Edward K. Archer (born May 16, 1972),[1] known professionally as Special Ed, is an American rapper and producer. Ed is perhaps best known for the songs "I Got It Made", "Think About It" and "I'm the Magnificent" from his debut album Youngest in Charge, released in 1989 when he was 17 years old.[2][3]

Quick Facts Born, Occupations ...
Special Ed
Born
Edward K. Archer

(1972-05-16) May 16, 1972 (age 52)
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • actor
Years active1988–present
Children3
Musical career
Genres
Labels
Formerly ofCrooklyn Dodgers
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Biography

Born in Brooklyn, New York City to an Afro-Jamaican father and Indo-Jamaican mother, Ed was raised in Flatbush before moving to Canarsie, and is identified with East Coast hip-hop. Ed attended Erasmus Hall High School and Samuel J. Tilden High School.[4] At the age of fifteen, he established a rapport with his neighbor Howie Tee, who worked with him on his demo.[5][conflicted source] Ed's debut album Youngest in Charge was released in 1989 and included the songs "I Got It Made", "Think About It" and "I'm The Magnificent", which were produced by "Hitman" Howie Tee. In an interview with Billboard (magazine) writer James Richliano, Special Ed, who co-wrote his songs, said that he, "used to like writing poetry and creative writing in school," and that he, "wrote a lot of lyrics that amused my teachers. Even when I was younger, I could kick a beat with my hands and rhyme at the same time."[5][conflicted source]

Youngest in Charge sold more than half a million copies.[6] In 1990, Ed released his album Legal, the title a reference to his turning eighteen, with the singles "Come On Let's Move It" and "The Mission".[3][7] Ed was later a member of Crooklyn Dodgers, a supergroup put together in order to perform songs for the Spike Lee films Clockers and Crooklyn,[4][3] and he performed "Crooklyn" with Shillz on the 2003 compilation album MuskaBeatz. Ed released a third solo album, Revelations, with the single "Neva Go Back" in 1995,[8] with the track "Freaky Flow" receiving a remix by DJ Premier.

In 2004, Ed released the album Still Got It Made on his own label "Semi." Ed appeared in the film Ganked, alongside Kel Mitchell of Kenan and Kel, and had an uncredited cameo in Juice.[3] He also made an appearance on The Cosby Show as fictional rapper JT Freeze and in a Rick Ross music video entitled "Magnificent".[4][3] He also appeared in the 1992 movie Fly By Night.

In 2008, his song "I Got It Made" appeared in the action-adventure video game Grand Theft Auto IV on the fictional radio station "The Classics 104.1".

Discography

Studio albums

More information Title, Album details ...
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[9]
US
R&B
/HH

[10]
Youngest in Charge 73 8
Legal
  • Released: July 19, 1990
  • Label: Profile
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download, streaming
84 15
Revelations
  • Released: June 27, 1995
  • Label: Profile
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download, streaming
107 12
Still Got It Made
  • Released: October 26, 2004
  • Label: Semi
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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Compilation albums

More information Title, Album details ...
List of compilation albums
Title Album details
The Best of Special Ed
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As lead artist

More information Title, Year ...
List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US Bub.
[11]
US R&B
[12]
US Rap
[13]
"Think About It" 1989 68 Youngest in Charge
"I Got It Made" 18 9
"Club Scene"[14]
"I'm The Magnificent" 1990 37 27
"The Mission" 25 5 Legal
"Come On, Let's Move It" 1991 30 8
"Neva Go Back" 1995 9 68 12 Revelations
"Lyrics"
"Freaky Flow" 1996
"Think Twice"[lower-alpha 1][15] 1997 New York Reality Check 101
"What Up Love?"[16] 1999 Non-album singles
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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As lead artist

More information Title, Year ...
List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[11]
US R&B
[17]
US Rap
[18]
"Crooklyn"
(as part of Crooklyn Dodgers)
1994 60 32 5 Crooklyn Soundtrack
"Something Like This"
(DJ Love featuring Special Ed)[19]
2011 Waiting for a Revolution
"Rapzone"
(Stezo featuring Special Ed and Tash)[20]
2021 The Last Dance
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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References

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