Meet The Duke. The troublesome youngin’ was born in Houston, TX, where his father is from. After he and his mom moved back home to California where the majority of Duke’s family is from, he was exposed firsthand to life in Los Angeles, CA. In the time of gangs and extreme street violence on the West Coast, the chances of a young black man heading towards progression instead of the penitentiary were slim.
After moving back to the south with his father, the street ambition in him led him to hustlin’, only at 10 years old. After he got into the practice of it, the money came. Duke got his first car at 12 while in middle school. Gold chains were the norm for the young man; he had made it all the way from pumping gas for cash and groceries while he was in California. He was accustomed to putting food on the table for his family. His hustle had grown to another level in Houston, however, and he was once again out of control. The young firecracker was heavy in the streets though, in and out of juvenile and correctional facilities.
It was in these solitary confinements away from his fast life that Duke was able to recognize and accept his talent. He had written his first song at a very young age, and he and his cousins would sing it all the time. It wasn’t until 13 that Duke picked up writing as a hobby. As all mistakes can be blessings, jail gave Duke the time to perfect his craft. He credits his gift of not writing down rhymes to his prison stint. He’s been memorizing lines ever since.
Duke has received overwhelming encouragement to explore his rap talents. The vibe of the rap game was interesting to him, especially with the status of Houston rappers at the time. Duke and a few guys he used to hustle with wanted him to work on music with them as well. The group eventually dissolved, but Duke was able to use his music networks to meet Mike D of the original Screwed Up Click.
Mike D continued to look out for young Duke as he learned the industry. This relationship developed a number of additional networks for Duke in Houston: The Southside Playaz, Big Pokey, Z-Ro, and Hawk. From a West Coast standpoint, Duke has landed standout verses on two songs featured on mixtape with Bay Area’s finest, Yukmouth. All of these acts have helped contribute their originality and talent to Duke’s growing popularity and respect. Duke has laid the hottest hooks for a number of Houston artists, and was given the rare opportunity of being featured on DJ Screw’s first CD in stores, as well as featured on the DJ Screw documentary. Duke has also worked with Original gangster Bad Azz of Long Beach., who is featured on Duke’s latest mixtape.
Duke views the rap game as a business. He views himself as an investor, and his talent as an investment. Duke wants to motivate the hoods of Houston, and the south in general, from a hustler’s standpoint. “Don’t be a bum, get some work or a hustle.” His music comes with a trap feel, from a grinding mind state.
Duke hopes to bring some more light to the city; to give it charisma and respect like it used to have. “There should be something to do every single night in Houston, like New York. It should be more exciting here. We need enlightenment!” Duke is putting out 100% of his effort to help build Houston on solid rock. He is refining his rap image and letting listeners know that success is tangible. Houston can be rescued by the real Houston rappers that it already has.
Duke’s current mixtape, Trap Mode, hosted by GO DJ Hi-C is available now. The mixtape features former Day 26 singer Brian Angel, R&B Singer Trace, legendary West Coast rapper Bad Azz, and Yukmouth. Duke currently has two videos out online featured on WSHH, including his first video “Tha Hood Knows” with 80,000 views, and a Big Moe tribute/“Streetz Choze Me” with 250,000 views. Besides having tour dates from Mississippi to Miami, Duke still holds down Houston strong. Duke is willing to put the city on his back, but he has numbers in mind. This is a complete takeover of rap. Check out Duke at @thedukegutta and listen to his music first at www.sosouth.com.
we always gotta school you youngins out there to this htown music and today is no different. Today Im gonna post a bunch of Lucky lucianos music. You can follow him on twitter.com/luck0713 and go to his site at steaknshrimpmusic.com
Houstonhiphop.net exlcusive – Lucky luciano feat Mav of sol camp and Gmoe of avondale productions
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I been bumping these two devin the dude songs all day so Id figure Id post them for all my houston peoples. I want all yall to go out there and support this dude lol he just dropped his new album Suite 420 and its a banger.
Here is Devin the dude- anything
and here is What a job by devin the dude feat Andre 3000 and Snoop dogg.
houstonhiphop.net keeps our ears to the streets and shot out to twitter.com/rappublicist for schooling us on this. check the blog courtesy of djmpulse
Houston Rapper Trae Tha Truth files lawsuit against Radio One
Houston, TX – Houston rapper Trae Tha Truth (nee Frasier Thompson) will be holding a press conference at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at the Harris County Civil Courthouse to announce the filing of a lawsuit in the 189th District Court of Harris County Texas, 201 Caroline, 12th Floor, Houston, Texas, against Radio One, which owns and operates Houston radio Station 97.9 KBXX, The Box.
The civil case alleges a consistent pattern of business disparagement, conspiracy and tortious interference. Defendants include Radio One, the radio station’s general manager Doug Abernathy, program manager Terri Thomas and morning show radio personality Nnete Inyangumia. Trae decided to file the lawsuit after the radio station officially banned his music from receiving airplay, and then began to interfere in his relationships with other music industry professionals. Radio One is the seventh largest radio broadcasting company in the country, and is the largest one targeting African American audiences in the U.S. The Box is the only hip hop radio station in Houston.
The suit, which will be filed by Houston attorney Warren Fitzgerald Jr., alleges that Trae was the subject of a radio ban after Nnete falsely accused Trae during an on-air interview of causing the violence which occurred at public festival which he sponsored. Ironically, Trae has arguably been the most active Houston rap artist when it comes to serving the local community. In 2008, Trae was honored by Houston Mayor Bill White and Council Member Peter Brown with his own “Trae Day” in honor of his outstanding community service.
After Nnete had made the disparaging remark about Trae on the radio, he later released a “mix tape” that had a humorous lyric about Nnette’s weight.
Trae notes, “I would not have filed a lawsuit, but when other people started being hurt by this ban, I knew I had to stand up.” The suit also alleges that a radio station staff member was suspended for a week and a half without pay for making a mixtape outside of work that had Trae’s music in it. The employee, in fear of losing his job, and the ability to feed his family, had to end his relationship with Trae. Another alleged incident occurred when rapper 6tre Gangsta, an artist signed to Battery/Sony Records, asked Trae to be on his new single. However when KBXX found out about the song, they notified 6tre that the song would be banned. This resulted in the record community scrapping both the song and the music video that had been slated for BET.
Even Haitian earthquake victims lost out, due to the station refusing to advertise Trae’s appearance at a benefit fundraiser. Other alleged incidents are listed in the lawsuit, the most recent being the firing of the “Kracker Nuttz,” an on air DJ tandem, for their accidentally playing a song on the air by Chamillionaire, which they did not realize had Trae on one of its verses. Ironically, the “Kracker Nuttz”, who were 12-year veterans of the station, had the Number One rated radio show there.
Rap-A-Lot Records CEO, James Prince states, “I had been excited about being involved with the next Trae album, but with this ban taking place, not only in his home town, but likely also in the second best place for airplay, which is Dallas, it would be impossible to promote the album. This ban is sabotaging his career, because those cities are the foundation for breaking his records.” Prince adds, “Having run a record label for over twenty years, I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Says Trae, “I just could not let any more people suffer and be punished by the radio station over this ridiculous vendetta.”
Trae’s attorney Warren Fitzgerald Jr. comments, “We believe that the defendants have gone beyond the parameters of legally sanctioned activity in first banning Trae’s music, then going so far as to intentionally interfere with his business relationships and thus destroy his career. I find this behavior repulsive, especially for a radio station that daily champions itself as music artists “best friend.”
Trae is suing for general damages to his reputation, character, standing in the community, mental suffering, loss of professional opportunities, performance revenue, record royalties and other damages.
Judge Randy Williams issued a restraining order prohibiting the radio station from destroying any evidence, including memoranda or emails surrounding the ban on Trae’s music.
A preliminary hearing is set for May 14, 2010 at 1:30 pm.
WordofSouth.com: “Suite 4:20”, the new album drops April 20th. First off, we want to talk about your Rap-A-Lot ending. Why the decision to part ways?
Devin the Dude: It was contractual. The contract was up. I had been there since 1998, ten years. I had a five albums or ten year thing – whatever came first type of deal. Rap-A-Lot is my family. It just came to a point where if I wanted to put future projects out with my groups like The Coughee Brothers and other solo artists, groups like 14K, The Odd Squad and people like Tony Mack – if I wanted to do that on my own scheduling, I would have to be an independent label myself and find distribution for it. I choose that route.
WordofSouth.com: Rap-A-Lot was all you ever knew so how did it feel to get off the label?
Devin the Dude: Oh man, it’s been three years now (laughs). It’s been cool. We’re still family and everything. It just keeps going. We never stop working over here. It was just time for a change for me.
WordofSouth.com: So you’re still down with J Prince?
Devin the Dude: Oh yeah. Everybody is still cool.
WordofSouth.com: A lot of people speak negatively about J Prince in the media but he’s been holding it down as one of the greatest labels ever for a long time now. How do you see J Prince and his legacy?
Devin the Dude: I believe he set a model for independent record companies, especially hip hop independent labels. It was a very family oriented situation with a lot of groups and within the family of groups, individual solo artists. We always we’re together and helped each other out with different projects here and there. He set the standards for actual record companies. I believe he set a model for people like Suge Knight, Irv Gotti, and Master P actually, and whoever was putting out records afterwards. There are a lot of people who looked up to J Prince and the format of coming out with independent record companies.
WordofSouth.com: No doubt. “Suite 4:20” is the new album – how ecstatic were you when you realized 4/20 fell on a Tuesday and you could actually pick it as a release date?
Devin the Dude: (Laughs) well it hit me early this year in December-January when we trying to find a release date for this new album. I wasn’t really thinking of that because it was so far fetched, like six months before and we were trying to think of a good date within the next three months or so. It didn’t really ring a bell until later when it was looking for a February release date. I looked on the calendar and said oh shit, 4/20 falls on a Tuesday (laughs).
Mind you, me and my homeboy DJ Domo thought about this. DJ Domo did tracks for me like “Boo Boo’n” and he helped me with tracks like “See What I Can Pull”, “It’s Gonna’ Be Alright” and he’s still down with me. Anyways, in 2007 he said “Yo Devin, you should name your album about weed and put it out on 4/20” and we were laughing, we were high and shit and said “no doubt, let’s do it!” (Laughs). We looked at the calendar and we said oh shit, 4/20 doesn’t fall on a Tuesday. We started looking for the next available release date that was going to be April 20th on a Tuesday and we kept flipping through the calendar and he says “oh damn Devin, there isn’t a Tuesday on 4/20 until 2010” (laughs). I was like oh shit, I don’t even know if I’ll be rapping anymore, forget about it and we scratched that whole idea.
Here it is now. We just got through talking about it a few days ago again. Domo said “remember when we were talking about releasing something on 4/20 and we thought it was going to be too far away?” time has really past by man.
WordofSouth.com: Wow, that’s crazy; a great story. Tell the readers about the first single, “What I Be On.”
Devin the Dude: “What I Be On”, for those who know of me and the style of rapping, what I talk about and rap about, what it is, “What I Be On” is my weed and my brew (laughs). I’ve been putting that out for years. I’m all about hustling and grinding too and getting my work out there, getting my work ethic together and taking care of responsibilities and all of that. I put it out there, “What I Be On”, so I won’t get offered anything else when I go to different places (laughs). That’s not all about drugs and whatever you’re on, it’s also about taking care of your business and feeling good about what you’re doing, and having fun with your life and being careful – working and partying at the same time (laughs). That’s pretty much what it was with “What I Be On.”
WordofSouth.com: Tell the readers about the production on the album in terms of the sound and people producing.
Devin the Dude: We have producers like Mirawge; he’s an up and coming tight Houstonian producer that you’re going to hear a lot from pretty soon because it’s a production team called Mirawge & Big Baby. They did a couple of tracks on the album, “Still Coming” and another called “Funky Lil’ Freestyle.” Reggie Coby is from Austin, Texas and he did the single “What I Be On.” Rob Quest from The Odd Squad did a couple of tracks, one by himself and he helped produce another track.
Mike Dean has been an extraordinary producer and engineer around here in Houston for quite a period of time. He helped launch Rap-A-Lot back in the day with the engineer, production and studio savvy that he has. He did a track on the album called “I Can’t Handle It” which is like an old idea remake. I produced a couple tracks myself. Q-Stone produced on the album. He used to be out here but I think he’s in Arizona now. He did some work with Z-Ro back in the day. He has some heat himself and he did a track called “We Get High.” My homeboy C-Ray did a track called “Where you At” and he previously did a track called “El Grande Nalgas” on my “Landing Gear” album (laughs). He’s an up and coming producer too that started not too long ago but he’s getting better and better with every track.
WordofSouth.com: Cool. You know everybody loves to hear which guest appearances everyone has so go ahead and name off who you worked with this time around?
Devin the Dude: It’s very close knit. It’s mostly my in house family members. Of course I got The Coughee Brothers on there. We’re so compiled in this little area knocking tracks out. I have Smit D on the album, he is from the original Facemob and the album we did in 1996, and he was an original Facemob member on that. He recently got out of a jail after a 12 year stint. He got out and hit the ground ready to roll. He is on a track called “I Got a Hoe” and another called “Ultimate High.”
Oh yeah, Luster Baker is another producer on the album. He did a couple of songs on the album; he did that “Ultimate High” song with me and Smit D actually and he’s a cool cat. Other features, The Odd Squad members of course – Jugg Mugg & Rob Quest; blind Rob, the Stevie Wonder of rap (laughs). That’s my original group right there. We’ve been brothers, co-workers and family since day one. Look out for another Odd Squad album soon too. We’ve been vibing and chilling, taking care of family responsibilities. But Jugg Mugg & Rob are other features on my album.
My homeboy named School-Boy and Alpha-Bet-D are on a track called “All You Need” and they’re pretty cool cats that you can look out for their solo projects also. Tony Mac is a solo artist with The Coughee Brothers. He sings very well and has a voice like a horn. He has a platinum sound and has been putting it down with me over the years for my albums. If you look at the credits, you’ll find Tony Mac on a lot of tracks in the background and everything. It’s time for him to come to the forefront and get the recognition he deserves because he is a cool cat and a nice artist.
14K is a group coming out of The Coughee Brothers and they’re on a track called “People Talkin’.” 14K is a group from New Mexico and they’ve been putting it down for years with us over here. Since they’ve moved to Houston, they came out here strictly to make something happen with the music and since they’ve been here, they’ve been putting it down. They were also on a song on our Coughee Brothers album called “Wait Our Turn” and they were on that. They showed up cold on that. They did a song with me previously called “Somebody Else’s Wife” you may be familiar with; they did the verses and I did the hook. They were on another song of the same format called “I Need a Song”, they did the rap verses on there and I did the hook. “People Talkin” is actually the same identical format (laughs). I do the hook, they rap the verses. These cats are on fire; wow man, look out for 14K for real. They’re working on there solo projects too.
WordofSouth.com: Sounds like a great in house lineup. In your career, you’ve done tracks with a lot of big artists, and I’m only talking people which have appeared on your solo projects. We’re talking people like Scarface, Nas, Andre 3000, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and more. Do you have a favorite that you’ve worked with on one of your own projects?
Devin the Dude: It’s hard to say man. All of these cats that you just named, I love them to death and respect their music and craft. It was a blessing to have each and every one of those guys apart of my project. It’s hard to pick a favorite. I guess the Dr. Dre appearance; he produced a track on my album. [DJ] Premier produced a track on my album also, the “Just Tryin’ Ta’ Live” album. It’s hard to say though man (laughs). They’re all such wonderful artists and people that it’s hard to pick a favorite. Working with each and every single one of them was cool.
WordofSouth.com: You read my mind because you just brought up two people we’re about to get into. Dr. Dre, it’s been well publicized that you were about to go out there and reconnect with him. I know everything that happens with Dr. Dre is close knit and mouths stay shut, but if you have gone out there, what can you tell us?
Devin the Dude: It was crazy! There is something to look forward too, I’ll tell you that much. He has a cast of artist features and a host of producers too that set him up with it. He’s just waiting until its prime and right before he lets his baby leave the studio. It’s going to be well worth the wait though. I got a chance to get on a song with him and hopefully it’s a song he uses, Dr. Dre already had a verse on it and I added a verse on it. Hopefully I’ll be able to make the album. If not, just to have an opportunity to go out there and be asked to be apart of one of his projects again, its overwhelming man. It was real cool (laughs).
WordofSouth.com: Exactly, at least you got to go out there and reconnect with him a little bit. Another thing I was reading was the possibility of you hooking back up with DJ Premier and his Texas artist, Kalil. What’s come of that thus far?
Devin the Dude: That’s still in progress. Premier likes to work up close and personal. I actually might just fly out to New York or wherever he wants to do it and get that done. That would be my pleasure. It would be an honor to work with Premier again.
WordofSouth.com: I know you have a large camp around you, but speaking of Texas artists, are you working with anybody?
Devin the Dude: I did a track with Rapid Rick; he’s a well known DJ out of Austin, Texas and he just moved to Houston. He’s doing a DJ mixtape and I did a song with Cory Mo, Chalie Boy and B.o.B. called “Gettin High.” That track is fire so look out for that. I’ve been doing a few features with other artists here and there too; be it in Texas or local cats in the mid-west and wherever I go doing shows, if somebody wants me to do a feature and his the time and a studio available, we go ahead and knock it out.
Texas is still representing. A lot of people out there think since the spotlight isn’t really on Houston or Texas like it was a few years back that the music itself has died and that can’t be further than the truth. There are a lot of artists, groups and record labels that have been springing up since then. Look out for more music coming from down here in a little bit.
WordofSouth.com: That’s a good thing too. With “Suite 4:20” being your 6th solo studio album, do you have a favorite solo album and if so, why?
Devin the Dude: The album I had the most fun with, I would probably say “The Dude.”
WordofSouth.com: The debut is always the baby.
Devin the Dude: (laughs) I guess so man. As far as the business, I didn’t have a fan base at all or anybody to prove something to. My responsibility level was so low because I didn’t have a lot of kids (laughs). It was a rebel type thing. I could do anything, say anything and act as wild as possible. (Laughs) it was so much fun because it was so care free. I didn’t know a lot and I didn’t take the blame for a lot of stuff that went wrong because I was so new and green to it. I had the most fun with that album.
Interview: No pun intended with being so “green” to it.
Devin the Dude: (Laughs) yeah for sure man. Since then, the green weed has been getting a little better with each album.
WordofSouth.com: (Laughs) your smoking more expensive nowadays.
Devin the Dude: (Laughs) your right my man.
WordofSouth.com: Something about you, you have a real loyal fan base. It’s almost like a cult like following; they like your music so much. Why do you think that is?
Devin the Dude: Maybe the herb has a little something to do with it. They kind of bridges the gap with a lot of differences that people have with each other. The fact that weed opens the mind of people and allows them to have better conversations and your thought process is a little more open. No matter what color, creed, race, rank or whatever, people can vibe together and love each other by smoking weed, chilling and have better conversations.
WordofSouth.com: No matter what color or race, well weed is only color right?
Devin the Dude: (Laughs) the effect of it man. It makes everything cool. I guess that’s one of the things, a lot of them [my fans] being weed smokers, a lot of them (laughs)…it’s quite a few of them that don’t smoke weed and they listen to my music too. What I’ve heard, I say something that affects them or stuff that they want to say sometimes but they don’t know how to. Some of them, I’ve heard they find my music uplifting and I tell my stories so well; it doesn’t sound like anything; trying to live with a job, it inspires artists. I try to do that in my songs. I don’t try and come off as somebody who is hard in the streets or flamboyant with the jewelry or a know-it-all with the knowledge. I just like to be the average Joe who is trying to get by and live right positively. I guess a lot of people feel that way, the struggle circles them together.
WordofSouth.com: With that said, where do you see your place in hip hop as a whole?
Devin the Dude: Just to be apart of it is cool. Where I’m placed is probably not even up to me. Just to be in it somewhere is ok, to be looked at, heard of or to have somebody respect my music, to admire my work – that means so much to me. People can place me wherever. As long as I’m in the circle somewhere, I’m cool (laughs).
WordofSouth.com: (Laughs) Ok. You told a cool story earlier about the 4/20 date not hitting until 2010 and you weren’t sure you’d still be rapping but here you are today. Will Devin the Dude still be rapping in ten years?
Devin the Dude: In ten years? (Sings melody) “I don’t know, I might be singing the blues.” I might be singing the blues or something because you see, in ten years from now, I’ll be considered a old rap artist, so if I start singing the blues, I’ll be considered a young artist (laughs).
WordofSouth.com: (Laughs) I like that one. At this point in your career, which do you rather have – the loyal and stable fan base or publicity and fame? I think I already know your answer.
Devin the Dude: (Laughs) the more people that listen to me, the better. I don’t know if that places me with the insane people or just the loyal followers or wherever. I like being heard by the majority and hopefully from there, I’ll have gained a lot of other loyal fans that haven’t even heard of me until recently. Hopefully, I just want acquire loyal fans and to be as loyal to them as they are to me.
WordofSouth.com: No doubt. What advice do you have for any up and coming artists that may look up to you and are trying to break into the game?
Devin the Dude: Ok, if you have short hair, don’t use Murray’s Wave Grease when you do a show because the lights, that shit will have you sweating and it’s going in your eyes and it burns man.
WordofSouth.com: (Laughs) it affects your performances.
Devin the Dude: (Laughs) nah man. Give it up to Murray’s because I’ve been down with them for year’s man. That’s been my partners for decades (laughs).
But real advice man, stay close to your craft. Stay true to yourself. Say what’s on your mind and try to make it rhyme. Embrace constructive criticism from your close friends and family. Don’t ever let that totally change your style but make it help your style. Keep pushing and there will definitely be a lot of times where you’re going to be at a point where you want to give up, and that’s natural so don’t think that’s something big that’s going to be in your life all the time. It’s natural to feel you can’t go any further or you want to give up and try something else. Dig deep and try to realize what you really love. When you love something, it doesn’t even feel like work when you’re doing it. That’s what it is; just keep pushing.
WordofSouth.com: I like that. It’s well known that another Houston legend has put his retirement talks to bed and is working on his new album. Of course I’m talking about Scarface. Have you had a chance to contribute anything yet?
Devin the Dude: I talked to Face recently. When we were mixing my album at Mike Dean’s crib, Scarface came through. He was putting out some work and was vibing, chilling, rhyming, tripping and having fun. I haven’t done anything on his project yet but if he has any openings and it’s the right place and right time, I would love to be apart of that.
WordofSouth.com: Cool. I really appreciate your time Devin, you’re live on www.wordofsouth.com. You have the new album “Suite 4:20” coming on April 20th. Do you have any last words before I let you go?
Devin the Dude: Much love to www.wordofsouth.com and much love to all my fans and followers and the people that haven’t heard of me. I want to give a shout out and get well soon to Guru of Gang Starr; we have you in our prayers man. Hopefully when this album “Suite 4:20” comes out, you’ll get it and you’ll like it. Hopefully it’ll be alright. Much love and respect to all. Good looking out mayne.
by wos
Geto Boys (originally spelled Ghetto Boys) is a hip hop group from Houston, Texas, consisting of Scarface, Willie D and Bushwick Bill. The original Ghetto Boys consisted of: Prince Johnny C, The Slim Jukebox, DJ Ready Red and Little Billy, the dancer who later came to be known as Bushwick Bill. The group released a mostly unheard of album titled Making Trouble. The group broke up shortly after and a new line-up was put together with the inclusion of Scarface and Willie D, both aspiring solo artists.
The Geto Boys earned notoriety for its transgressive lyrics which included gore, psychotic experiences, necrophilia and misogyny. Despite the explicit content of their songs, critic Alex Henderson argues that the group “comes across as much more heartfelt than the numerous gangsta rap…wannabes who jumped on the gangsta bandwagon in the early ’90s.”[1] The Geto Boys broke new ground with their soulful southern sound (a precursor to the Dirty South style).
History of Geto boys
The group’s 1990 album The Geto Boys caused Def American Recordings, the label to which the group was signed at the time, to switch distributors from Geffen Records to Warner Bros. Records (with marketing for the album done by WB sister label Giant Records) because of controversy over the graphic portrayal of rape, necrophilia, murder, explicit sex, cartoonish violence, and hostility toward women. The album, however, was actually a compilation, consisting mainly of ten tracks taken from its 1989 album Grip It! On That Other Level (most of them remixed), as well as two new songs and one song from its debut LP, Making Trouble.
In the early part of the decade, several American politicians attacked gangsta emcees, including the Geto Boys (most famously Ice-T and the N.W.A). A high-profile incident in which Bushwick Bill lost an eye in a shooting with his girlfriend helped boost sales of its third album, We Can’t Be Stopped. The album cover had a picture of the injured Bushwick being carted through a hospital by Scarface and Willie D. On the album’s title track, the group responded to Geffen Records ending its distribution deal with Def American. “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” became a hit in the hip-hop community.
All three members began solo careers, but Willie D. was the only one who actually left the group. Scarface and Bushwick Bill continued with the Geto Boys, adding Big Mike for Till Death Do Us Part in 1993. Although Till Death Do Us Part was certified gold it was not as well received by fans, as the lyrically gifted shoes of Willie D who also wrote for Bushwick, proved too big to fill for Big Mike. Subsequently, Big Mike was dropped and Willie D returned for 1996′s critically acclaimedThe Resurrection and 1998′s Da Good Da Bad & Da Ugly which Bushwick was not a part of. After years on hiatus, the group reunited to released its seventh album, The Foundation, in 2005. The Geto Boys were featured on Scarface’s My Homies Part 2 album.
The Geto Boys’ popularity was boosted somewhat in 1999 by the prominent use of two songs—”Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta” (original, later released as a single on vinyl) and “Still” (from The Resurrection)—in Mike Judge’s film Office Space, now considered a cult classic. The song “Mind of a Lunatic” has been covered by many recording acts including Marilyn Manson in 2003, as a b-side off the album The Golden Age of Grotesque.
The single “Damn it Feels Good to Be a Gangsta” has also been covered by the band Aqueduct and country singer Carter Falco. [2] The song “Street Life” from the album Till Death Do Us Part was featured on the motion picture South Central. A video clip for the song with footage from the film was released. [3]
The band did a rare performance as a reunion at the Smoke Out festival in San Bernardino, CA on October 23rd, 2009. [4] The Geto Boys are credited as the group who put the south on the hip hop music map’ and inspired a legion of acts including 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., UGK, TI, Goodie Mobb, Outkast, Chamillionaire, Lil Wayne, Juvenile, Mystikal and others.
The group’s name, Geto Boys, comes from a deliberate misspelling of the word Ghetto. For its first album 5th Ward Chronicles: Making Trouble (1988) and its second, Grip It! On That Other Level (1989), the spelling was the English standard “Ghetto Boys”. For its third album, The Geto Boys, they changed it to the “Geto” spelling, which the group has used since.
MTV Jams Turns to Dr. Teeth to Create Texas NBA All-Star Day
Houston, TX – MTV Jams recently enlisted the services of Texas tastemakers, film/video director John “Dr. Teeth” Tucker (Director’s Cutt Media), Texas Summer Music Conference, BornStarz, Inc., and Publicity Pieces, in the creation of the network’s Texas All-Star Day. The television special, created in celebration of NBA All-Star Weekend taking place in The Lone Star State, will air on MTV Jams Saturday February 6, 2010.
Texas All-Star Day will feature in-depth interviews and videos from some of the state’s most well known and rising talents. Viewers can tune in and see new interviews and favorite videos from Texas rap royalty Bun B, Dorrough, PlayNSkillz, Devin tha Dude, Chamillionaire, Slim Thug Paul Wall, Trae tha Truth, and Z-Ro. The special will also introduce the world to the next wave of talent from all over the state including Troublesum, Inertia, Spark Dawg, Bido, King Kylee, Hezeleo, Question, Six2, Faddy Daddy, Hoodboss and Killa Kyleon.
Known best as the visionary responsible for the images that helped propel many Texas artist to platinum selling status, Dr. Teeth, and his team, had both the relationships and background to pull this project together for the network. “Throughout my career as a director I’ve had the honor of working with the majority of the artist in the state, so it only took was a couple of calls to bring everyone together for this great project,” Tucker explains. Creating the television special was a return to his roots, as he was a Sr. Producer at BET for several of their top shows including Rap City, Teen Summit, and Spring Bling. “Creating content for television is second nature to me, this was a pleasant return and I look forward to doing more of it in the immediate future.” Mic Moodswing (of the Texas Summer Music Conference) and Born Starz, Inc were intricate in aiding Tucker in gathering artists in Dallas and surrounding areas, while Publicity Pieces coordinated resources and talent in Houston, Austin and San Antonio. “My team worked extremely hard to help me realize my vision, and I know its something that the entire state will be proud of.”
Chad Lamont Butler (December 29, 1973 — December 4, 2007), better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American rapper and producer. Pimp C was one part of the influential hip-hop group UnderGround Kingz aka UGK , along with Bun B.
Early life
Butler was born and raised in Port Arthur, Texas. His father, who played trumpet professionally with Solomon Burke, showed Butler to a variety of music throughout his youth. Butler studied classical music while in high school, and, as a testament to his singing ability, Butler also received a Division I rating on a tenor solo at a University Interscholastic League choir competition. He began to be interested in hip-hop when a friend of his gave him a Run-DMC album.
Music career UGK
Main article: UGK
With best friend Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, Butler formed the rap group Underground Kingz, colloquially known as UGK. In 1992, Jive Records signed UGK and released Too Hard to Swallow, followed by the critically acclaimed Super Tight. The group’s third album, Ridin’ Dirty, reached #2 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and their momentum was continued with features on the popular singles “Big Pimpin’” with Jay-Z and “Sippin’ on Some Syrup” by Three 6 Mafia. UGK’s fourth album, Dirty Money, was distributed in 2001.
Due to Butler’s incarceration in 2002, UGK only released two projects prior to 2009: Side Hustles and the eponymous Underground Kingz, the latter of which spawned the hit single “International Player’s Anthem (I Choose You)”, a collaboration with Atlanta’s OutKast.
[edit] Arrest and solo debut
In 2002, Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison for violating his probation.[6] His arrest was widely protested by the hip-hop community, who immediately initiated a grassroots “Free Pimp C” campaign.[3] While Pimp C was in prison, Jive released Sweet James Jones Stories in 2005, most of which consisted of unreleased freestyle recordings.[6] On December 30, 2005, Pimp C was released from prison and placed on parole until December 2009.[7]
Death
Pimp C died on December 4, 2007. He was found face down on his bed. Asleep next to him was girlfriend Samantha Huerta. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner, Butler suffered respiratory depression caused by an accidental overdose of promethazine and codeine cough syrup coupled with a preexisting sleep apnea condition. Like many other Southern rappers, Pimp C frequently referenced the recreational consumption of “sizzurp” in his music.
Legacy
Pimp C undoubtedly played a huge role in shaping the Houston rapping style. His contemporaries often reference his contributions to the Houston rap scene as indelible. He has always been an UnderGroundKing.
After his death, Pimp C made posthumous appearances on several Bun B’s song “Underground Thang” (also featuring fellow Houston rapper Chamillionaire) from II Trill and much later, the track “Naked Lady” which is to be featured on Chamillionaire’s third album Venom (coming march 2010) . The latter track was produced by Pimp C, marking his final production credit.
Bun B dedicated the final UGK album, UGK 4 Life, to Pimp C’s memory.
Outkast Ft. UGK – International Players Anthem Official Video
Carlos Coy (born 1971), better known by his stage nameSouth Park Mexican, is an American rapper, and company founder of Dope House Records. His stage name is derived from the South Park neighborhood in Houston, Texas where he was raised.
Coy, his brother Arthur, and a friend founded Dope House Records in 1995; Spms first album as South Park Mexican was in 1998 with the album Power Moves under the label Dope house records . His next album, The 3rd Wish, generated two charting singles, “You Know My Name” and “High So High”. At that point the SPM movement was gaining noteriety in both the houston and latino hip hop scene.
SPM was born to Arturo Coy, a former Marine from the Falfurrias community in Brooks County, and a woman who dropped out of high school to marry. The marriage ended three years after Coy’s birth. Coy’s sister, Sylvia, described herself as his “mother-sister”. Coy attended various elementary schools, before entering the music magnet program at Welch Middle School. His family moved from southeast Houston to South Park, and Coy attended Woodson Middle School. Rapper Scarface (real name Brad Jordan) also attended Woodson. Coy attended Milby High School until he dropped out in 1987 while still in ninth grade. Coy obtained a GED and enrolled in San Jacinto Junior College for a business associate’s degree but failed all his classes there. He then worked at a chemical plant for minimum wage, but after being again unemployed he worked as a door-to-door perfume seller and eventually a crack cocaine dealer.[2]
Music career
Coy began as a Christian rapper but felt that doing so made him an outcast. In 1995, Coy, along with his brother Arthur Jr. and good friend Jose Antonio Garza from McAllen, Texas sounded his own record label, Dope House Records. as south Park Mexican (SPM), Coy released one album in 1998, Power Moves, through his label with distribution in Houston under Southwest Wholesale. Live album Hillwood and studio album The 3rd Wish followed in 1999. 3rd Wish was a regional hit, with single “High So High” gaining much local buzz and even charting at #50 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.In 2000, SPM signed a joint venture between his label and Universal Music Group which earned him a $500,000 advance and national distribution.Universal released three of SPM’s albums: Time is Money and The Purity Album (2000) and Never Change (2001). The Purity Album included single “You Know My Name”, which peaked at #99 on the Billboard R&B chart and #31 on the rap chart. SPM’s Universal releases did not gain much mainstream attention; Jason Birchmeier of allmusic suggested: “Coy’s hardcore rapping proved to be too harsh for the masses”. SPM’s 2002 album Reveille Park, a compilation of freestyles, was released by Dope House. Dope House released two new albums by SPM that he recorded while incarcerated. When Devils Strike, released in 2006, debuted at #46 on the Billboard 200 The Last Chair Violinist followed in 2008.
Inmate, TDCJ #01110642 in Powledge Unit; eligible for parole on October 7, 2024; projected release date April 8, 2047
Occupation
rapper
On September 25, 2001, Houston police arrested SPM on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child who was then nine years old but was released from jail after posting bail.[6] The incident occurred on Labor Day weekend that year. A Harris County, Texas jury indicted SPM on December 10, 2001 and added another charge over a 1993 incident when SPM allegedly impregnated a then-13-year old girl, who later demanded child support payments from him. Two more charges followed in March 2002 for sexual assault of two 14-year old girls; SPM was held without bail. SPM’s trial began on May 8, 2002, when the alleged 9-year old victim’s mother testified that the girl left a sleepover because of abuse. The next day, the girl testified that SPM touched her inappropriately when she was sleeping. On May 18, 2002, a Houston jury convicted Coy of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Coy was sentenced to 45 years in prison on May 30 and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. SPM is currently incarcerated in the Powledge Unit in unincorporatedAnderson County, Texas, near Palestine, Texas. Coy is eligible for parole in 2024. SPM’s projected release date is April 8, 2047, and his Texas Department of Criminal Justice number is 01110642. There are persistent messages from online posters calling for his release.
SPM – I must be high Video
SPM – Mexican Heaven Video
lyrics SPM – Mexican Heaven
This new shit off SPM album The Last Chair Violinist
Will i see my homie chris there
he got smoked by some fools who shouldnt be alive
im tryna cope but its just so hard
dear god will i see him on the boulevard
can u tilt ur hat to side if you want
or do gotta have it straight to the front
ive been saggin dickies ever since i was 8
and i wonder will somebody try to tell me i cant
i won a knife at the carnival they have of jensen
its just for goood luck not for a weapon
i wonder can i take it
well thats if i make it
but i dont wanna walk around all butt naked
will my hydralics work up in tha clouds
do people start complainin’ if the music is loud
and these are the things that i ask the reverend
excuse me sir but can mexicans go to heaven
Will my grandfathers beer breath be real bad
or will they make him take mints or tha white tic tacs
do the r&b and hip hop radio stations
play all raps or do they still be hatin
people owe me money from previous business
i wonder can i get it with a little bit interest
and what about drop outs with no education
i cant spell good but i know multiplication
do they got real tortillas for all the races
or them fake little skinny ones like some places
i know my sancha is out of the question
but on tha cool she got love for a meskin
will my homies pitch in or wanna smoke for free
will they have gas money or depend on me
can i roll on gold streets in my 57
let me know can mexicans go to heaven
Will they charge arm and leg for the new mike jordans
or sell em half price so everyone can afford em
what about tobacco products will they ban em
one thing about cigarettes i just cant stand em
is minimum wage all they offer my people
does my uncle gota marry someone just to be legal
will he get dirty looks cause he cant speak english
do the chicks dress up or do they show their chiches
what kind of clubs do they have in heaven
i dont dance techno and no 2steppin
i got a few warrants will they follow me there
or can i start clean with a record thats clear
is my pitbull there, his name is plex
he choked on his chain jumpin over the fence
im sorry if im askin you too many questions
i just gotta know can mexicans go to heaven
SPM Speaks from Prision
Carlos Coy speaks from prison this shit dont stop
SPM INTERVIEW FROM PRISON
Mav - 102 bars directed by Berber prod by Mustafa Beats
this song is off of Mavs newest mixtape "In my zone" which you can dl free here
http://www.mediafire.com/?wrglrrw72l0budx
overwhelming encouragement to explore his rap talents. The vibe of the rap game was interesting to him, especially with the status of Houston rappers at the time. Duke and a few guys he used to hustle with wanted him to work on music with them as well. The group eventually dissolved, but Duke was able to use his music networks to meet Mike D of the original Screwed Up Click.
