
4:21... The Day After - Method Man (2006)
Gangsta Grillz Vol. 1 & 2 (Albums) - DJ Drama (2007) & (2009)
Absolute Greatness LP & Never A Dull Moment LP - Willie the Kid
The Lost Tapes - Ghostface Killah{{Cite web |title=tidal |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/318388685}} (2018)
G.O.D.s NETWORK - REB7RTH - Rakim (2024)