| Name | Paul Wall |
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| Background | solo_singer |
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| Birth name | Paul Michael Slayton |
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| Born | March 11, 1981 |
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| Origin | Houston, Texas, United States |
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| Genre | Hip hop, Southern hip hop, Rap rock |
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| Occupation | Rapper, DJ, promoter, jeweller |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
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| Label | Swishahouse/Asylum |
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| Associated acts | Michael "5000" Watts, Expensive Taste, Chamillionaire, Slim Thug, Trae, Bun B, Z-RO |
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| Url | paulwallbaby.com, grillsbypaulwall.com |
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Paul Slayton (born March 11, 1981), better known by his
stage name Paul Wall, is an American rap artist. He is currently affiliated with
Swishahouse Records, having released several albums under the label as well as
collaborating with other rappers signed to the label. He was formerly musical partners with rapper
Chamillionaire releasing several collaborative albums including the independently released
Get Ya Mind Correct. In 2005, he was signed to
Atlantic Records and became successful with his major-label debut
The Peoples Champ.
Get Money, Stay True followed in 2007.
Musical career
Wall attended
Jersey Village High School and studied
mass communications at the
University of Houston for three years. After proposing to do promotions for Michael "5000" Watts' company,
Swishahouse, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to Watts' studio,
KBXX. Paul & Chamillionaire convinced Watts to let them rap on his radio show and put the verses on one of his mixtapes. That mixtape was titled
Choppin Em Up Part 2, which was released in mid 1999. The freestyle became so popular in the streets that Chamillionaire and Paul Wall became regular staples on Houston's mixtape circuit, appeared on several of Watts' mixtapes and became permanent members of Swishahouse.
After fellow member Slim Thug left the label, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall followed suit and the two started their own group known as The Color Changin' Click (named after Chamillion's Chameleon persona). Each successive mixtape released by The Color Changin' Click led to more business opportunities; the most notable of which was a contract to do a full album for Paid in Full Records. A one album contract was then negotiated between the Color Changin' Click and Paid in Full's label head, DJ Madd Hatta from 97.9 The Box, and the CCC's first album, Get Ya Mind Correct, would go on to sell over 200,000 copies. Wall's first music exposure came as a street team member on the Northwest side of Houston, promoting southern labels like Def Jam Records, Cash Money and No Limit Records. He is also an accomplished and proficient mixtape and party DJ, known for producing mixtapes in the now well-known screwed & chopped style, which was invented by the late DJ Screw.
Paul Wall and Chamillionaire were originally affiliated with Swishahouse Records, but left for Paid in Full Records a short time later. After several mixtape and independent releases including. Get Ya Mind Correct, the two parted ways, citing creative differences. Chamillionaire continued to release independent records, while Paul Wall returned to the Swishahouse fold. This move allowed him to appear on Mike Jones' first commercially distributed single, "Still Tippin'", from his first major label album Who Is Mike Jones?. The single is originally on Swishahouse's The Day Hell Broke Loose Part 2 aka Major Without A Major Deal, released in 2003, the album went on to sell over 500,000 copies two months after being released.
In 2005, Paul Wall released his first album, The People's Champ, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The first single "Sittin' Sidewayz" featuring Big Pokey. The second single, "They Don't Know", featured Bun B of UGK, and the video version also featured Mike Jones. The third single is "Girl", receiving radio airplay and peaking at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2007, Paul Wall released his second album Get Money, Stay True, which debuted in the #1 spot on the Billboard Chart Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums. Paul Wall released the singles "Break 'Em Off" featuring Lil Keke and "I'm Throwed" featuring and produced by Jermaine Dupri.
In 2007, Paul Wall appeared alongside other celebrities and regular people in the music video for Rockstar by Nickelback. He also appears on Bermuda-based reggae artist Collie Buddz self-titled debut album.
Paul Wall is currently a member of the rap group Expensive Taste, with his good friends Travis Barker and Skinhead Rob (Transplants). The trio also collectively owns a clothing line.
In the spring of 2008, Paul Wall joined Strange Music recording artist Tech N9ne on a nationwide tour, which also featured Brooklyn rapper ILL BiLL.
In the 2008 presidential campaign, Paul Wall spoke out in favor of candidate Barack Obama. He was quoted in The Source magazine as saying "Barack seems to come off as a true leader for everyone, whereas most people campaigning, including Hillary Clinton, seem to be just politicians. Barack seems to be genuine and sincere about his beliefs. He is selfless, while they are selfish. I'm gonna 'Barack the vote' this year and I've never voted before."
Paul Wall appears as fictional rapper Grillionaire in the movie I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, released on September 25, 2009. He, along with screenwriters Nils Parker and Tucker Max, co-wrote tracks for the movie.
In 2010, Paul Wall featured on the 'Przyjazn, Duma, Godnosc' (eng. 'Friendship, Pride and Dignity') album by a highly rated Polish rap artist Kaczor.
Personal life
Paul Wall married girlfriend Crystal in 2005. Their son William Patrick Slayton was born April 18, 2006.
During a concert in San Antonio Paul Wall hit a fan with a microphone. The fan was sticking his middle finger at Paul Wall. Paul Wall apologized to not only the victim but to all his San Antonio fans.
In 2010, Paul Wall went on an extreme diet and had gastric sleeve surgery, resulting in a 100 lbs weight loss.
Discography
2004: The Chick Magnet
2005: The Peoples Champ
2007: Get Money, Stay True
2009: Fast Life
2010: Heart of a Champion
2011:
Politics As Usual (January 25)
Awards and nominations
Acting career
During his break from rapping, Paul Wall had an appearance in
Furnace with
Ja Rule. He appeared in the 2009 movie
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell along with
Jesse Bradford and
Matt Czuchry. He is currently working on the movie
Xtinction.
Filmography
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
|-
||2006
|
Furnace
|Joey Robbins
|-
||2009
|
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell
|Grillionaire
|-
|2010
|
Xtinction
|Froggy
|}
References
External links
Paul Wall Official Website
Category:1980 births
Category:Living people
Category:1990s rappers
Category:2000s rappers
Category:2010s rappers
Category:American rappers of European descent
Category:Asylum Records artists
Category:Jersey Village High School alumni
Category:Rappers from Houston, Texas
Category:University of Houston alumni
