The one-time president for the New York City branch of the radical black nationalist National People's Democratic Uhuru Movement,
M-1 caused some controversy in the underground rap scene as a part of the critically acclaimed and ostensibly socialist
Dead Prez twosome. While he and
Stic.man were in between labels, each ventured out with his own solo project.
M-1 was inspired to put together a solo album in part by doing production work for other artists, including Mississippi rapper
David Banner, but also from collaborating with Italian jazz guitarist
Fabrizio Sotti (who produced most of jazz diva
Cassandra Wilson's 2003
Glamoured album). In March 2006,
M-1 released the
Confidential LP as a CD/DVD combination, with contributions from
Ghostface Killah,
Q-tip, and
Cassandra Wilson herself. The first single, "'Til We Get There," did fall below the radar of mainstream airplay, but not before the album reached the number 23 spot on the independent chart and 52 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. ~ Cyril Cordor, All Music Guide