 His name is a reference to the former leader of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi.He was the first in the Queensbridge projects to create intelligent street music and is documented to be the first to use the phrase "Illmatic" in 1988 on a record called "The Rebel" from the Marley Marl album "In Control Volume 1" which was a huge inspiration and influence on rapper Nas.Tragedy began his career as one half of the duo Super Kids, along with Queensbridge producer DJ Hot Day.