| A+ | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Name: | Andre Levins |
| Alias: | A+, Young Plus |
| Birth Date: | August 29, 1981 |
| Origin: | Hempstead, New York, U.S. |
| Instruments: | Vocals |
| Genre: | Hip hop |
| Years Active: | 1995–present |
| Label: | Kedar Entertainment UMVD Labels Masta Mix Records Assdroknot Entertainment FochFam Moneyline Records |
| Website: | myspace.com/youngplus |
Andre Levins, also known as A+ (born August 29, 1981,[1] Hempstead, New York) is an American rapper. As a teenager he released albums in 1996 and in 1999.
A+ began his music career in 1995, after winning a national talent competition sponsored by Def Jam Records.[2] He was the first act signed to Kedar Massenburg's record label, Kedar Entertainment. According to Massenburg, the A+ moniker "means that he's striving for perfection, and he's not really talking about the same things as other young rappers." In 1996, at the age of 14, A+ released his first album, The Latch-Key Child, which featured contributions from Prodigy and Q-Tip.[3] "All I See" was chosen as the lead single, and it peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, staying for 14 weeks.[4]
His second album, Hempstead High, was released in February 1999.[5] Guest appearances on the album included DeBarge, the Lost Boyz and Canibus.[6] The single "Enjoy Yourself", which sampled the 1976 Walter Murphy song "A Fifth of Beethoven",[7] reached the top five of the UK Singles Chart,[8] number 63 of the US Hot 100 for three weeks,)[4] and was also commercially successful in Germany and Japan.
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B/HH [9] | US Heat. [10] | |||
| 1996 | The Latch-Key Child | 36 | 17 | |
| 1999 | Hempstead High | 60 | 19 | |
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [11] | US R&B/HH [12] | AUS [13] | UK | ||||
| 1996 | "All I See" | The Latch-Key Child | |||||
| 1999 | "Enjoy Yourself" | Hempstead High | |||||