Dan Weiss (born July 22, 1978), better known by his stage name Verbal Kent, is an alternative hip hop artist from

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Early life

Weiss was born and raised in Chicago’s

Rogers Park Rogers Park is the first of Chicago's 77 community areas. Located from the Loop, it is on the city's far north side on the shore of Lake Michigan. The neighborhood is commonly known for its cultural diversity, lush green public spaces, early ...

neighborhood.Moira McCormick
“Organic Mind Unit is all about the hip-hop flow,”
''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

'', November 7, 2003. He started writing at the age of 15,Andy Downing
“Verbal Kent turns scars into stars,”
''Chicago Tribune'', April 7, 2006. and later attended

Columbia College Chicago Columbia College Chicago is a Private college, private art college in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1890, it has 5,928https://about.colum.edu/effectiveness/pdf/spring-2021-student-profile.pdf students pursuing degrees in more than 60 undergra ...

as a music major.

Career

Organic Mind Unit

In 1999, Weiss dropped out of college and founded Organic Mind Unit,David Jakubiak
“Weiss gets ‘Verbal’ in his own way,”
''

Chicago Sun-Times The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has the second largest circulation among Chicago newspapers, after the ''Chicago T ...

'', August 15, 2003. a live hip hop band that performed in Chicago. Early versions of the group included eight rappers, with Weiss as the drummer. After he showed other OMU members some of his writing, they encouraged him to start rapping. He took on the moniker Verbal Kent, based on Roger “Verbal” Kint, the con artist played by

Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey Fowler (born July 26, 1959) is an American actor. He began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, obtaining supporting roles before gaining a leading man status in film and television. Spacey has received various accolades ...

in the 1995 film ''

The Usual Suspects ''The Usual Suspects'' is a 1995 neo-noir mystery thriller film directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie. It stars Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, and ...

'', who makes up a story based on his surroundings – a story that takes on a different meaning upon repeat viewings of the film. Weiss has said that he aspires to this sort of depth in his rhymes.Jason Kordich
“Product Placement: Verbal Kent Interview,”
'' URB'', March 14, 2011.

Solo work

In 2003, Kent released his first recording, the 12-inch single “Alien Rock” on Gravel Records. The single was included on his solo full-length debut, ''What Box'', which appeared the next year. He followed it up with ''Move With the Walls'' in 2006. The album also had a single, “Dead Serious” which featured

Ill Bill William Braunstein (born July 14, 1972), known by his stage name Ill Bill, is an American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York City. Having gained fame in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his diver ...

and Lance Ambu. ''Fist Shaking'', Kent’s third album, came out in 2008. His sixth solo release, 2011’s ''Save Yourself'', features contributions from

Masta Ace Duval Clear (born December 4, 1966), known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is an American rapper and record producer from New York City. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut " The Symphony". He is noted for his distinct voice ...

Sadat X Derek Murphy (born December 29, 1968), better known as Sadat X, is an American rapping, rapper, best known as a member of alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president ...

Ed O.G. Edward Anderson (born November 27, 1970) is a hip-hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts, better known by his stage name Edo G. Edo is the seniormost hip-hop artist from Boston (if not from anywhere in Massachusetts), in the sense that he was ...

and

One Be Lo Nahshid Sulaiman (born Ralond Scruggs; November 7, 1976), better known by his stage name One Be Lo, is an alternative hip hop artist from Pontiac, Michigan. He is well respected for being one half of the rap duo Binary Star, and has released a n ...

, and production from

Pete Rock Peter O. Phillips (born June 21, 1970), better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapping, rapper. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time, and is often mentioned alongs ...

Marco Polo Marco Polo (, , ; 8 January 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' (also known as ''Book of the Marv ...

and !llmind. ''Sound of the Weapon'', released in February 2014, was produced by

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 ...

and given a rating of 4.0 (out of 5) by Hip Hop DX. His seventh solo album, ''Anesthesia'', was released on September 11, 2015, and given a rating of 6.0 out of 10 by

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...

Other collaborations

In 2006, Kent formed a crew of battle rappers going by the name Giraffe Nuts. The final group was composed of ten rappers: Kent, Rusty Chains, Lance Ambu, Alltruisms, Roadblok, Doomsday, Encyclopedia Brown, Moodswangz, Kang the Konquorer and Elfamail. They released an album, ''Eat Them'', in 2007. In 2013, Kent, Detroit emcee

Red Pill The terms "red pill" and "blue pill" refer to a choice between the willingness to learn a potentially unsettling or life-changing truth by taking the red pill or remaining in contented ignorance with the blue pill. The terms are associated with ...

and producer

Apollo Brown Erik Vincent Stephens (born June 20, 1980), better known professionally as Apollo Brown, is an American record producer from Detroit, Michigan, United States. He is a member of the hip hop group Ugly Heroes (alongside Red Pill and Verbal Kent) an ...

formed Ugly Heroes, releasing their self-titled debut in May 2013. The album examines the harsh realities of the members' hometowns. Their second studio album, ''Everything in Between'', was released on June 24, 2016.

Knifing incident

In 2003, walking down an empty alley near Clark and Pratt in Chicago with an acquaintance, the acquaintance slashed Kent’s throat with a knife, missing his jugular by less than a centimeter. Kent managed to run to his car, and drove himself to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston as blood poured from his neck. He received nearly 100 stitches, and took two months to recuperate. No arrests were made, and the reason for the attack remains unknown.

Discography

Albums

* ''What Box'' (2004, Gravel Records) * ''Move With the Walls'' (2006, Gravel Records) * ''Fist Shaking'' (2008, Molemen Records) * ''Brave New Rap'' – with Kaz1 (2009, Gravel Records) * ''Save Your Friends'' (2010, Bare vs Deer) * ''Save Yourself'' (2011, Rap Mechanics) * ''Ugly Heroes'' – with

(2013,

Mello Music Group Mello Music Group (MMG) is an American independent record label based in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 2007, Mello Music has released hip hop compilations and albums by producers and rappers such as Oddisee, Apollo Brown, Mr. Lif, Ghostface Kill ...

) * ''Sound of the Weapon'' (2014, Mello Music Group) * ''

Anesthesia Anesthesia is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness that is induced for medical or veterinary purposes. It may include some or all of analgesia (relief from or prevention of pain), paralysis (muscle relaxation), ...

'' (2015, Mello Music Group) * ''Everything in Between'' – with Apollo Brown & Red Pill (2016, Mello Music Group) * ''Weight Of Your World'' – with !llMind (2016, Mello Music Group) * ''Dueling Experts'' – with Recognize Ali (2020, Mello Music Group)

Appears on

* ''Organic Mind Unit'' – Organic Mind Unit (1999, Eyes Wide Open) * ''Unusual Suspects'' – Organic Mind Unit (2000, Eyes Wide Open) * ''Eat Them'' – Giraffe Nuts (2007, Bare vs Deer / Gravel Records) * ''Supervivencia'' ft Hijo Prodigo - El Cerebro ( Brainiac Beats) "Simbiosis" (2007, Gris Materia Records) * ''Waiting 2 Die'' – Lantz (2012, 631 Recordz) Lantz on Bandcamp
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Singles

* “Alien Rock” (2003 – from ''What Box'') * “Dead Serious” (2006 – from ''Move With the Walls'') * "September" (2015 - from ''Anesthesia'')

Mixtapes

* ''Beat Trotterz Mixtape Volume 1, Starring: Verbal Kent'' (mixed by Lord Faz) (2009, Beat Trotterz)

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kent, Verbal 1978 births Rappers from Chicago 20th-century American Jews Jewish rappers Living people 21st-century American rappers 21st-century American Jews