Name	OutKast
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Genre	Hip hop, funk, soul, electronica
Years active	1990–present
Label	LaFace
Associated acts	Dungeon Family, Purple Ribbon All-Stars, Sleepy Brown, Goodie Mob, Witchdoctor, Organized Noize, UGK, Raekwon, T.I.
Url
Current members	Antwan "Big Boi" Patton"André 3000" Benjamin

OutKast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin (formerly known as Dré) and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. Since then, however, funk, soul, rock, electronic music, spoken word poetry, jazz, and blues elements have been added to the group's musical palette.

The duo is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time, having received six Grammy Awards. Over 25 million copies have been sold of OutKast's eight releases: five studio albums, a greatest hits release, and the Grammy Award-winning (for Best Album) Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a double album containing a solo album from each member. Along with their commercial success, OutKast has maintained an experimental approach in their music and are widely praised for their originality and artistic content. OutKast, Organized Noize, and schoolmates Goodie Mob formed the nucleus of the Dungeon Family organization.

OutKast signed to LaFace Records in 1992, becoming the label's first hip hop act and making their first appearance on the remix of labelmate TLC's "What About Your Friends". During the holiday season of 1993, they released their first single, "Player's Ball". The song's funky style, much of it accomplished with live instrumentation, was a hit with audiences. "Player's Ball" hit number-one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. "No drugs or alcohol/so I can get the signal clear," he rhymes about himself in the single "ATLiens"

Aquemini

OutKast's third album Aquemini was released on September 29, 1998 and also reached the number-two position on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States; its title was a combination of the zodiac signs of Big Boi (an Aquarius) and André (a Gemini). The album was widely praised as possibly the group's best material to date: when reviewed by popular hip-hop publication The Source, it received the much-coveted "5 Mics" (out of five) rating.

Producing more material themselves, both Big Boi and André explored more eclectic subject matter, delving into sounds inspired by soul, trip hop, and electro music. The album featured production by Organized Noize and collaborations with Raekwon, Slick Rick, funk pioneer and musical forebear George Clinton, and Goodie Mob.

In 1999, OutKast and LaFace Records were sued by Rosa Parks over the album's most successful radio single, which bore Parks' name as its title. The lawsuit alleged that the song misappropriated Parks' name, and also objected to some of the song's obscene language.

The song's lyrics were largely unrelated to Parks, save for a line in the chorus: "Ah ha, hush that fuss / Everybody move to the back of the bus". The song, which OutKast maintained was intended partly as homage, only refers to Parks as a metaphor: the purpose of the song's chorus is to imply that OutKast is overturning hip hop's old order, that people should make way for a new style and sound. The initial lawsuit was dismissed. Parks' representation hired lawyer Johnnie Cochran to appeal the decision in 2001, but the appeal was denied on First Amendment grounds. In 2003, the Supreme Court turned down an appeal to overrule the lower court's decision.

In 2004, the judge in the case appointed an impartial representative for Parks after her family expressed concerns that her caretakers and her lawyers were pursuing the case based on their own financial interest. Later that same year, the members of OutKast were dropped as co-defendants, and Parks' lawyers continued to seek action against LaFace and parent company BMG. In 2003 André told UK journalist Angus Batey that, following a Detroit concert in the midst of the legal battle, relatives of Parks had approached him and implied that the case was less to do with Rosa than with the lawyers. The suit was finally settled on April 14, 2005, with neither OutKast nor their label having to admit any wrongdoing. The group did, however, have to agree to perform some sort of tribute to Parks: as of August 2006, the nature of this tribute had not been decided, and OutKast had not completed it.

Stankonia

Originally titled "Sandbox", the pair's fourth album, Stankonia was released in October 2000 to excellent reviews. The album was seen as a change in the group's musical style, as it had a more commercial and mainstream appeal, compared to their previous three albums which were darker and deeper. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., and would eventually be certified quadruple-platinum. Stankonia's first single was "B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)", a high-tempo jungle-influenced record. The second single, "Ms. Jackson", combined a pop hook with lyrics about divorce and relationship breakups, particularly André's breakup with singer Erykah Badu; the titular "Ms. Jackson" character being a doppelgänger for Badu's mother. It was at this time that André changed his stage name to the current "André 3000".

The single became their first pop hit, landing the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the number-two position on the UK Singles Chart. The album's final single was the Organized Noize-produced "So Fresh, So Clean", featuring a credited guest appearance from regular guest vocalist and Organized Noize-member Sleepy Brown and garnered a remix featuring Snoop Dogg. All three singles' videos had heavy MTV2 airplay, and OutKast won two 2001 Grammy Awards, one for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Ms. Jackson", and another for Stankonia as Best Rap Album.

During the recording of Stankonia OutKast and Mr. DJ began producing tracks for the artists on their Aquemini Records imprint through Columbia, including Slimm Cutta Calhoun and Killer Mike, who made his debut on Stankonia's "Snappin' & Trappin."

Pitchforkmedia.com named Stankonia the 4th greatest album released between 2000 and 2004 in its 2005 feature. Later on the webzine selected Stankonia as the 13th best album of the 2000s. And B.O.B. was chosen number one song of the decade by this same webzine. This was a pivotal recording for hip-hop as "Ms. Jackson" featured Andre 3000 singing in the middle of his verse.

Even in Darkness and Greatest Hits

In December 2001, OutKast released a greatest hits album, Big Boi and Dre Present...OutKast, which also contained three new tracks. One of these new tracks was the single "The Whole World," which won a 2002 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Killer Mike also was featured on the song, gaining some exposure among areas outside of his native Atlanta. The other two new songs were called "Funkin' Around" and "Movin' Cool (The After Party)"

The same year OutKast participated in the only Dungeon Family group album, Even in Darkness, along with Goodie Mob, Killer Mike, Sleepy Brown, Witchdoctor, and Backbone among others, and featuring Bubba Sparxxx, Shuga Luv and Mello. In 2002, the group and Killer Mike contributed the lead single "Land of a Million Drums" to the Scooby-Doo soundtrack.

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

In September 2003, OutKast released a double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It is essentially two solo albums, one by each member, packaged as a single release under the OutKast banner; the two members also appear on each others' discs for a few songs apiece. Big Boi's Speakerboxxx is largely a funk and Dirty South blended party record; André 3000's The Love Below features only brief instances of hip hop, presenting instead elements found in funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and R&B;. André denied those rumors in a phone interview with MTV News, stating that even though they do not feel like performing on stage together, OutKast is "still tight". In an August, 2006, interview with UK journalist Craig McLean, after emphasizing that they would not split, the pair looked beyond music and film careers, Big Boi suggesting he may consider running for the job of Mayor of Atlanta in the future.

According to Big Boi, "'The plan is after Dre drops his record, then we're gonna do the OutKast record, so that's the plan for now," so fans can rest easy. In 2007, Andre 3000 confirmed that a new OutKast album would be released, but said that he and Big Boi would release solo records first. Big Boi's 2010 solo album, titled , was released first, the first promotional single "Royal Flush" first appeared in March 2008, featuring Andre 3000 and Raekwon. However, it was cut from the final track listing due to a dispute with Jive Records.

Discography

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994)

ATLiens (1996)

Aquemini (1998)

Stankonia (2000)

Big Boi and Dre Present...OutKast (2001)

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)

Idlewild (2006)

Awards

Grammy Awards

Wins Nominations

References

External links

OutKast's Big Boi Exclusive Radio Interview

Category:1990s music groups Category:2000s music groups Category:American hip hop groups Category:Rappers from Atlanta, Georgia Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Musical groups from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Musical duos Category:Dungeon Family Category:Southern hip hop Category:Southern hip hop musicians

Category:World Music Awards winners

Name	Slick Rick
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Richard Walters
Born	January 14, 1965London, United Kingdom
Origin	New York City, New York, United States
Genre	Hip hop
Occupation	Rapper, record producer
Years active	1982–present
Label	Def Jam, Columbia, CBS Records, PolyGram, Universal
Associated acts	Doug E. Fresh, Nas, Prince Paul

Richard Walters (born January 14, 1965), better known by his stage name Slick Rick (also known as MC Ricky D and Rick the Ruler) is a Grammy-nominated British American rapper. He began his career in late 1983, in the hip hop genre, where he recorded a series of acclaimed recordings such as, "Children's Story", "La Di Da Di" and "Hey Young World." Walters is best known for his British accent and his story telling innovations in this genre. His music has been frequently sampled and interpolated by other artists such as, TLC, Black Star, and Snoop Dogg; with many of these songs later becoming hit singles. Slick Rick rose to stardom in an era known to fans as Golden age hip hop.

Career

Originally from Mitcham in London, England, Walters moved with his British Jamaican family to The Bronx in 1975 where he met Dana Dane with whom he later formed a hip hop duo known as the Kangol Crew. Walters received his characteristic eye patch after being blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant. Once he gained a degree of wealth, Walters earned a reputation for wearing the eye patch over his right eye, and a significant amount of gold and diamond jewelry.

He first gained success in the rap industry by joining Doug E. Fresh's Get Fresh Crew, with the stage name MC Ricky D. He was featured on two singles, "The Show" and "La Di Da Di". "La Di Da Di" featured Walters' rapping over Doug E. Fresh's beatbox. These singles gained some mainstream attention. In 1988 Walters' solo debut The Great Adventures of Slick Rick came out on Def Jam Records. The album was very successful, reaching the #1 spot on Billboard's R&B;/Hip-Hop chart. It also featured three charting singles: "Children's Story", "Hey Young World", and "Teenage Love". These are now some of Walters' best known songs.

In 1990, Walters shot a bystander and his cousin whom he had hired as a bodyguard and who later admitted to having Walters shot outside a club. Walters was indicted on two counts of attempted murder and plead guilty to all charges, which included assault, use of a firearm, and criminal possession of a weapon. He spent five years in prison, two for the second degree attempted murder charges he received for the shooting, and three for his struggle with the Immigration and Naturalization Services over his residency in the US. He was bailed out by Russell Simmons, head of Def Jam records. After being bailed out Walters recorded his second album, The Ruler's Back. The album got mixed reviews and wasn't as commercially successful as his debut. In the documentary film, The Show, Russell Simmons interviews Walters while he was a prisoner on Rikers Island.

Walters third studio album Behind Bars was released while he was still incarcerated. It was met with lukewarm sales and reviews. After being released from prison in 1996, Walters remained with the Def Jam label and on May 25, 1999 released a fourth album entitled The Art of Storytelling. Generally considered the authentic follow up to his 1988 debut, The Art of Storytelling was an artistically successful comeback album that paired him with prolific MCs like Nas, OutKast, Raekwon, and Snoop Dogg among others. On October 6, 2008, Rick was honoured on the VH1 Hip Hop Honors show.

"La Di Da Di", "Mona Lisa" and "Children's Story" are among Walters most well known songs, with "La Di Da Di" being covered nearly word-for-word by Snoop Dogg on his 1993 album Doggystyle. Lines from "La Di Da Di" were borrowed by other multiple high profile artists. "Children's Story" was sampled by Montell Jordan for his 1995 hit, "This Is How We Do It", and rapper Everlast covered the song for his album Eat at Whitey's. Rapper Eminem also borrowed from the song extensively in his diss track "Can-I-Bitch". "Children's Story" was covered with similar lyrics by the MC duo Black Star on their 1998 album "Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star", as well as by Tricky on the album Nearly God. With a similar and very similar lyrics, rapper The Game also made a similar song which was named "Compton Story". "Compton Story" was on the Mixtape BWS Radio 5 made in 2008. The chorus of Notorious B.I.G.'s song "Hypnotize" is also derived from "La Di Da Di".

Rapping style

Slick Rick’s style is commended by music critics - music journalist Peter Shapiro says, “‘La Di Da Di' was important because of its narrative structure and Rick’s understanding of how crucial little sonic details—such as his use of a female voice and his yawning rap—were to hip hop style.”

He is largely known for his story raps, such as ‘Children’s Story’ and ‘La Di Da Di' – “he largely introduced the art of narrative into hip hop… none of the spinners of picaresque rhymes who followed did it with the same grace or humor.” - Allmusic states that he has the “reputation as hip hop's greatest storyteller.” In the book Check the Technique, Slick Rick says, “I was never the type to say freestyle raps, I usually tell a story, and to do that well I’ve always had to work things out beforehand.” Kool Moe Dee comments, “Slick Rick raised the lost art of hip hop storytelling to a level never seen again.” Devin the Dude notes that Slick Rick’s ‘Indian Girl’ is a good example of the type of humor that existed in hip hop’s golden era, and Peter Shapiro says that “he was funnier than Rudy Ray Moore or Red Foxx”

Slick Rick uses very clear enunciation and raps with the “Queen’s English”. O.C. states: “The Great Adventures of Slick Rick is one of the greatest albums ever… the stuff he was just saying on there, it was so clear… the [clear] syllable dude was Slick Rick for me”. He is also renowned for his unique “smooth, British-tinged flow” which contains distinct structures - in the book How to Rap, it is noted that on the song ‘I Own America’, he “puts a rest on almost every other 1 beat so that each set of two lines begins with a rest,”. Kool Moe Dee states that, “Rick accomplished being totally original at a time when most MCs were using very similar cadences.” He has what is described as “singsong cadences” - Andy Cat of Ugly Duckling mentions that Slick Rick uses a melodic delivery on the track ‘Hey Young World’. Slick Rick is also known to extensively use punch ins, especially in his story rhymes as different characters - Kool Moe Dee says Rick used “multi-voices to portray multiple characters.”

Personal life

After performing on a Caribbean cruise ship in June 2001, Walters was arrested by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) as he re-entered the United States through Florida. He was promptly told that he was being deported because he was a British citizen since he had been born in London and moved to the States as a youth. In 1996, a law was passed which called for foreigners convicted of violent felonies to be deported, a ruling which was more vigorously enforced amid heightened security concerns after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Rick was continuously refused bail, but after 17 months in prison he was released on November 7, 2003.

Rumours suggested that Walters planned to release a new album, "The Adventure Continues," in 2007. However, in a recent XXL Magazine interview, he denied the claim. Rick is supposedly "waiting for a market to open up for a mature audience."

In October 2006, the Department of Homeland Security began a new attempt to deport Walters, moving the case from the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit based in New York to the more conservative Eleventh Circuit. The court is based in Atlanta, Georgia but the trial was expected to proceed in Florida, where immigration agents originally arrested Walters.

On May 23, 2008, New York Gov. David Paterson granted Slick Rick a full and unconditional pardon on the attempted murder charges. The governor was pleased with his behavior since the mishap. He has volunteered his time to mentor youths about violence.

Discography

Albums

The Great Adventures of Slick Rick

*Released: November 3, 1988

*Billboard 200 chart position: #31

*R&B;/Hip-Hop chart position: #1

Last RIAA Certification: Platinum

*Singles: "Teenage Love", "Children's Story" & "Hey Young World"

The Ruler's Back

*Released: July 2, 1991

*Billboard 200 chart position: #29

*R&B;/Hip-Hop chart position: #18

*Last RIAA Certification: None

*Singles: " A Woman in Love With Other Men", "It's A Boy" & "I Shouldn't Have Done It"

Behind Bars

*Released: November 22, 1994

*Billboard 200 chart position: #51

*R&B;/Hip-Hop chart position: #11

*Last RIAA Certification: None

*Singles: "Behind Bars" & "Sittin' In My Car"

The Art of Storytelling

*Released: May 25, 1999

*Billboard 200 chart position: #8

*R&B;/Hip-Hop chart position: #1

Last RIAA Certification: Gold

*Singles: "Street Talkin'"

Singles

Featured Singles

Appearances

1986: "The Show (Oh My God! Remix)" (from the Doug E Fresh album Oh My God!)

1989: "If I'm Not Your Lover (12" remix from the Al B. Sure! album In Effect Mode)

1991: "Get Bizzy" (from the Greyson & Jaysun album Livin Like a Troopa)

1994: "Let's All Get Down" (from the Nice & Smooth album Jewel of the Nile)

1994: "Move On..." (from the compilation The Show (Original Soundtrack))

1996: I Like (From the Montell Jordan album More)

1996: "Got To Give It Up" (from the Aaliyah album One in a Million)

1997: "Just Another Case" (from the CRU album Da Dirty 30)

1998: "Fresh" (from the Jermaine Dupri album Life In 1472)

1998: "Faces Of Def" (bonus track on Jayo Felony's Watcha Gonna Do?)

1998: "Unify" (from the Kid Capri album Soundtrack to the Streets)

1998: "Pimpin' Ain't Easy" (from WWF Aggression with Ice-T & Charles Wright)

1999: "If We Give You A Chance" (from the Warren G album I Want It All)

1999: "Your Moms House"

1999: "Night Riders" (from the Rahzel album Make The Music 2000)

1999: "So Fresh" (from the Will Smith album Willennium)

1999: "Don't Come My Way" (from the Whiteboys soundtrack with Common)

1999: "Da Art of Storytellin' (Pt. 1)" (from the OutKast album Aquemini)

2000: "Why Not" (from the Erick Sermon album Def Squad Presents Erick Onasis)

2001: "What We Do (For Love)" (from the De La Soul album )

2001: "Pie" (from WWF The Music, Vol. 5 with The Rock)

2001: "Girls, Girls, Girls" (from the Jay-Z album The Blueprint)

2001: "Guidance Counselor"(from the Little-T And One Track Mike album Fome Is Dape)

2001: "Hey Young World, Part 2" (from the Macy Gray album The Id)

2002: "Women Lose Weight" (from the Morcheeba album Charango)

2004: "The Return (Remix)" (from the Jay-Z/R. Kelly album Unfinished Business)

2005: Performs live for Vox Entertainment @ Club Strata NYC

2005: "The Sun" (from the Ghostface Killah album Put It on the Line)

2005: "Irresistible Delicious" (from the Missy Elliott album The Cookbook)

2006: "Vows" (from the Juggaknots album Use Your Confusion)

2007: "Hip Hop Police" (from the Chamillionaire album Ultimate Victory)

2008: "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" (Honoree)

2009: "Y.O.U." (from the Asher Roth album Asleep in the Bread Aisle - UK bonus track)

2009: "Auditorium" (from the Mos Def album The Ecstatic)

2009: "We Will Rob You" (from the Raekwon album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II)

2009: "Family Jewels" (from the Dynas album The Apartment)

2010: "Rock The Bells 2010" (from album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick)

Filmography

Backstage appearance on Jay-Z's Fade to Black DVD.

Cameo in Ludacris's music video for the single, "Number One Spot".

Cameo, wearing his excessive jewelry in the New York Shit music video (2:56) by Busta Rhymes featuring Swizz Beatz.

Himself in the game .

Drug kingpin in the 1999 movie Whiteboyz, co-starring fellow rappers Doug E. Fresh, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe, Dead Prez and Mic Geronimo.

Cameo in the film Brown Sugar, which starred Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan.

Himself in the seminal Run DMC film, Tougher Than Leather, performing the song Treat Her Like a Prostitute.

Interviewee in 1995 documentary The Show

Opened Chris Rock's Apollo Theatre comedy Show Bigger & Blacker

References

External links

Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:1990s rappers Category:2000s rappers Category:2010s rappers Category:African American rappers Category:American musicians of English descent Category:American people convicted of assault Category:American people convicted of attempted murder Category:American rappers of Jamaican descent Category:Black British musicians Category:British expatriates in the United States Category:British people convicted of assault Category:Columbia Records artists Category:Def Jam Recordings artists Category:English people of Jamaican descent Category:English rappers Category:People from South Wimbledon Category:People from the Bronx Category:People from Wimbledon Category:Rappers from New York City Category:Recipients of American gubernatorial pardons

Name	John Reed
Caption	Reed in 2007
Birth date	February 07, 1969
Birth place	TriBeCa, New York City
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Columbia University
Occupation	novelist
Website	http://www.johnreed.tv

John Reed (born February 7, 1969) is an American novelist. He is the author of four novels: A Still Small Voice (2000), Snowball's Chance (2002) with a preface by Alexander Cockburn, The Whole (2005), and All the World's a Grave: A New Play by William Shakespeare (2008). His fifth book, Tales of Woe (2010), is a collection of twenty-five stories, chronicling true stories of abject misery.

Biography

Born in 1969 in New York City, Reed is the son of artist David Reed. He attended Hampshire College, and received a Masters in Fine Art in Creative Writing from Columbia University. He teaches at The New School.

Reed was an early contributor to, and subsequently an editor with, Open City, a New York literary journal published by Robert Bingham, who later founded the book series.

Works

reading from his non-fiction Tales of Woe, at the MTV Press/Brooklyn Rail launch party.]]He is affiliated with the New York Press and The Brooklyn Rail. "Americans are extremely sophisticated in terms of narrative forms," said Reed in an interview. "We see it in commercials, we see it on TV, we see it in movies. But the narrative forms we're talking about are three acts, five acts, depending on how you want to look at it. They're all based on a Christian model of sin, suffering, redemption; which is not a large model."

A Still Small Voice

A Still Small Voice (Delacorte 2000, Delta 2001), Reed’s first novel, is a historical novel based on the life of a girl growing up in Kentucky from 1850-1870.

Snowball's Chance

Snowball's Chance (Roof Books 2002/2003), Reed’s second novel was a controversial send-up of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, and ended in a cataclysmic attack on the “Twin Mills” (reminiscent of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center). It became a bestseller in the field of books by independent literary publishers. and received international reviews. The Boston Globe wrote that Reed was “blaming the victim of terrorism,” while Christopher Hitchens called Reed a “Bin Ladenist". John Strausbaugh reported in The New York Press:

"Snowball's Chance is a pretty vicious parody of Animal Farm. 'My intention is to blast Orwell,' Reed says. 'I’m really doing my best to annihilate him.' He not only shanghais Orwell’s story, but amps up and mocks the writer’s famously flat, didactic style–that fairytailish simplicity that has ensured Animal Farm a place in high school English classes for the last 50 years."

The Daily Telegraph (London) wrote that a fortnight's work would not undo Orwell's legacy. The Orwell estate objected to Reed’s use of Animal Farm. The estate had recently weathered the release and publication of a handwritten list of "crypto-communists" that George Orwell gave to the British Secret Service at the onset of the "Cold War," a phrasing first employed by Orwell. The list of authors, artists and various politically active personages consisted of over one hundred names (the number is often mistakenly put at thirty-seven, which was the number of names previously released by the British Secret Service). Though the list does sport some unpleasant language and descriptions, the overall consequences of the list are debatable. Reed's work was interpreted as anti-Orwell. Throughout 2002/03, The Wind Done Gone (a parody of Gone with the Wind) was engaged in ongoing litigation with the estate of Margaret Mitchell; detractors of Snowball's Chance raised the question of copyright infringement, as was reported in The Age (Australian):

[William] Hamilton [the Orwell estate's legal representative], of London, said: "If it were a straight parody, I would say 'Good on you.' But this book seems to take rather than give." Reed said: "I think that Orwell, were he still alive, would far rather be with me in my hovel than sitting in some corporate office preparing lawsuits."

The Whole, or, Duh Whole

magazine's senior editor Monica de la Torre and editor-in-chief Betsy Sussler.]] The Whole, Reed’s third novel, parodied MTV and was released in 2005 by MTV Books (Simon & Schuster). The novel described a gigantic hole that appears in the middle of the country, which engulfs four states.

All the World's a Grave

Reed, in a new work, returns to the overhaul of canonical English writers in All the World's a Grave, fall 2008, Penguin Books. The work, subtitled "A New Play by William Shakespeare", is a tragedy in five acts, a "mash-up" constructed of lines drawn from five Shakespeare tragedies and one Shakespeare history; Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello, Romeo & Juliet and Henry V. The work has received early praise from Actor Sir Ian McKellen and Playwright Richard Foreman. In the "literary trick" (as described by Page Six of The New York Post) Shakespeare's lines are rearranged into a wholly new story, in which Prince Hamlet of Denmark goes to war to claim his bride and the daughter of King Lear, Juliet. Upon a triumphant return home, Hamlet discovers that his mother has murdered his father, and married Macbeth. Visited by his father's ghost, and goaded by the opportunistic Lieutenant Iago, Hamlet is driven mad by the erroneous belief that Juliet is having an affair with General Romeo.

References

External links

John Reed's website

All the World's a Grave'', book website.

Kill the beavers!, The Daily Telegraph, November 22, 2002.

John Reed: Saint George and the Damn Truth, Moby Lives, Nove,ber 10, 2003.

John Reed: The Whole, an excerpt, Brooklyn Rail, January 2005.

Dinitia Smith: A Pig Returns to the Farm, Thumbing His Snout at Orwell, The New York Times, November 25, 2002.

Cathy Young: Blaming the Victim, Reason.com, December 3, 2002.

Andrea Scrima: Review of Tales of Woe, Rumpus, November 16, 2010.

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:American novelists Category:American humorists Category:Writers from New York Category:Hampshire College alumni Category:Columbia University alumni Category:George Orwell Category:The New School faculty

Name	Mike Bigga
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Michael Render
Alias	Killer Mike, Mike Bigga
Born	April 20, 1979
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia
Genre	Hip hop
Occupation	rapper
Years active	2000-present
Label	Columbia Records, Grind Time Official, SMC Recordings, Grand Hustle Records
Associated acts	OutKast, T.I., Big Kuntry King
Url

Michael Render (born April 20, 1975), better known by his stage name Mike Bigga, formerly Killer Mike, is an American rapper, signed to Grind Time Official through the SMC/Fontana Distribution. He made his debut on "Snappin' and Trappin'" on OutKast's 2000 LP Stankonia, and also appeared on the Grammy-winning song, "The Whole World", the single from OutKast's greatest hits album Big Boi and Dre Present...OutKast. He was featured in the movies 20 Funerals, Idlewild, and ATL.

Career

Killer Mike released his debut album, Monster, in 2003. The album's lead single was "Akshon (Yeah!)", it featured OutKast on guest vocals, and was included on the soundtrack to the 2004 version of EA Sports popular video game Madden NFL. He even made a Madden '04 remix of "Akshon (Yeah!)" for the game. The album's second single was "A.D.I.D.A.S.", featuring Big Boi and Sleepy Brown, which peaked at #60 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is Killer Mike's highest charting single to date as a lead artist. The song's title was an acronym for "All day I dream about sex". Following the release of his own material, he appeared on "Flip Flop Rock" and "Bust" on the Speakerboxx half of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. He also appeared on "Southern Takeover" with Pastor Troy on Chamillionaire's CD The Sound of Revenge. His second album "Ghetto Extraordinary" has had its release date pushed back several times due to disputes between Big Boi and Sony Records.

Killer Mike has also performed as a voice actor. He played a rapper/actor, turned President of the United States, named Taqu'il in the Adult Swim cartoon Frisky Dingo. According to an article published in the June 2007 issue of XXL, Killer Mike addressed why he left the Purple Ribbon roster. He stated that he felt as if Purple Ribbon was the equivalent to the "Clippers," while he wanted to join the "Lakers."

Days after T.I. addressed the rumor and confirmed that he and Killer Mike had been in talks about bringing Mike to his Grand Hustle imprint on Atlantic, Killer Mike confirmed to HipHopDX.com that he signed.

Discography

Albums

{|class="wikitable" !rowspan="2"|Year !rowspan="2"|Title !colspan="4"|Chart positions !rowspan="2"|RIAA certifications |- !width="40"|US !width="40"|US R&B; !width="40"|US Rap !width="40"|US Independent |- |2003 |Monster

Released: March 11, 2003

Label: Columbia Records

|align="center"|10 |align="center"|4 |align="center"|* |align="center"|— | * |- |2006 |I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind

Released: November 21, 2006

Label: Grind Time Official

|align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | * |- |2008 |I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II

Released: July 8, 2008

Label: Grind Time Official, SMC Recordings

|align="center"|178 |align="center"|17 |align="center"|9 |align="center"|29 | * |- |2009 |Underground Atlanta

Released: August 31, 2009

Label: Grind Time Official, SMC Recordings

|align="center"|— |align="center"|34 |align="center"|10 |align="center"|— | * |- |2011 |PL3DGE Released: March 22, 2011

Label: Grind Time Official, SMC Recordings, Grand Hustle Records

| align="center" colspan="4"| To be released | |- |}

Singles

{|class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2"|Year ! rowspan="2"|Song ! colspan="3"|Chart positions !rowspan="2"|Album |- !width="40"|U.S. !width="40"|U.S. R&B; !width="40"|U.S. Rap |- |align="center" rowspan=1|2002 | "Akshon (Yeah!)" (featuring Outkast) |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |rowspan=2|Monster |- |align="center" rowspan=1|2003 | "A.D.I.D.A.S." (featuring Big Boi & Sleepy Brown) |align="center"|60 |align="center"|42 |align="center"|20 |- |align="center" rowspan=3|2005 | "Get 'Em Shawty" (featuring Three 6 Mafia) |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |rowspan=2|non-album single |- | "My Chrome" (featuring Big Boi) |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |- | "Body Rock" |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |rowspan=1|Got Purp? Vol. 2 |- |align="center" rowspan=1|2006 | "That's Life" |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |rowspan=1|I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind |- |align="center" rowspan=1|2008 | "2 Sides" (featuring Shawty Lo) |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |rowspan=1|I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II |- |align="center" rowspan=1|2009 | "Imma Fool Wit It" (featuring Big Kuntry King) |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |rowspan=1|Underground Atlanta |- |align="center" rowspan=1|2010 | "Ready Set Go" (featuring T.I.) |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |rowspan=1|PL3DGE |- |}

Guest Appearances

Chiddy Bang - Neighborhood (featuring Killer Mike)

DJ Clue - "Funkanella" (OutKast, Killer Mike, and Slimm Calhoun)

AK of (P$C) - "Razor Chop" (featuring Killer Mike) (prod. by Ribah)

DarkBrown & Dru - "Ridin' Chevy's" (featuring Killer Mike)

Purple Ribbon All-Stars - "Kryptonite (I'm On It)" (featuring Big Boi, Blackowned C-Bone, Killer Mike, and Rock D)

Purple Ribbon All-Stars - "Body Rock" (featuring Lil' Co, Killer Mike, and Donkey Boy)

Purple Ribbon All-Stars - "My Chrome" (featuring Big Boi & Killer Mike)

Purple Ribbon All-Stars - "Claremont Lounge" (featuring Bubba Sparxx, Killer Mike, and Cool Breeze)

Purple Ribbon All-Stars - "Ain't No Love" (Killer Mike freestyle)

Purple Ribbon All-Stars - "Kryptonite (Remix)" (featuring Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Bubba Sparxxx, Remy Ma, Busta Rhymes, & Killer Mike)

Bone Crusher - "It's On" (featuring Killer Mike & Trick Daddy)

Bone Crusher - "Never Scared" (featuring Killer Mike & T.I.)

Bubba Sparxxx - "Miss New Booty (Remix)" (featuring Big Boi & Killer Mike)

Bubba Sparxxx - "Sinners" (feauring Killer Mike, Bone Crusher & David Banner)

Kool G Rap - "Real OGs" - (Featuring Killer Mike & Bun B)

Jay-Z - "Poppin' Tags" (featuring Big Boi, Killer Mike & Twista)

Chamillionaire - "Southern Takeover" (featuring Pastor Troy & Killer Mike)

Talib Kweli - "Tryin' to Breathe" (featuring Midi Mafia & Killer Mike)

Lil' Jon - "Back Off Now" (featuring Killer Mike & Papa Roach)

Lil' Jon - "Da Jump Off" (featuring Killer Mike & 404 Soldierz)

8 Ball & MJG - "Runnin Out of Bud" (featuring Killer Mike)

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters Colon the Soundtrack - "Blam Blam"

Jagged Edge - "Pour Out A Little Liquor" (featuring Killer Mike & Sosa)

Paul Wall - "Dat's What Dat Is" (featuring Bun B, Killer Mike & H.A.W.K.)

Youngbloodz - "Hustle" (featuring Killer Mike)

Gucci Mane - "Black Tee (Remix)" (featuring Killer Mike, Jody Breeze, Bun B, Lil Scrappy, & Young Jeezy)

No Doubt - "Hey Baby (Remix)" (featuring Outkast & Killer Mike)

Ying Yang Twins - "What The F***!" (featuring Killer Mike & Bone Crusher)

Ras Kass - "Put Ya Glass Out" (featuring Killer Mike)

Lil Flip - "We Ain't Playin" (featuring Killer Mike, Baby D, & Pastor Troy)

Da Backwudz - "Gettin 2 It"

DJ Kay Slay - "Coast 2 Coast Gangstas" (featuring Sauce Money, Killer Mike, Bun B, WC, Joe Budden & Hak Ditty)

Roccett - "LA 2 ATL" (featuring Killer Mike)

BPT - "Dragon Ballin" (featuring Killer Mike)

Balboa - "Hard" (featuring Akon, Killer Mike & Jody Breeze)

Kavious - "In The Yo" (featuring Killer Mike)

M.O.P. - "Push Back" (featuring Killer Mike)

Young Buck - "Welcome To The South (Remix)" (featuring Bun B, Killer Mike & David Banner)

Stat Quo - "More Problems" (featuring Killer Mike)

Big Boi - "Oh No" (featuring Killer Mike & Bubba Sparxxx)

SL Jones - "Superhead" (featuring Killer Mike, Gangsta Boo & Nario)

Sly & The Family Stone - "Runnin Away" (featuring Big Boi, Killer Mike & Sleepy Brown)

Trina - "Look Back At Me" (featuring Killer Mike)

Bun B- "Some Hoes" (featuring Chino XL, Killer Mike & Bulletproof)

Rehab - "Sleeping Giant" (Feat. Killer Mike)

Chamillionaire - "Never" (Killer Mike Freestyle from Mixtape Messiah 4)

Bobby Ray - "Say What You Want" (featuring Playboy Tre from B.o.B vs Bobby Ray Mixtape)

Cunninlynguists - "Georgia (Remix)" (Feat. Killer Mike & Khujo Goodie)

XV - "May The Force Be With You" (Feat. Killer Mike & Mac Miller) Prod by Seven

References

External links

Category:African American rappers Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Dungeon Family Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Living people Category:Rappers from Atlanta, Georgia Category:1975 births