Heather B. Gardner

Career

Gardner filmed The Real World: New York from February 16 to May 18, 1992, as part of the first season of MTV's reality series, which premiered May 21 that year. On the show, she was portrayed as a hip-hop artist with Boogie Down Productions, on the verge of a big career break, and was shown recording her first album. MTV's biography noted she had drive and dedication, made friends quickly, and always spoke her mind. She was affiliated with Boogie Down Productions and signed to Pendulum Records in 1995.

Her debut album, Takin' Mine, came out in 1996; the singles "All Glocks Down," an anti-gun violence anthem, and "If Headz Only Knew" both got radio play. Gardner had a minor role as "Peaches" in the 1995 film Dead Presidents. In 1997 she signed with MCA Records and released the single "Do You" in 1998, which received considerable television and radio airplay. She was included in XXL magazine's 1998 photograph A Great Day in Hip Hop.

Her second album, Eternal Affairs, produced by Pete Rock and DJ Premier, was released in 2002 to positive reviews. Gardner appeared in various Real World-related projects and television specials, the film The Wedding Video directed by Real World alum Norman Korpi, and a 2005 television commercial for America Online anti-virus software. Her third studio album, Open Bar, was executive-produced by DJ Premier. As of 2012, she co-hosts the Sirius Satellite Radio show Sway in the Morning with former MTV reporter Sway Calloway.

In 2016 the duo appeared in the twelfth episode of Luke Cage, "Soliloquy of Chaos," interviewing Method Man. She appeared as herself in the 2018 Bruce Willis film Death Wish. In 2021 she portrayed Aunt Ruth in the Jussie Smollett movie B-Boy Blues.