Jewell Caples (June 12, 1968 – May 6, 2022), known professionally as Jewell (jew-ELL),[1] was an American contemporary R&B singer best known for her work with Death Row Records in the early 1990s. She was called the "First Lady of Death Row Records".[2][3][4]

Jewell
Born(1968-06-12)June 12, 1968
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMay 6, 2022(2022-05-06) (aged 53)
New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
GenresR&B, West Coast hip hop
OccupationSinger
Years active1991–2022
LabelsDeath Row

Career

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From 1992 to 1997, Jewell provided vocals on albums from various Death Row artists such as Dr. Dre (The Chronic), Snoop Dogg (Doggystyle), and 2Pac (All Eyez on Me), in addition to motion picture soundtracks produced by the label. Her biggest solo success was her 1994 cover of Shirley Brown's song "Woman to Woman", which peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]

Jewell was among many artists who departed Death Row between 1998 and 1999 due to financial and legal issues involving CEO Suge Knight,[6] and her singing career wound down in the 2000s. In October 2011, she published the memoir My Blood My Sweat My Tears, in which she claimed that her past association with Knight prevented her from gaining another recording deal.[6] An accompanying soundtrack to the book was released.

Health issues and death

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Caples was hospitalized in 2019 after she stopped breathing and collapsed while shopping at a Walmart, with the cause not made public.[7] In an October 2021 interview, she said that she was given six months to live, and hurried to release her final album, Love + Pain = Musik, as a result.[7] Caples was hospitalized twice in March 2022 due to a self-described "lung injury illness", during which she had eight pounds of fluid removed from her heart, legs and lungs.[4] She died at age 53 on May 6, 2022.[2]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
US 200
[8]
US R&B
[8]
Black Diamond
  • Released: November 22, 2011
  • Label: WIDEawake Entertainment/Death Row
  • Format: CD
Love + Pain = Musik
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification.

Compilation albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
US 200
[8]
US R&B
[8]
My Blood My Sweat My Tears:
The Soundtrack
  • Released: October 25, 2011
  • Label: WIDEawake Entertainment
  • Format: CD
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification.

Singles

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As lead artist

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Year Single Chart positions Album
US
[8]
US R&B
[8]
1992 "Love or Lust" Deep Cover
1994 "Woman to Woman" 72 16 Murder Was the Case
"Gonna Give It To Ya"
(featuring Aaron Hall)
Above the Rim
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification.
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Title Year Album
"For the Love of Money"
(Yomo & Maulkie featuring Jewell)
1991 Are U Xperienced?
"Let Me Ride"
(Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg and Jewell)
1992 The Chronic
"Foe tha Love of $"
(Bone Thugs-n-Harmony featuring Eazy-E and Jewell)
1994 Creepin on ah Come Up
"Thug Passion"
(2Pac featuring Jewell)
1996 All Eyez on Me
"Body and Soul"
(O.F.T.B. featuring Jewell)
1997 Gridlock'd
"Just Dippin'"
(Snoop Dogg featuring Dr. Dre and Jewell)
1999 No Limit Top Dogg
"I Love TNO"
(Won-G featuring Jewell [as Ju-L])
2001 No Better than This

References

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  1. ^ Angi T (August 23, 2013). "Former first lady of Death Row Records Jewell Interview w/Angi T". Archived from the original on December 22, 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b Aubrey, Elizabeth (May 6, 2022). "Death Row Records singer Jewell Caples has reportedly died". NME. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  3. ^ Pearce, Sheldon (December 15, 2019). "Dr. Dre: The Chronic". Pitchfork.
  4. ^ a b Brown, Preezy (May 6, 2022). "Jewell Caples, "The First Lady of Death Row Records," Dead At 53". Vibe. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "Chart History: Jewell". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Staff (October 20, 2011). "Interview Time: Death Row Queen Jewell Speaks On Tupac Sex Tape, New Suge Documentary And Greg Kading's Murder Rap Claims". Yahoo!. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Eustice, Kyle (May 9, 2022). "Ex-Death Row Artist Jewell Revealed She Just Had 6 Months to Live in One of Her Final Interviews". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Jewell: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
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