Dallion Priest was born in London, but it wasn't until he moved to Brooklyn that he became known as Mad Lion—an acronym for Musical Assassin Delivering Lyrical Intelligence Over Nations. After being taken under the wing of KRS-One, he became one of the key figures in the hip-hop/dancehall crossover scene that rocked New York City in the early and mid-'90s. His debut album, Real Ting, was released in 1994 and still endures as a showcase for Mad Lion's gruff vocals, gritty lyrics and rugged hip-hop production.