Duane Hughes, better known by his stage name Spyder D, is a professional old-schoolrapper and producer from New York City.
Career
1980s
"Big Apple Rappin'," perhaps Spyder's most famous single from the post-disco era, was released on his own Newtroit Records in 1980, placing it among hip-hop's earliest single releases. Another notable release was "I Can't Wait," a version of the Nu Shooz hit "I Can't Wait" released in 1986 as a single. Other Spyder D releases include "Buckwheat's Rap", and "Smerphie's Dance," which has been sampled on other tracks including How We Do by The Game. As an artist and producer, Spyder shared the 80s musical spotlight with fellow Hollis natives Run-DMC, LL Cool J, Davy D, DJ Hurricane, Orange Krush, and Alyson Williams. Childhood schoolmate Russell Simmons later became his manager and mentor in 1983. Spyder produced several tracks for artists such as Infinity Machine's DJ Divine, Sparky D, Roxanne Shante', as well as a string of tracks for independent labels such as Profile Records, Select Records, Spring Records, and a joint label venture with Next Plateau. He also managed Power Play Studios in Queens, NY, from various stints from 1983 to 1998. He moved to Los Angeles for a brief stint between 1989 and 1992, where he worked with KDAY-AM's Greg Mack and Curtis Harmon. Spyder co-engineered and recorded his first full album, Gangsta Wages, with multi-platinum "remixologist" Greg Royal, which was released through his own Hype-Hop label. The imprint was distributed through Macola Records who, at the time also had 2 Live Crew, and Dr. Dre’s World Class Wrecking Crew. Spyder also worked in the studio with Malcolm McClaren on writing lyrics for Sparky D for McClaren's Hip-Hop/Opera fusion.
1990s
In 1996, after once again taking over the reins as Power Play Studios full time manager, Spyder began a dual role as both engineer and manager for the renowned studio. He learned to use the state of the art SSL G Series recording and mixing console from some notes given to him by chief engineer Dino. He brought back into the studio clients like DJ Run of Run-DMC, producer Larry Smith, Herbie Azor and Salt-n-Pepa, as well as bringing in new superstar producers like P Diddy Hit Squad producer Ron Lawrence. In 1997, Spyder moved on to become manager and engineer for Gospel Jazz musician Mel Holder at Toy Factory, another Queens, NY based recording studio. At Toy Factory he engineered for such clients as Mic Murphy of The System, and Pharaoh Monch of Organized Konfusion, as well as on Mel Holder’s stirring saxophone rendition of R. Kelly’s "I Believe I Can Fly". In 1999, Spyder moved to Atlanta, and began freelance engineering at Dallas Austin’s DARP Studios, and Bobby Brown’s Boss Recording, bringing with him some of his New York and northeast clientele, including Jam-Master Jay protégé Derrick Stanfield-Kivoi.
2000s
He released a full-length album in 2000 entitled True Dat. In 2005, Spyder became the owner of an American Basketball Association franchise, the Charlotte Krunk. Glenn Toby, founder of The Book Bank Foundation and former rap rival from Queens, New York. The franchise moved to Atlanta and joined the Continental Basketball Association under new majority ownerFreedom Williams, the former lead voice for multi-platinum dance-hop group C+C Music Factory, where Spyder signed Grayson Boucher, AKA " The Professor," of And 1 fame, and recruited Kenny Anderson as head coach. Currently, Spyder is working on his autobiography and working out of his home recording studio on several projects, including the audio book version of his debut as an author, "I Hate Being Black," a fact based semi-autobiographical book about what it was like growing up in New York as a Black male. The ten chapter first edition was released in 2014 as an ebook.
Musical style
Spyder D's brand of music was characterized by a laid back attitude, humor, and skills on the microphone. In his live instrumental backing tracks he combined elements of jazz and funk.
