Prior, he formed the New York City-based hip hop group Harlem World in 1995, with whom he released one studio album—The Movement (1999)—to commercial success until their disbandment in 1999. Loon signed with Arista Records and later Bad Boy Records as a solo act that same year;[1] he released his eponymous debut studio album (2003) to commercial success, peaking at number six on the Billboard 200 despite mixed reviews. He departed from the label the following year due to his conversion to Islam, and released three independent albums until his retirement from recording altogether in 2009.[2]
Career
Chauncey Lamont Hawkins was born in Harlem, New York. He started his music career as a member of Mase's rap collective Harlem World[3] and then became part of P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records under the name Loon. He released his self-titled debut album Loon in 2003, and made numerous guest appearances on songs by Bad Boy labelmates, as well as hip hop/R&B contemporaries on other labels. While on the label, Loon served as a ghostwriter on songs by or featuring Diddy, including the hit single "I Don't Wanna Know" as well as his eponymous single.[4] Loon left Bad Boy Records in 2004 to launch his own record label, Boss Up Entertainment. He then retired from the music industry in 2009.[5] As a songwriter, Loon has received credits on singles by or featuring Diddy
Conversion to Islam
Loon converted to Islam in December 2008 after a trip to Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, UAE. Born Chauncey Lamont Hawkins, he officially changed his name to Amir Junaid Muhadith after traveling to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest site of Islam, to perform Umrah. After having converted to Islam, he subsequently ended his music career and would later relocate to Cairo, Egypt where he lived until 2011, and then lastly moved back to the United States of America from 2011 to 2022, and stayed in the United States of America in 2022.[6]
Legal issues
On November 22, 2011, Muhadith was arrested while on a trip to Brussels. He was extradited to the United States in May 2012 and was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in July 2013 for conspiracy with intent to traffic one or more kilograms of heroin.[7] Many reports have advocated for and confirmed his innocence.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic effects in prison centers, Muhadith was granted early release on July 29, 2020.[8]
