Dana Dane
Dana McCleese (born September 6, 1965), better known by his stage name Dana Dane, is an American rapper known for performance of humorous lyrics and for his fashion sense.
Dana Dane | |
|---|---|
 Dane in September 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Dana McCleese |
| Born | September 6, 1965[1] Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York, US[1] |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Instrument(s) | Rapping |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | Profile/Arista/BMG Records Maverick/Warner Bros. Records |
| Website | www.danadane.com |
Early life
Dana was born in the Walt Whitman housing project in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York City, New York.[2]
Career
Recording artist
Dana Dane's career began as part of the Kangol Crew with fellow rapper Slick Rick, to whom he sounded markedly similar, although Slick Rick's English lilt was actually genuine, while Dana Dane's was an affectation.[2][3] Dana Dane appeared in the video for Slick Rick's 1988 single "Teenage Love".[4] After graduating from high school, he signed with Profile Records in 1985.[2]
Dana Dane's debut album, Dana Dane with Fame, peaked at #46 on the Billboard album chart and was certified gold. His debut single was "Nightmares".[2] His biggest hit in the United States was "Cinderfella Dana Dane", which peaked at #11 on Billboard magazine's R&B charts in 1987. Cheryl Green from Queens, NY sang backup.[5] He was among Profile Records’s core artists, then recorded briefly for Rap-A-Lot Records but did not release anything on that label. He released his last album, Rollin' Wit Dana Dane, in 1995 on Maverick Records.
Other activities
Dane operated a clothing boutique in New York City in the late 1980s and early 1990s. For six years, he was an on-air host for Sirius/XM Satellite Radio on its classic hip-hop channel LL Cool J's Rock the Bells radio (formerly BackSpin).[6]
He makes a cameo appearance as himself in the 2002 film Brown Sugar.[7]
In 2009, he released his first novel, Numbers (One World/Ballantine/Random House).[3]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [8] |
US R&B /HH [9] | |||||||||||||
| Dana Dane with Fame | 46 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Dana Dane 4 Ever |
|
150 | 23 | |||||||||||
| Rollin' wit Dana Dane |
|
— | 42 | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Best of Dana Dane |
|
| Profile Singles[11] | |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bub. [12] |
US R&B [13] |
US Rap [14] | ||||||||||||
| "Nightmares" | 1985 | — | 21 | — | Dana Dane with Fame | |||||||||
| "Delancey Street" | 1986 | — | 44 | — | ||||||||||
| "This be the Def Beat" | 1987 | — | 30 | — | ||||||||||
| "Cinderfella Dana Dane" | — | 11 | — | |||||||||||
| "Dana Dane with Fame" | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| "Love at First Sight" | 1988 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Little Bit of Dane Tonight" | 1990 | — | 53 | 17 | Dana Dane 4 Ever | |||||||||
| "Tales from the Dane Side" | 1991 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Record Jock" | 1994 | 15 | 61 | 11 | Rollin' wit Dana Dane | |||||||||
| "Rollin' wit Dana Dane" | 1995 | 18 | 77 | 25 | ||||||||||
| "Chester" | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| "Think Twice" | 1997 | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |||||||||
| "What Up Love?" | 1999 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
References
- "Birth information for Dana McCleese". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- Dane Dane mixes light-hearted rap with love of fashion. "Dana Dane - Biography". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
- Simon, Scott (April 18, 2009). "Dana Dane: From Hip-Hop To The Printed Page". NPR. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- Hernandez, Victoria (November 5, 2016). "DANA DANE NAMES SLICK RICK'S "THE GREAT ADVENTURES OF SLICK RICK" ONE OF GOAT ALBUMS". Hip Hop DX. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- Chart history at billboard.com
- "Dana Dane". Hip Hop Golden Age. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- "'Brown Sugar' Soundtrack Packed Tight". Billboard. August 6, 2002. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- "Dana Dane Chart History". Billboard 200. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- "Dana Dane Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- "American album certifications – Dana Dane". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- "Profile Singles - Sweet Tee - Release Info". Apple Music. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- "Special Ed - US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- "Special Ed - US Hot Rap Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.