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24 Hour Karate School
''24 Hour Karate School'' is the debut album by hip hop record producer, Ski Beatz. Originally, the album was set for a March 30, 2010 but was pushed back due to sample clearance issues. The project was then given a September 7, 2010 release date, however, was not released until September 21. Guest appearances featured consists of Curren$y, Jim Jones, Jay Electronica, Joell Ortiz, Jean Grae, Wiz Khalifa, Stalley and Camp Lo. Mos Def was also scheduled to appear on the album, but was removed due to clearance issues. Promotion Several videos were shot for the album promotion and can be found at Creative Control and at the home page of Damon Dash Damon Anthony Dash (born May 3, 1971) is an American entrepreneur and record executive. Dash is best known as co-founder of Roc-A-Fella along with Jay-Z and Kareem Burke. Early life Born in New York City, Dash swept the floors of a local bar ...'s DD172. The first official single released for the album was titled, "Nothing But Us ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ski (producer)
David Anthony Willis, known professionally as Ski Beatz, is an American record producer from Greensboro, North Carolina, mainly working in hip hop. Biography Discovered by DJ Clark Kent, Ski was originally known as "MC Will-Ski" in the late 1980s. He began his recording career as one third of North Carolina's first hip hop groups ''The Bizzie Boyz'', alongside Mixmasta "D", Darius Owens as also from NC. Fanatic and dancers Move & Groove. In the early 1990s, Ski moved to New York City and was a member of the group Original Flavor, the first group managed by future recording industry executive Damon Dash. In the mid-90s, Ski was working on duo Camp Lo's debut album '' Uptown Saturday Night'' when Dash called him in to work on the debut album of his own artist, Jay-Z. Jay's album, ''Reasonable Doubt'', was released in 1996, marking Ski's first major production placement. Ski produced four tracks off the album, including the singles "Dead Presidents" and " Feelin' It". After t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joell Ortiz
Joell Christopher Ortiz (born July 6, 1980) is an American rapper and a former member of the group Slaughterhouse. Ortiz grew up in the Cooper Park Houses in the East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, formerly signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label. He was featured in the Unsigned Hype column of the March 2004 issue of ''The Source'' Magazine and was also selected as Chairman's Choice in ''XXL'' Magazine. During the same time Joell also went on to win the 2004 EA Sports Battle which earned his song "Mean Business" a spot on the NBA Live 2005 soundtrack. The same year he was offered a contract to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label. He released his debut album '' The Brick: Bodega Chronicles'' in 2007. Since then, he has released ''Free Agent'' (2011), '' House Slippers'' (2014) and ''Monday'' (2019). He is currently one half of the rap duo Crook and Joell with his former Slaughterhouse bandmate, Crooked I. Together, they released three studio albu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ras Kass
John R. Austin II (born September 26, 1973), better known by his stage name Ras Kass, is an American rapper. He is a member of the hip hop supergroup The HRSMN, along with Canibus, Killah Priest, and Kurupt in 2014. He is also a member of the group Golden State Warriors with Xzibit and Saafir. About.com ranked him No. 30 on their list of the ''Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)'', while Pitchfork Media called him "one of the best rappers of all time." Biography Austin was born on September 26, 1973 and grew up in Carson, California. In 1996 he and R&B and soul singer-songwriter Teedra Moses had twin sons, Ras and Taj, both of whom are founding members of the rap group Coast Contra. BMF Entertainment artist Barima "Bleu DaVinci" McKnight is Austin’s cousin. Early career Ras Kass took his stage name from the legendary Ethiopian Emperor Yohannes IV whose name was Ras Kassa Mircha before he was crowned as an emperor. In 1991, he made his debut appearance on the single "Tr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nicole Wray
Nicole Monique Wray (born May 2, 1979), also known as Lady Wray, is an American singer and songwriter. Her 1998 debut single "Make It Hot" was certified gold. Early life Nicole Monique Wray was born on May 2, 1979, in Salinas, California, to Debra Wray (née Murphy) and Kenneth Wray. Her older brother Kenny Wray is also a singer and she has younger sister Myrtis Wray. At a young age, Wray relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia.Biographyat Allmusic. She became one of her church's star choir members and also participated in local fashion shows. During her teenage years, Wray was introduced to then-upcoming rapper Missy Elliott, who was looking for a female singer to sign to her own recording label The Goldmind Inc. Wray impressed Elliott by performing SWV's song "Weak" and became the first recording artist on Elliott's label as well as securing a distribution deal with Elektra Records. Career 1997–2002: ''Make It Hot'' and split from The Goldmind Inc./Elektra In 1997, Wray ap ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tabi Bonney
Tabiabuè Bonney, better known as Tabi Bonney, is a Togo-born, Washington, D.C.-based rapper. He is the son of Itadi Bonney, an afro-funk musician popular during the 1970s in Togo and West Africa. Bonney achieved recognition in the Washington metro area with his radio singles "The Pocket" and "Doin It," which featured Raheem DeVaughn. Bonney started a clothing line called Bonney Runway; he has also directed and produced music videos for several artists including friend and fellow D.C.-associated rapper Wale. Biography Bonney was born in Lomé, Togo, to musician Itadi Bonney and Jo, a teacher from Washington, D.C. who had been stationed in Lomé through the Peace Corps. Political turmoil in Togo forced the Bonneys to flee the country, and they eventually settled in D.C. Bonney's parents did not wish for him to become a musician. They insisted that he attend college, and he enrolled at Florida A&M University to study pre-med. He earned a Master's degree in biology with plan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Cool Kids
The Cool Kids are an American hip hop duo composed of rappers Sir Michael Rocks and Chuck Inglish. The Cool Kids' music had been released primarily to the independent Chocolate Industries via their own label C.A.K.E. Recordings. Reed and Ingersoll have made appearances in numerous forms of media, as well as in collaborations with other artists such as Freddie Gibbs, The Alchemist, Mac Miller, Boldy James, The Neptunes, Curren$y, Dom Kennedy, Larry June, Pac Div, Travis Barker, Lil Wayne, King Chip, Asher Roth, Ab-Soul, and Chance The Rapper. The Cool Kids are also members of the hip hop collectives All City Chess Club and Freddie Gibbs#P.O.C., P.O.C. founded in 2010–2011. History Reed attended Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago, Illinois while Ingersoll had attended Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods, Michigan where he played football and basketball. Reed and Ingersoll first exchanged conversations in 2005 when Reed found a beat on MySpace that Ingersoll had produc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Smoke DZA
Sean Pompey (born February 8, 1984), better known by his stage name Smoke DZA, is an American rapper and songwriter. Biography 1984–2007: Early life and career beginnings Smoke DZA was born February 8, 1984 at Harlem Hospital in New York City and has lived in New York all his life. The son of two Guyanese immigrants, Smoke was exposed to music at home by his father and fell in love with hip hop at a young age. He grew up listening to and emulating fellow New Yorkers Jay-Z and Notorious BIG. After dropping out of high school to pursue his music career, DZA began battle rapping and has battled fellow Harlem-based rapper J.R. Writer. Smoke DZA decided on his moniker after being influenced by Chris Tucker's character Smokey from the movie ''Friday'' and the acronym DZA stands for "Dream Zone Achieve". He was discovered by Jonny Shipes of Cinematic Music Group in 2002 and went on to ghostwrite for numerous rappers, including Hi-Tek. In 2002, he partnered to become one ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mos Def
Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the short-lived rap group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD), after which they appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. He formed the duo Black Star, alongside fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli, and in 1998 they released their debut album '' Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star'', featuring the singles " Definition" and " Respiration". He was featured on the roster of Rawkus Records and in 1999 released his solo debut, '' Black on Both Sides''. His debut was followed by ''The New Danger'' (2004), ''True Magic'' (2006), and ''The Ecstatic'' (2009). About.com listed him 14th on its "50 Greatest Rappers of All Time". His hits include "Oh No", " Ms. Fat Booty", and "Mathematics". He was a child actor in television films, sitcoms, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Camp Lo
Camp Lo is an American hip hop duo, formed in 1995, which hails from The Bronx, New York. The duo consists of rappers Sonny Cheeba (Salahadeen Wilds) and Geechi Suede (Saladine Wallace). The duo is perhaps best known for their 1997 hit "Luchini AKA This Is It". Career Initially signed with Profile Records, Camp Lo made their first appearance in 1996 on '' The Great White Hype'' soundtrack, with their single, "Coolie High". The smooth party song was a minor hit, peaking at #25 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Rap Singles chart. Their first major exposure came with the release of their second single, the upbeat, horn-driven "Luchini", otherwise known as "This Is It". The song became a crossover hit in 1997, breaking into the Top 50 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and reaching the top 5 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. The track peaked at #74 in the UK Singles Chart in August 1997. The duo released their debut album ''Uptown Saturday Night'' in January 1997. The effort was widely acclaimed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stalley
Kyle Alfonso Myricks (born October 30, 1982), better known by his stage name Stalley, is an American rapper from Massillon, Ohio. Music career In 2008, Stalley made his mixtape debut, titled ''Goin Ape'', with fellow Ohio-native rapper Terry Urban. In 2009, he followed with the release of the new mixtape, titled ''MadStalley: The Autobiography'', and a newfound reputation as a force on stage. Stalley attended the 2010 Iron Mic Competition in Beijing as the featured MC. 2011–2017: Maybach Music Group After Stalley signed a deal to Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group (MMG) label. Stalley has worked with producers Ski Beatz on the tracks, including "Address", "S.T.A.L.L.E.Y.", "Do It Big", and "Harsh Ave". Artist, named Rashad Thomas, was featured on album ''Lincoln Way Nights'' and a recording artist, named J. Rawls would be featured on the track "Babblin". Stalley was featured on Curren$y's Universal/Def Jam album '' Pilot Talk'' on the track "Address" (released in June 2010), a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wiz Khalifa
Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He released his debut album, ''Show and Prove'', in 2006 and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007. His Eurodance-influenced single " Say Yeah" received urban radio airplay, charting on the Rhythmic Top 40 and Hot Rap Tracks charts in 2008, becoming his first minor hit. Thomaz parted with Warner Bros. and released his second album, ''Deal or No Deal'', in November 2009. He released the mixtape '' Kush and Orange Juice'' as a free download in April 2010; he then signed with Atlantic Records. Thomaz then adopted a more radio-friendly, pop-oriented approach with his debut single for Atlantic, " Black and Yellow". The song, a tribute to his hometown of Pittsburgh, debuted at number 100 and eventually peaked at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The song became the lead single for his third album ''Rolling Papers'', which was re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jean Grae
Tsidi Ibrahim (born November 26, 1976), known professionally as Jean Grae (formerly What? What?), is an American rapper from Manhattan, New York City. Jean rose in the underground hip hop scene in New York City and has built an international fanbase. Grae's unique music and lyrical style have earned the artist recognition as a favorite emcee by many rap artists such as Talib Kweli, Jay-Z, and Black Thought of the Roots. Early life Jean Grae was born Tsidi Ibrahim, in Cape Town, South Africa on November 26, 1976. The child of South African jazz musicians Sathima Bea Benjamin and Abdullah Ibrahim, Jean was raised in New York City, where the family moved after Jean's birth. Grae studied Vocal Performance at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, before studying a Major in Music Business at New York University; dropping out after three weeks of class. Musical career 1996–1998: Career beginnings In 1995, Jean was discovered by George Rithm Martinez when he recruited the artist fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
