Warren Mayes

Warren Mayes (sometimes spelled “Mays”) and his eight siblings were raised in the 4th Ward’s Iberville Projects. Like Sporty T, Mayes began rapping before New Orleans had its own flavor. Had his self-produced debut, Doin Them Right, not borne a Baton Rouge address and New Orleans area code on the label, it could have easily been confused for the work of a New Yorker. Mayes’ hustles were myriad; he not only rapped but produced for others, promoted shows (his brother Travis Lyons told journalist Alison Fensterstock that he was the first to bring Run-D.M.C., Doug E. Fresh and LL Cool J to the city) and, according to his daughter G Baby, stripped. Mayes’ work paid off. DJ Captain Charles told Hobbs that he and Mayes had discussed the local popularity of songs that involved the crowd (particularly Too $hort’s “I Ain’t Trippin’”), and, about six months later, his friend brought him a cassette. Charles played the cassette, “Get It Girl,” at a family day at A.L. Davis Park, and after judging the reaction, told his friend he’d made a hit. Charles was right. With “Get It Girl,” Mayes’ popularity increased to the point that his dancers’ curled ponytails became highly fashionable and Atlantic Records took notice. There’s some proto-N.O. flavor in the song: Mayes’ chants of astrological signs are a throughline to bounce rappers shouting out specific neighborhoods and housing projects. Although it’d be the only Mayes single Atlantic would issue, it made him the first New Orleans rapper to release a record on a major label. On July 31, 1999, Mayes was shot and killed in his car when leaving a club. Though the Times-Picayune’s obituary listed the noted lothario as having sired 13 children, that number is incorrect. G Baby, who’s continued his rap legacy, told Hobbs that Mayes fathered a truly remarkable brood of 21 children.