Jewell (singer)

Jewel Lynn Caples (June 12, 1968 – May 6, 2022), professionally known as Jewell (jew-ELL), was an American singer and songwriter, particularly known for her 90s stylistic west coast hip hop hooks of distinction and historic catalogue of collaborations with artists including N.W.A., Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. For her key contributions to iconic albums The Chronic (Let Me Ride), Doggystyle (What's My Name?) and All Eyez on Me (To Live and Die in L.A.), Jewell became a prominent figure in the 1990s West Coast hip-hop scene. As a solo artist, Jewell gained success on the Billboard Hot 100 charts with her 1994 "Woman to Woman" rendition of the 1974 Shirley Brown classic. She is widely regarded as a cultural icon and legendary "First Lady of Death Row Records."

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.

Jewell was among many artists who departed Death Row between 1998 and 1999 due to financial and legal issues involving CEO Suge Knight, 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. An accompanying soundtrack to the book was released.