MC Serch

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = MC Serch

| image = MC Serch 2023.jpg

| caption = MC Serch in 2023

| birth_name = Michael Berrin

| alias = {{hlist|T Bone Lemke|White Monster}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|05|6}}

| birth_place = Queens, New York City, U.S.

| instrument =

| genre = {{hlist|East Coast hip hop|golden age hip hop

}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter|record producer}}

| years_active = 1986–present{{cite web|author=Stereo Williams|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-year-that-changed-hip-hop-forever|title=The Year That Changed Hip-Hop Forever|publisher=The Daily Beast|date=February 28, 2018|access-date=November 24, 2019}}

| label = {{hlist|Def Jam|Psycho+Logical}}

| past_member_of = 3rd Bass

| website = {{URL|mcserch.com}}

| current_members =

| past_members =

}}

Michael Berrin (born May 6, 1967),{{cite web|url=http://mcserch.com/home/|title=About MC Serch|access-date=November 24, 2019}} better known by his stage name MC Serch, is an American rapper and record executive. He gained fame as part of the hip hop group 3rd Bass, who were active in the late 1980s and early 1990s and released three studio albums.

In his solo work, Serch is credited with having discovered American rapper Nas in 1992. Serch introduced the rapper to Columbia Records and executive produced his debut studio album, Illmatic (1994).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/photos/6723017/the-10-best-rappers-of-all-time|title=The 10 Best Rappers of All Time|author= |magazine=Billboard|quote=20 years later, Illmatic is widely seen as the best hip-hop album ever, a flawless blend of vivid street poetry and dream-team producers...|date=November 12, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2021}}

Early life and education

Serch grew up in Far Rockaway, New York City.{{cite news| last= Jackson| first= Brian Keith| url= http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/26038/ |title= Ice, Ice Babies: Reality-TV show tries to create the next Eminem| work= New York| date= December 31, 2006| access-date= November 23, 2007| quote= I grew up in Five Towns, where he was raised by his parents. and you’d always see shoes on the line.}} He attended Far Rockaway High School{{cite news| last= Schwach| first= Howard| url= https://www.rockawave.com/articles/rockaway-rapper-hosts-mtvs-the-white-rapper-show/ |title= Rockaway Rapper Hosts MTV's 'The White Rapper Show' | work= Wave of Long Island| via= rockawave.com| date= January 26, 2007}} and graduated from Music & Art High School. He is of Jewish descent.{{cite web| url= http://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts_and_entertainment/popular_culture/Interfaith_Celebrities_Of_Hip_Hop_Heroes_and_the_Oscars.shtml| title= Interfaith Celebrities: Of Hip Hop, Heroes and the Oscars |work= interfaithfamily.com | date= January 12, 2009 |access-date=April 24, 2013 |quote=Berrin, who is Jewish, worked until recently for a very popular Detroit radio station that mostly plays hip hop music and whose listening audience is mostly black. ... As reported in a January 25 issue of the Detroit Jewish News, Berrin, 39, and his wife, Chantel, are members of Congregation Sharrey Zedek, a large Conservative synagogue in suburban Detroit. In a 1993 profile in the News, Chantel— a convert to Judaism—talked about her conversion and Michael talked about race and religion.}}

Career

After recording three albums with 3rd Bass—The Cactus Album (1989), The Cactus Revisited (1990), and Derelicts of Dialect (1991)—Serch launched a solo career with Return of the Product (1992, Def Jam). The album featured two hit singles: "Here It Comes" (which hit #1 on Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks chart); and "Back to the Grill" featuring Chubb Rock, Red Hot Lover Tone, and Nas. Serch was the executive producer of Nas’ Illmatic.

He also helped to cultivate the rapper O.C. after hearing him on the Organized Konfusion song "Fudge Pudge", helping him secure a record contract with Wild Pitch Records. In 1995, Serch also mentored the newly formed Non Phixion.

Since retiring from performing, Serch has run a promotions company (Serchlite Music). He appeared in Spike Lee's Bamboozled (2000) as a member of the fictitious hip-hop group Mau Maus (played by other real-life hip-hop performers such as Mos Def, Charli Baltimore and Canibus). His character was a white revolutionary who was supposed to be "1/16 black".{{cite web| url= http://www.ohhla.com/anonymous/misc/hip-hop/blak_iz.mau.txt| title= Blak Iz Blak| website= ohhla.com| access-date= June 1, 2018}}

From 2003, he hosted Serch In The AM on Detroit urban radio station FM 98 WJLB; he was the first Jewish DJ at that station. MC Serch was dismissed from WJLB in March 2006, reportedly due to a dispute over a Super Bowl weekend party at the club Motor City Live.{{cite web|last=Graham |first=Adam |date=January 8, 2007 |url= http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070108/ENT02/701080357/1032/ENT |title=The Serch for the next white rap star. |work=The Detroit News|access-date=January 24, 2007}}

Serch also hosted the VH1 reality series Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show which ended in March 2007. On the show he was known for his catchphrase "Woop-WOOP!". A follow-up show, Ego Trip's Miss Rap Supreme, debuted in 2008.

Serch has since returned to the radio airwaves in Detroit on the urban station Hot 102.7. Serch has also worked with Hot 102.7's youngest intern (The Black Intern) Daniel Berry, and Rucka Rucka Ali (Comedy Music Artist). Serch appeared in some of Rucka Rucka Ali's music videos.

In 2018 he gave an interview with DJ Vlad in which he claimed MC Hammer had once taken out a $50,000 contract on Serch's life, following a misunderstanding over lyrics.{{Cite web|publisher=YouTube|title=MC Serch: MC Hammer Put a $50k Hit on Me Over Dissing His Mother on a Song (Part 5)|date=November 13, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3B7KBrnqCI|access-date=May 24, 2019}}

In May 2021, MC Serch joined VidSig, a live global video platform, as Chief Creative Consultant.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hip-hop-legend-mc-serch-joins-vidsig-in-creative-role-301298414.html|title=Hip Hop Legend MC Serch Joins VIDSIG in Creative Role|website=Prnewswire.com|access-date=June 24, 2021}}

Serch was an executive at HitPiece, a startup creating NFTs of songs that shut down in February 2022 under threat of action by Recording Industry Association of America, which labeled it a "scam operation" and after public criticism by major artists including Wolfgang Van Halen.{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/hitpiece-nft-music-scam/|title=Who's Behind HitPiece, the Music NFT 'Scam' That Angered Bands + the RIAA?|first=Philip|last=Trapp|date=February 7, 2022|website=Loudwire}}

Discography

= Solo =

Return of the Product (1992, Def Jam)

= with 3rd Bass =

The Cactus Album (1989, Platinum)
The Cactus Revisited (1990)
Derelicts of Dialect (1991, Gold)

= Guest appearances =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" \|Title ! scope="col" \|Year ! scope="col" \|Other artist(s) ! scope="col" \|Album
"Puff the Head" \|1992 \|{{N/a}} \|Zebrahead (soundtrack)
scope="row" \|"Blak Iz Blak" \|2000 \|Mau Maus (Mos Def, Canibus, Charli Baltimore, Mums, Gano Grills, DJ Scratch) \|Bamboozled (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
scope="row" \|"Fuck You" \|2001 \|DJ Tomekk \|Return of Hip Hop
scope="row" \|"2 Hits & Pass" \|2002 \|Afu-Ra, Agallah, Big Tigger, Buckshot, Craig G, Mr. Eon, Scram Jones, Smuv, Steele, Tony Touch \|D&D Project II
scope="row" \|"Let's Talk" \|2005 \|Hot Karl \|The Great Escape
scope="row" \|"MC Serch Intro" \| rowspan="4" \|2007 \|Kaptain Nemo \| rowspan="3" \|The Legend of Kaptain Nemo - Official Mixtape
scope="row" \|"For the Love of Hip Hop" \|Kaptain Nemo, PJ Sumroc
scope="row" \|"This Is Not a Game Aaaatlaaaantis (MC Serch Interlude)" \|Kaptain Nemo
scope="row" \|"Round Here" \|Krohme \|All Praises Due
scope="row" \|"Benetton" \|2009 \|Kurious, MF Doom, Kadi Amin \|II
scope="row" \|"Rolling 110 Deep" \|2021 \|DJ Kay Slay, 3D Na'Tee, AZ, Aobie, Big Daddy Kane, Black Thought, Bodega Bamz, Brand Nubian, Bumpy Knuckles, Bun B, Bynoe, Cassidy, Chris Rivers, Chuck D, Coke La Rock, Consequence, Conway the Machine, Cory Gunz, Crooked I, Dave East, DJ Doo-Wop, Drag-On, E-A-Ski, Fred the Godson, Ghostface Killah, Gillie da Kid, Grandmaster Caz, Gunplay, Havoc, McGruff, Hocus 45th, Ice-T, Inspectah Deck, J.R. Writer, Jim Jones, Joell Ortiz, Jon Connor, Junior Reid, Kaflow Kaboom, Kool G Rap, KRS-One, Lil' Cease, Loaded Lux, Locksmith, Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, Maino, MC Shan, Melle Mel, Merkules, Mike Cee, Millyz, Mistah F.A.B., M.O.P., Ms. Hustle, Mysonne, Nice & Smooth, Nino Man, OT The Real, Omar Epps, Onyx, Oun P, Outlawz, Page Kennedy, Papoose, Pretty Tone Capone, Prince The King, RJ Payne, Raekwon, Rah Digga, Ransom, Ras Kass, Kool DJ Red Alert, Redman, Rockness, Ron Artest, Roy Jones Jr., Royal Flush, Saigon, Shaquille O'Neal, Sheek Louch, Shoota 93, Sickflo, Sonja Blade, Sporty Thievz, Stan Spit, Styleon, Styles P, Super Lover Cee, Termanology, Tone Trump, Tony Moxberg, Tracey Lee, Trae tha Truth, Tragedy Khadafi, Treach, Trick Trick, Twista, Uncle Murda, Vado, Wais P, Young Buck \|Accolades

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name

! scope="col" style="width:18em;" |Title

! scope="col" |Year

! scope="col" |Other artist(s)

! scope="col" |Album

"Puff the Head"

|1992

|{{N/a}}

|Zebrahead (soundtrack)

scope="row" |"Blak Iz Blak"

|2000

|Mau Maus (Mos Def, Canibus, Charli Baltimore, Mums, Gano Grills, DJ Scratch)

|Bamboozled (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

scope="row" |"Fuck You"

|2001

|DJ Tomekk

|Return of Hip Hop

scope="row" |"2 Hits & Pass"

|2002

|Afu-Ra, Agallah, Big Tigger, Buckshot, Craig G, Mr. Eon, Scram Jones, Smuv, Steele, Tony Touch

|D&D Project II

scope="row" |"Let's Talk"

|2005

|Hot Karl

|The Great Escape

scope="row" |"MC Serch Intro"

| rowspan="4" |2007

|Kaptain Nemo

| rowspan="3" |The Legend of Kaptain Nemo - Official Mixtape

scope="row" |"For the Love of Hip Hop"

|Kaptain Nemo, PJ Sumroc

scope="row" |"This Is Not a Game Aaaatlaaaantis (MC Serch Interlude)"

|Kaptain Nemo

scope="row" |"Round Here"

|Krohme

|All Praises Due

scope="row" |"Benetton"

|2009

|Kurious, MF Doom, Kadi Amin

|II

scope="row" |"Rolling 110 Deep"

|2021

|DJ Kay Slay, 3D Na'Tee, AZ, Aobie, Big Daddy Kane, Black Thought, Bodega Bamz, Brand Nubian, Bumpy Knuckles, Bun B, Bynoe, Cassidy, Chris Rivers, Chuck D, Coke La Rock, Consequence, Conway the Machine, Cory Gunz, Crooked I, Dave East, DJ Doo-Wop, Drag-On, E-A-Ski, Fred the Godson, Ghostface Killah, Gillie da Kid, Grandmaster Caz, Gunplay, Havoc, McGruff, Hocus 45th, Ice-T, Inspectah Deck, J.R. Writer, Jim Jones, Joell Ortiz, Jon Connor, Junior Reid, Kaflow Kaboom, Kool G Rap, KRS-One, Lil' Cease, Loaded Lux, Locksmith, Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, Maino, MC Shan, Melle Mel, Merkules, Mike Cee, Millyz, Mistah F.A.B., M.O.P., Ms. Hustle, Mysonne, Nice & Smooth, Nino Man, OT The Real, Omar Epps, Onyx, Oun P, Outlawz, Page Kennedy, Papoose, Pretty Tone Capone, Prince The King, RJ Payne, Raekwon, Rah Digga, Ransom, Ras Kass, Kool DJ Red Alert, Redman, Rockness, Ron Artest, Roy Jones Jr., Royal Flush, Saigon, Shaquille O'Neal, Sheek Louch, Shoota 93, Sickflo, Sonja Blade, Sporty Thievz, Stan Spit, Styleon, Styles P, Super Lover Cee, Termanology, Tone Trump, Tony Moxberg, Tracey Lee, Trae tha Truth, Tragedy Khadafi, Treach, Trick Trick, Twista, Uncle Murda, Vado, Wais P, Young Buck

|Accolades

References

External links

[http://mcserch.com/ The Serch Says Podcast]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070224235942/http://www.soundslam.com/articles/interviews/interviews.php?interviews=in070205_mcserch MC Serch Interview]
{{IMDb name|id=0784907|name=MC Serch}}

Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:American hip-hop record producers

Category:20th-century American Jews

Category:American male rappers

Category:Def Jam Recordings artists

Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians

Category:Far Rockaway High School alumni

Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni

Category:Jewish rappers

Category:People from Far Rockaway, Queens

Category:Rappers from New York City