mononym
A mononym is a name composed of only one word. An individual who is known and addressed by a mononym is a mononymous person. In some cases, a mononym selected by an individual may have originally been from a polynym, a word which refers to one o ...
ously as Torae, is an American
rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, New York. He has released a number of solo albums and collaborative works, and operates the independent record label Internal Affairs Entertainment.
Career
Torae gained recognition by collaborating with
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966), known professionally as DJ Premier (also known as Preemo), is an American record producer and DJ. He is considered one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time. He was half of the hip hop du ...
and Marco Polo. After releasing his debut mixtape ''
Daily Conversation
''Daily Conversation'' is a mixtape by American rapper Torae, released on January 29, 2008, under his own Internal Affairs Entertainment imprint, Soulspazm Records and Fat Beats Records. The mixtape was executive produced by Torae and DJ Vega Be ...
'' in 2008, he and Polo went on to receive critical acclaim for their collaborative LP entitled '' Double Barrel''. In 2007,
HipHopDX
''HipHopDX'' is an online magazine of hip hop music criticism and news. The website's current president and publisher is Sharath Cherian and the Head Of Content is Jerry L. Barrow. ''HipHopDX'' is the flagship publication of Cheri Media Group.
...
featured him in their DXNext underground hip hop series. In the same year, he was named Chairman's Choice in '' XXL''.XXL Chairman's Choice: Torae In addition to Polo and Premier, Torae has worked with producers Eric G., Black Milk, and
Khrysis
Christopher Frederick Tyson (born September 7, 1981), better known as Khrysis, is an American hip hop producer and half of the duo The Away Team.
Khrysis' productions consist of samples of records with intricate melodies and diverse drum bea ...
. Torae has collaborated frequently with fellow Brooklyn MCs
Skyzoo
Gregory Skyler Taylor (born December 24, 1982), known professionally as Skyzoo, is an American Songwriter and rapper. He has released a number of notable solo and collaborative albums, including '' Cloud 9: The 3 Day High'' with 9th Wonder in ...
and
Sha Stimuli
Sha Stimuli (born Sherod Khaalis on August 9, 1978) is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York City. He is known for his mixtape releases, beginning with ''Let Me Show You the Way'' in 2002, which earned him a spot in ''Source Magazine''s "U ...
. He has also worked with Tash of
Tha Alkaholiks
Tha Alkaholiks, also known as Tha Liks, is an American hip hop trio from Los Angeles, California, United States. Since the early 1990s they have produced party music with a hardcore hip hop edge, powered by the beats of DJ and producer E-Swift ...
Sean Price
Sean Duval Price (March 17, 1972August 8, 2015) was an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective Boot Camp Clik. He was one half of the duo Heltah Skeltah, performing under the name Ruck, along with partner Rock.
Early life and educa ...
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene (; born October 3, 1975) is an American rapper. He earned recognition early on through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def in 1997, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's musical career continued with ...
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966), known professionally as DJ Premier (also known as Preemo), is an American record producer and DJ. He is considered one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time. He was half of the hip hop du ...
, and the Grammy Award-winning
9th Wonder
Patrick Denard Douthit (born January 15, 1975), better known as 9th Wonder, is a Skyzoo
Gregory Skyler Taylor (born December 24, 1982), known professionally as Skyzoo, is an American Songwriter and rapper. He has released a number of notable solo and collaborative albums, including '' Cloud 9: The 3 Day High'' with 9th Wonder in ...
Daily Conversation
''Daily Conversation'' is a mixtape by American rapper Torae, released on January 29, 2008, under his own Internal Affairs Entertainment imprint, Soulspazm Records and Fat Beats Records. The mixtape was executive produced by Torae and DJ Vega Be ...
'', Album
* 2009: '' Double Barrel'', Album (with Marco Polo)
* 2011: ''Heart Failure'', EP
* 2011: '' For the Record'', Album
* 2012: ''Off the Record'', EP
* 2013: ''Admission of Guilt'', Mixtape
* 2014: '' Barrel Brothers'', Album (with
Skyzoo
Gregory Skyler Taylor (born December 24, 1982), known professionally as Skyzoo, is an American Songwriter and rapper. He has released a number of notable solo and collaborative albums, including '' Cloud 9: The 3 Day High'' with 9th Wonder in ...
as Barrel Brothers)
* 2016: ''
Entitled
An entitlement is a provision made in accordance with a legal framework of a society. Typically, entitlements are based on concepts of principle ("rights") which are themselves based in concepts of social equality or enfranchisement.
In psycholog ...
* TORAE - "Just Dat Simple" from ''Unsigned Artists Vol.1'' (1996) UNSIGNED ARTISTS ENTERTAINMENT
* TORAE - "Party On" "Lick A Shot" from ''Unda' Investigation'', EP (1997) AFFINITY RECORDINGS
* TORAE - "Gimme The Mic" b/w "Spice Thang", 12" single (1998) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENTERTAINMENT
* TORAE - ''Coney Island's Finest'', EP (2001) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENTERTAINMENT
* The Co. - "Promises" b/w "T.I.M.E.", 12" single (2006) AV8 RECORDS
*
9th Wonder
Patrick Denard Douthit (born January 15, 1975), better known as 9th Wonder, is a The Dream Merchant Vol. 2'', Album (2007) 6 HOLE RECORDS
* Born Talent - "Deep With The Lyrical" from ''The Essence'', Album (2007) 54 SIDE RECORDS
* Dela - "Just Chill" from ''Atmosphere Airlines'', Album (2007) DRINK WATER MUSIC
* Skyzoo & TORAE - "Get It Done" b/w "Click", 12" single (2007) FAT BEATS RECORDS
* Chaundon - "3 Kings", "Told You That" from ''Carnage'', Album (2008) DEFEND MUSIC
* DJ K.O. - "Someday", "3 In The Chamber", "That Knack" from ''Picture This'', Album (2008) SHAMAN WORKS
* eMC - "Backstage" from ''The Show'', Album (2008) M3 RECORDS
* Khrome - "Grizzly" from ''The Beasts Released'', Album (2008) GODSENDANT MUSIC
* Medinah Starr - "Beauty and Pain" from ''Serious Intermission'', Album (2008) INTROSPECT RECORDS
* Pumpkin Head - "Hands High" from ''Picture That'', Album (2008) SOULSPAZM RECORDS
*
Shabaam Sahdeeq
Marcus Vialva (born January 13, 1974), better known by his stage name Shabaam Sahdeeq, is an alternative hip hop artist from Brooklyn, New York. He first reached fame with Rawkus Records and was featured alongside artists including Busta Rhy ...
- "Keep Comin" from ''Relentless'', Album (2008) MARVIAL, LLC
*
Statik Selektah
Static may refer to:
Places
*Static Nunatak, a nunatak in Antarctica
United States
* Static, Kentucky and Tennessee
* Static Peak, a mountain in Wyoming
**Static Peak Divide, a mountain pass near the peak
Science and technology Physics
*Static e ...
- "Destined To Shine" from ''Stick 2 The Script'', Album (2008) SHOWOFF RECORDS
* Supastition - "It's All Over" from ''Leave Of Absence'', Album (2008) DOMINATION RECORDS
* DJ JS1 - "Bang Da Underground" from ''No Sellout'', Album (2009) GROUND ORIGINAL/FAT BEATS RECORDS
*
DJ Spinna
Vincent E. Williamsbetter known by his stage name DJ Spinna, is an American hip hop and deep house producer from Brooklyn. According to Allmusic, he has "remained strictly an underground artist despite his astonishing talent."
Life and career
Spi ...
- "Lyrics Is Back" from ''Sonic Smash'', Album (2009) HIGH WATER MUSIC
*
El Da Sensei
William E. Williams, also known as El Da Sensei is an American rapper from Newark, New Jersey. During the 1990s he was a member of the hip hop duo, Artifacts.
Since then he has released several solo albums.
In 2015, at The 14th Annual Indepen ...
& The Returners - "Money art 2 from ''The Money'', EP (2009) COALMINE RECORDS
* Keelay & Zaire - "Saturday" from ''Prelude To Drive'', EP (2009) MYX MUSIC LABEL
* Lee Bannon - "A New Song" from ''Me & Marvin'', Album (2009) TOY BOX MUSIC
* Marco Polo & TORAE - ''Double Barrel'', Album (2009)
DUCK DOWN RECORDS
Duck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 20-year existence, the Company has rel ...
* Marco Polo & TORAE - "Double Barrel" b/w "Hold Up" & "Combat Drills", 12" single (2009) DUCK DOWN RECORDS/FAT BEATS
*
Rapper Big Pooh
Thomas Louis Jones III (born February 12, 1980), better known by his stage name Big Pooh (or Rapper Big Pooh), is an American rapper, who, along with fellow rap artist Phonte, is a member of the acclaimed North Carolina hip hop group Little Bro ...
- "It's A Go" from ''
The Delightful Bars
''The Delightful Bars'' is the second album by the North Carolina rapper Rapper Big Pooh. It was released for digital and retail versions on March 24, 2009, followed by other four versions, with different track lists and songs: "North American Pi ...
Sha Stimuli
Sha Stimuli (born Sherod Khaalis on August 9, 1978) is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York City. He is known for his mixtape releases, beginning with ''Let Me Show You the Way'' in 2002, which earned him a spot in ''Source Magazine''s "U ...
- "What's Wrong With That? (Wake Up The World)" from ''My Soul To Keep'', Album (2009) CHAMBER MUSIK
* Shuko - "Super M.C.S." from ''The Foundation'', Album (2009) COALMINE RECORDS
* Statik Selektah - "Destined To Shine (Obama Remix)" from ''Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost & Damned (Special Edition)'', EP (2009) SHOWOFF RECORDS
* Beat*Society & DJ K.O. - "That Knack", "3 In The Chamber", "Someday" from ''Master Thieves 02: Picture These Remixes'', Album (2010) SOULSPAZM RECORDS
* Cimer Amor - "Another Classic" from ''Another Classic'', EP (2010)
* Cold Heat - "When It Rains" from ''Life Behind Bars'' (2010) GROUND ORIGINAL/SOULSPAZM RECORDS
*
Steele
Steele may refer to:
Places America
* Steele, Alabama, a town
* Steele, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Steele, Kentucky, an unincorporated community
* Steele, Missouri, a city
* Lonetree, Montana, a ghost town originally called Steele
...
of Smif-N-Wessun - "Amerikkka's Nightmare" from ''Amerikkka's Nightmare, Pt. 2 Children of War'', Album (2010) DUCK DOWN RECORDS
* Little Brother - "24" from ''Left Back'', Album (2010) HALL OF JUSTUS
* M7 - "U Gotta Love It" from ''NYC The 5 Boroughs'', Album (2010) M7 RECORDS
* Marco Polo - "Combat Drills", "Exile Radio Remix" from The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo, Album (2010) DUCK DOWN RECORDS
* Statik Selektah - "Get Out" from '' 100 Proof: The Hangover'', Album (2010) SHOWOFF RECORDS
*
M-Dot
Michael Januario (born January 13, 1983) better known by his stage name M-Dot is an Italian-American rapper and producer. Before becoming a rap musician, Januario played college basketball at BHCC, MCLA and Fitchburg State.
Career
Born in R ...
& DJ Jean Maron - "Be Easy" from ''Run MPC'', Album (2010) SOULSPAZM/EMS PRODUCTIONS
* TORAE - ''Heart Failure'', EP (2011) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENTERTAINMENT/SOULSPAZM
* TORAE - ''For the Record'', Album (2011) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENTERTAINMENT
* TORAE - ''Off the Record'', EP (2012) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENTERTAINMENT/SOULSPAZM
* TORAE - ''Black Christmas'', EP (2012) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENTERTAINMENT
* '' Barrel Brothers'' (
Skyzoo
Gregory Skyler Taylor (born December 24, 1982), known professionally as Skyzoo, is an American Songwriter and rapper. He has released a number of notable solo and collaborative albums, including '' Cloud 9: The 3 Day High'' with 9th Wonder in ...
* TORAE - ''Make Room At The Top'' (2003) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENTERTAINMENT
* DJ Vega Benetton - "Freestyle" from ''Streets of New York'' (2004)
* Skyzoo - "Blackout" from ''The City's Favorite'' (2005)
* Marco Polo &
Mick Boogie
Mick Batyske, known by his stage name DJ MICK (also sometimes styled as MICK) and formerly Mick Boogie, is an American DJ and entrepreneur. He is an A-list DJ and spun private parties for celebrities including Kanye West, LeBron James, Jay-Z a ...
- "Casualty", "Good God" from ''Newport Authority'' (2007)
*
Skyzoo
Gregory Skyler Taylor (born December 24, 1982), known professionally as Skyzoo, is an American Songwriter and rapper. He has released a number of notable solo and collaborative albums, including '' Cloud 9: The 3 Day High'' with 9th Wonder in ...
- "Get It Done", "Click", "They Don't Want It" from ''
Corner Store Classic
Corner may refer to:
People
*Corner (surname)
*House of Cornaro, a noble Venetian family (''Corner'' in Venetian dialect)
Places
*Corner, Alabama, a community in the United States
*Corner Inlet, Victoria, Australia
*Corner River, a tributary of ...
'' (2007)
* Legend, DJ Nice & Statik Selektah - "Intro" from ''Back To Basics'' (2008)
* Mick Boogie - "Hand On The Pump" from ''Mick Boogie Presents – The Honor Roll'' (2008)
* Sha Stimuli & DJ Victorious - "Bentley" from ''The Secret'' (2008)
* Sha Stimuli & DJ Victorious - "Coulda Been Me" from ''Sha Stimuli & DJ Victorious Presents March On Washington'' (2008)
* Tanya Morgan - "Shake It Off" from ''Tanya Morgan Is A Rap Group'' (2008)
* TORAE - ''Daily Conversation'' (2008) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENT./FAT BEATS
* TORAE - ''Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself'' (2008) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENTERTAINMENT
*
DJ Concept
DJ Concept is DJ and music producer from Long Island, New York. He is the co-founder of The Bash Brothers DJ Crew along with DJ Mickey Knox.
Biography
Between 2001 & 2007, Concept linked up with producer/mc Undefined to form the group Crisis Cente ...
, Marco Polo & TORAE - ''Armed & Dangerous'' (2009)
* Cambatta - "Smooth Flight" from ''The Visionary'' (2009)
* DJ Concept Presents Skyzoo, Chaundon, & TORAE - ''Three Kings'' (2009)
* DJ Critical Hype - "Intro", "Wack DJ's", "Outro" from ''DJ Critical Hype presents Marco Polo Blends'' (2009)
* Lee Bannon - "A New Song" from ''Me & Marvin'' (2009)
* Mr. Mecca - "Over Here" from ''The Cover Run'' (2009)
*
Sean Price
Sean Duval Price (March 17, 1972August 8, 2015) was an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective Boot Camp Clik. He was one half of the duo Heltah Skeltah, performing under the name Ruck, along with partner Rock.
Early life and educa ...
- "Duck Down" from ''Kimbo Price'' (2009) DUCK DOWN RECORDS
* Various Artists - "Smoke", "Get It Done", "Duck Down" from ''Duck Down Records Presents Download The Right Thing'' (2009)
* Various Artists - "Pardon Me" from ''Illroots.com & Subconscious Threads Present – Spring Cleaning'' (2009)
* DJ Quiz - "Freestyle" from ''Quiz Knows'' (2010)
* Mick Boogie/NVME & Duck Down Records - "Talk Shit" from ''Survival Kit'' (2010)
* Reks - "Rapanomics" from ''Between The Lines'' (2010)
* Wale & 9th Wonder - "Sharp" from ''Back To The Feature'' (2010) 9TH WONDER PRESENTS
* TORAE - ''Heart Failure'' (2011) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENT.
* E Holla & TORAE - ''Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself 2'' (2012) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENT.
* TORAE - ''Admission of Guilt'' (2013) INTERNAL AFFAIRS ENT.
References
* http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/dxnext/id.14/title.torae
* https://web.archive.org/web/20090413000354/http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=10865
* https://web.archive.org/web/20100402000908/http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=47616
* http://hiphopgame.ihiphop.com/index2.php3?page=toraepolo
* http://hiphopgame.ihiphop.com/index2.php3?page=torae
* https://web.archive.org/web/20110811040150/http://admin.allhiphop.com/stories/breedingground/archive/2008/02/21/19323842.aspx
* http://stage.allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2009/10/13/21975599.aspx
* https://web.archive.org/web/20110707124726/http://www.amalgamdigital.com/blog/new-interview-w-torae/2009/04/29/
* https://web.archive.org/web/20101205193013/http://www.amalgamdigital.com/blog/a-couple-rounds-of-double-barrel/2009/06/15/
* https://web.archive.org/web/20101205193706/http://www.amalgamdigital.com/blog/grimy-fingernail-timbs-music/2009/04/29/
* http://www.brooklynbodega.com/2010/05/13/bhf-alumni-marco-polo-torae-interview/
* http://www.mtvu.com/music/hot-seat/marco-polo-torae/
{{Authority control
African-American male rappersLiving peopleMusicians from BrooklynRappers from New York City21st-century American rappers21st-century American male musicians21st-century African-American musicians1977 births