Memphis Bleek (born Malik Deshawn Cox on June 23, 1978) is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. Raised in the Marcy Houses in Bedford-Stuyvesant, he emerged from the same neighborhood and local music circle as Jay-Z, whose Roc-A-Fella Records became the central platform for his career. Bleek's identity was shaped by the hard-edged East Coast rap of the late 1990s, with a high, forceful delivery and lyrics focused on street experience, loyalty, ambition, and survival.
Bleek made his recorded debut in 1996 on Jay-Z's first album, Reasonable Doubt, appearing on the song "Coming of Age." The association established him as one of Roc-A-Fella's earliest artists and as a trusted member of Jay-Z's inner musical circle. He subsequently appeared on several Jay-Z projects, including Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, and The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse. His supporting role on these releases helped define the Roc-A-Fella sound and gave him a prominent position during the label's rapid rise.
Bleek began his solo career with Coming of Age, released in 1999 through Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number seven and introduced the singles "Memphis Bleek Is...", "My Hood to Your Hood", and "What You Think of That." The lead single, produced by Swizz Beatz, gave Bleek his clearest early opportunity to establish a profile separate from Jay-Z, even though his public image remained closely tied to his mentor.
His second album, The Understanding, followed in 2000. It included "My Mind Right", "Do My...", and "Is That Yo Chick", the latter featuring Jay-Z and Missy Elliott. The song became one of Bleek's strongest charting singles, while the album continued his combination of aggressive street rap and commercially oriented production. Both Coming of Age and The Understanding received gold certification in the United States.
After a period away from recording while caring for an injured family member, Bleek returned with M.A.D.E. in 2003. The album featured collaborations with Jay-Z, T.I., Trick Daddy, Freeway, and others. Critics generally recognized stronger production and a more confident flow, although Bleek continued to face the difficulty of being judged against the stature of Jay-Z and other leading Roc-A-Fella artists.
His fourth major-label album, 534, arrived in 2005. Named after the Marcy Houses building associated with Bleek and Jay-Z, it reached number 11 on the Billboard 200 and topped the US Top Rap Albums chart. The album included "Like That" and "Dear Summer", a Jay-Z performance that attracted considerable attention. 534 also featured an early recording by Rihanna, then a new Def Jam artist.
Bleek later moved toward independent releases and label management. He issued mixtapes including The Movement, Kush Vol. 2, and The Movement 2, and founded Warehouse Music Group, through which he worked with artists such as Casanova and Manolo Rose. He also appeared in films including State Property and Paper Soldiers, and was included as a playable character in the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY. Although he never fully escaped the shadow of Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek remains an important Roc-A-Fella-era figure whose work documents the label's formative Brooklyn-centered sound.