Four Jamaica, Queens, natives (Mr. Cheeks, Pretty Lou, Freaky Tah, and DJ Spigg Nice) debuted as the Lost Boyz in 1995 with the single “Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless”--a catchy, collection of cautionary ghetto tales. Its success led to a deal with Uptown, which released the crew’s debut album a year later. The no-frills but radio-ready production and Mr. Cheeks’s accessible, fluid wordplay struck a chord with fans, and LEGAL DRUG MONEY went gold with five hit singles. Their sophomore effort, LOVE, PEACE & HAPPINESS (1997), which possessed less commercial appeal but more underground credibility, also earned a gold plaque. A few months after the shooting death of hypeman Freaky Tah in 1999, the crew’s final (and least successful) LP appeared.