Coordinates	12°58′0″N77°34′0″N
name	TVT Records
founded	1985
founder	Steve Gottlieb
major artists	Nine Inch Nails, Sevendust, Lil jon, Ying Yang Twins, Pitbull
distributor	TVT
genre	Alternative rock, hip hop, electronic music
country	United States
location	New York City, New York
url	http://www.tvtrecords.com }}

TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and Pitbull. Its biggest commercial successes were the triple platinum Nine Inch Nails's ''Pretty Hate Machine'', two double platinum releases by Lil Jon, and platinum releases by Snoop Dogg and the Eastside Boyz, Dashboard Confessional, Default and Ying Yang Twins.

From 2001 through 2006, TVT was recognized by Billboard magazine as the largest US independent label. It succeeded in releasing music across a range of genres with independent distribution.

History

TeeVee Toons was founded in 1985 by Steve Gottlieb, a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law. Gottlieb launched the label from his New York City apartment with the release of ''Television's Greatest Hits'', an album featuring theme songs from classic TV shows that became a respectable seller. The San Francisco Chronicle called the album "the most fun you can have with your pants on", and the New York Times highlighted it as one of 1985's most notable business ideas. In 1986, TeeVee Toons was shortened to TVT Records, a label that would sign and/or develop musical acts over the next couple of decades such as: The Saints, Shona Laing, Nine Inch Nails, the Connells, Aphex Twin, Tackhead, Underworld, Gravity Kills, Buck-O-Nine, Jurassic Five, Sevendust, Default, XTC, Guided By Voices, Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes, Bounty Killer, KMFDM, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Gil Scott-Heron, Tha Eastsidaz, Just Jack, Lil Jon, Ying Yang Twins, Pitbull, Teedra Moses, and Ambulance LTD.

TVT would continued to release television, film, and Broadway soundtracks. It expanded "Television's Greatest Hits" to an eight volume series and released over 30 film and TV soundtracks, including the platinum Mortal Kombat soundtrack. Its theatrical music releases included the Stephen Sondheim Follies.

In 1992, TVT purchased Chicago-based Wax Trax! Records, the independent label that had been at the forefront of releasing albums in the then-new industrial music genre in the 1980s. This gave TVT the artists and/or catalogue releases of such acts as: Ministry, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, KMFDM, and others.

In 1996 Crain's named Gottlieb one of its forty under 40 Rising Stars to Watch, citing the 50% yearly growth of TVT.

In 1999 TVT completed a securitization that enabled it to raise $23.5 million in growth capital.

In 2000, TVT Records opened TVT Distribution, an independent distribution company for third party labels, among them Vagrant Records. TVT Distribution, in conjunction with Vagrant, went on to achieve gold album success with Dashboard Confessional.

The label's publishing arm, TVT Music Publishing signed songwriter/producers Scott Storch who won Top Producer of the Year for ASCAP in 2004, and Lil Jon who won Top Producer of the Year for BMI in 2005. Those artists, along with many others, helped TVT Music Publishing accumulate over a hundred US Hot 100 songs, recorded by such acts as Usher, Pink, Beyoncé, Christine Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake.

In 2000, TVT became the first label to put its entire catalog online available for downloading and free streaming by fans. In 2001, the label reached an amicable arrangement with Napster for use of TVT's artist copyrights, and TVT's CEO joined the Napster advisory board. Gottlieb appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2001 on a panel that included Richard Parsons, then head of Time Warner and Ken Berry, head of EMI, and artists Alanis Morissette and Don Henley. CEO Gottlieb served on the Board of Directors of Musicmatch (sold to Yahoo!).

TVT was one of the founding members of the Association of Independent Music (A2IM), an organization devoted to protecting independent labels interests.

In 2002, the label got into a dispute with Lyor Cohen, then head of Island Def Jam. The dispute involved Cohen and Universal paying former TVT artist Ja Rule $8 million to not deliver an album paid for by TVT, and promised to TVT and instead deliver it to Universal. In the resulting litigation Universal was prohibited by the courts from releasing the album created with TVT's funding. In the ultimate trial over the claims of fraud and tortious interference, a jury awarded TVT a $132 million judgment. Universal appealed the ruling. On appeal, Cohen and Universal argued the existence of an agreement between the parties meant that their behavior was only a breach of contract and not a fraud or tort. The court agreed, reducing TVT's award to $126,000.

In 2007, TVT lost a $9 million lawsuit to Slip-N-Slide Records when a Florida judge ruled that Slip-N-Slide had legal rights to distribute an un-released album it owned by rapper Pitbull that he recorded for Slip-N-Slide in 2001. TVT, who signed Pitbull several years later, had sought to notice third parties (such as record stores or digital download entities) that the distribution and sale of this album would violate TVT's exclusive right to create new music by the artist. The judge, however, ruled against TVT as Pitbull had made the recordings prior to signing with TVT, and awarded Slip-N-Slide the $9 million judgement as TVT had attempted to block the sale of the album. TVT filed for appeal but was unable to post the required bond, thus TVT filed for bankruptcy. (Daily Deal/The Deal)

On February 19, 2008, Gottlieb stated "This is not the end of TVT." In June 2008, however, the digital music label The Orchard was declared the winning bidder by a New York bankruptcy court and gained control of TVT's artist contracts, catalogue recordings, and its distribution infrastructure, thus retiring the TVT Records label imprint. The music publishing assets were transferred to TVT Music Enterprises, and later purchased by Reservoir Media Management.

Artists

Current

213

The A'z

Ambulance LTD

The Baldwin Brothers

The Blue Van

Buck-O-Nine

The Cinematics

Da Muzicianz

Default

Dude 'n Nem

The Holloways

Ina

Just Jack

Le Meu Le Purr

Lumidee

Magic

Teedra Moses

Naughty by Nature

O-solo

Oliver Black

Oobie

Paris Bennett

Pay the Girl

The Polyphonic Spree

The Strays

Towers of London

Twisted Black

Keke Wyatt

Ying Yang Twins

Former artists

Autechre (Wax Trax!/TVT)

Bender

Birdbrain

Bobaflex

Bounty Killer

Brian Jonestown Massacre

Buck-O-Nine

Catherine

Closure

The Connells

Course of Empire

Cubanate

Cords

Die Warzau

Dayinthelife

Doggy's Angels

Anne Dudley & Jaz Coleman

Tha Eastsidaz

Fledgling

Full Force

Gravity Kills

GRiT Boys

Guided by Voices

GZR

In the Nursery (Wax Trax!/TVT)

Ja Rule

Jacki-O

Jack Rubies

Jim Jenkin

Joe Budden

Jurassic 5

Juster

Juno Reactor (Wax Trax!/TVT)

KMFDM (Wax Trax!/TVT)

The Kicks

Fledgling

Full Force

Shona Laing

Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz

Marcos Hernandez

Mic Geronimo (Blunt/TVT)

Modern English

Mood (Blunt/TVT)

New Years Day

Nine Inch Nails

Nothingface

Jimmy Page

Pitbull

Portable

Psychic TV

Psykosonik

Polygon Window (Wax Trax!/TVT)

Seven Simons

Sister Machine Gun

Southern Culture on the Skids

Spookey Ruben

Rise Robots Rise

The Saints

Gil Scott-Heron

Sevendust

Speech

Starchildren

Three Merry Widows

Tsar (band)

The Unband

Underworld

VNV Nation

Vision of Disorder

We Are Going To Eat You

WHiTEBREAD

Yo Gotti

References

External links

Former A&R; Bryan Leach on TVT, HitQuarters Apr 2004

Category:Record labels established in 1985 Category:American independent record labels Category:Synthpop record labels Category:Industrial record labels Category:Hip hop record labels

it:TVT Records lv:TVT Records pt:TVT Records

Coordinates	12°58′0″N77°34′0″N
Name	Lil Jon|background solo_singer
Birth name	Jonathan Mortimer Smith
Born	January 27, 1971Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Instrument	Keyboards, synthesizers, drum machine, sampler
Genre	Hip hop, crunk
Occupation	Rapper, hype man, music producer, DJ
Years active	1995–present
Notable instruments	Roland TR-808
Label	BME Recordings Universal Republic RecordsTVT Records (2001–2008)
Associated acts	The Eastside Boyz, Ying Yang Twins, Pitbull, The Mr. Move }}

Jonathan Mortimer Smith (born January 27 1971), better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, music producer, entrepreneur, and occasional disc jockey who was a member of the group Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. Lil Jon formed the group in 1997, and the group released several albums between then and 2004. He then went on solo and released a new album in 2010 called ''Crunk Rock''.

Early life

Lil' Jon was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut, for a short time and many of his earliest influences stem from his time there. He graduated from Douglass High School.

Career

Early career

After working as a DJ for Atlanta night clubs, he started working for So So Def Recordings between 1993 and 2000. The group signed to the Atlanta-based Mirror Image Records and were distributed by Ichiban Records. In 1997, Lil' Jon & the East Side Boyz debuted with ''Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album''. It included singles "Who U Wit?" and "Shawty Freak a Lil' Sumthin'", the latter of which came out in 1998. Both singles charted on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs chart at #70 and #62 respectively. In 2000 Jon took part in starting up his own label BME Recordings and signed a distribution agreement with Norcross, Georgia based Southern Music Distribution. There he released his break through album titled ''We Still Crunk''. Among the tracks on that project was the hit single "I Like Dem Girlz", which reached #55 on the R&B; chart and #3 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.

After hearing feedback that Lil' Jon was "the new guy" from street team people in the markets where he was attracting his biggest audiences - namely Atlanta, St. Louis, Memphis and Dallas - A&R; at TVT, Bryan Leach, went to one of his Atlanta shows and was blown away by the immense energy of the experience. Leach told HitQuarters: "It was like early Beastie Boys, when they had the energy of a rock group but they were rapping, and ... that energy is what crunk music is all about." Lil' Jon & The East Side Boyz signed to TVT Records in 2001 and debuted there with ''Put Yo Hood Up'', which combined previously released tracks with new ones. The group's first nationally played single was "Bia' Bia'", which featured rappers Ludacris, Too Short, Big Kapp, and Chyna Whyte. "Bia' Bia'" peaked at #97 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and #47 on the ''Billboard'' R&B; chart.

In 2002, the group released ''Kings of Crunk''. "I Don't Give A..." was its first single; it featured Mystikal and Krayzie Bone and peaked at #50 on the R&B; chart. The group's next single, a collaboration with fellow Atlanta hip hop group Ying Yang Twins titled "Get Low", became popular in nightclubs nationwide and reached the top ten of the Hot 100.''Crunk Juice'' followed in 2004, led by "What U Gon' Do" featuring Lil' Scrappy. "What U Gon' Do" peaked at #22 on the Hot 100, #13 on the R&B; chart, and #5 on the rap chart; its follow-up, "Lovers & Friends" featuring Usher and Ludacris, peaked at #3 (Hot 100), #2 (R&B;), and #1 (rap).

Solo career and production

In addition to leading Lil' Jon & The East Side Boyz, Lil' Jon has also produced many hit urban singles. From 2003 to 2005, while still with The East Side Boyz, Lil' Jon produced hits like "Salt Shaker" by Ying Yang Twins, "Yeah!" by Usher, "Freek-a-Leek" by Petey Pablo, "Shorty Wanna Ride" by Young Buck, "Shake That Monkey" by Too Short, "Let's Go" by Trick Daddy, and "Girlfight" by Brooke Valentine. Lil' Jon entered the San Francisco Bay Area hyphy music scene in 2006 with his collaborations with Bay Area rapper E-40: Lil' Jon produced E-40's single "Tell Me When To Go" and had E-40 and Atlanta rapper Sean P on his own "Snap Yo Fingers". In 2006, Lil' Jon severed his negotiation with record label TVT. He vowed never to record for TVT Records again, alleging that TVT owner Steve Gottlieb was shortchanging him. He also began recording a rock music album, ''Crunk Rock''; in May 2006 he began recording in Las Vegas, Nevada because rock band The Killers was recording its upcoming album ''Sam's Town'' there and the East Side Boyz signed a new deal with Rick Robinson aka Double R CEO and Founder of IMG Recordings, which the album got pushed back to 2010.

MTV News reported in March 2008 that ''Crunk Rock'' was taking more time to complete than Lil' Jon already planned. As part of TVT Records' 2008 bankruptcy auction, Lil' Jon withdrew his multi-million dollar objection to the TVT sale proceedings and agreed to TVT’s transfer of his artist agreement to The Orchard. In return, The Orchard released Lil' Jon from all future obligations and returned the rights to the master recordings of ''Crunk Rock''. Crunk Rock was finally released on June 8, 2010 and it features artists such as LMFAO, Soulja Boy, Ying Yang Twins, Waka Flocka Flame, R.Kelly, and many more. In March 2011, Lil Jon took part in the fourth season of ''The Celebrity Apprentice'' on NBC and was eliminated in the Final Four. In July 2011, in a recent interview has said that he is working on a new studio album and has released a song with LMFAO called "Drink".

Musical style

Jason Birchmeier of allmusic has described Lil' Jon's production as "bass-heavy" and his album ''Put Yo Hood Up'' as having "a long and varied list of guest rappers to accompany the beats". With the guest performers featured on that album much more than the East Side Boyz, Birchmeier remarked: "The end result is an album that resembles a street-level mixtape rather than a traditional artist-oriented album". Alex Henderson, also of allmusic, contrasted Lil' Jon's style of "rowdy, in-your-face, profanity-filled party music" with other Southern rappers', those who "have a gansta/thug life agenda" and those who convey "serious sociopolitical messages". Lil' Jon has also found influence in rock music, having worked with Rick Rubin and Korn. For Trick Daddy's "Let's Go", Lil' Jon sampled the bass line from Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train".

Personal life

In 2004, Lil Jon was married in Puerto Rico. He also has a son named Slade Smith (born in 1998).

Discography

;Solo

''Crunk Rock'' (2010)

''Party Animal'' (2011)

;With the East Side Boyz

''Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album'' (1997)

''We Still Crunk!!'' (2000)

''Put Yo Hood Up'' (2001)

''Kings of Crunk'' (2002)

''Crunk Juice'' (2004)

Video games

:Tony Hawk's American Wasteland

25 To Life (cameo appearance)

Def Jam: Icon

Need for Speed: Underground "Get Low (song)" song is featured in this game

Def Jam: Icon "Get Low (song)" song in this Game

Filmography

2004: ''Soul Plane''

2005: ''Boss'n Up''

2005: ''Hip-Hop Honeys: Las Vegas''

2006: ''Date Movie''

2006: ''Scary Movie 4''

2007: ''Class of 3000''

2008: ''Smoke and Mirrors''

2009: ''Pimp My Ride International''

2010: ''Freaknik: The Musical'' (voice only)

2011: ''The Celebrity Apprentice 4''

Television Shows

Chappelle Show (2004)

See also

List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards

References

External links

Official website

Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:African American rappers Category:American dance musicians Category:American hip hop record producers Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Hip hop DJs Category:Crunk Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:Rappers from Atlanta, Georgia Category:The Apprentice (U.S. TV series) contestants Category:TVT Records artists Category:Universal Records artists

ar:ليل جون be:Lil Jon bg:Лил Джон cs:Lil Jon da:Lil Jon de:Lil Jon es:Lil' Jon fa:لیل جان fr:Lil' Jon ko:릴 존 hr:Lil Jon it:Lil Jon he:ליל ג'ון hu:Lil Jon nl:Lil' Jon ja:リル・ジョン pl:Lil Jon pt:Lil Jon ro:Lil Jon ru:Lil Jon simple:Lil Jon fi:Lil Jon sv:Lil Jon th:ลิล จอน tr:Lil Jon uk:Ліл Джон zh:Lil Jon

Coordinates	12°58′0″N77°34′0″N
name	Kia Shine
background	solo_singer
birth name	Nakia Shine Coleman
alias	Nakia Shine, Kinfolk Jones, Kinfolk, Kinfolk Kia Shine
born	10/17/80
origin	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
genre	Hip hop, rap
occupation	Rapper, record producer
years active	1998–present
label	Diamond Cut/RapHustlaz, Universal Records, KinfolkMusicGroup
associated acts	Yo Gotti, Yung Joc, T-Pain
website	twitter.com/therealkiashine }}

Nakia Shine Coleman (born October 17, 1980), better known by his stage name Kia Shine, is an American rapper and record producer. His most successful single, "Krispy", peaked at number 66 on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 24 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. He has worked with artists like B-Hoody, La Chat, Mike Jones, Yo Gotti, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, Nelly, Jim Jones, Blak Jak, Wifey, and more. His aliases are Nakia Shine, Kinfolk, Kia Shine, and Kinfolk Jones. In August 2006, he hosted an episode of BET's ''Rap City''. He signed a deal with Universal Records. Kinfolk Kia Shine is a co-CEO with rapper/CEO Jack Frost of Rap Hustlaz. Kia Shine won the Southern Entertainment Award (S.E.A.) this year for best underground artist having sold over 200,000 albums with his independent label, Rap Hustlaz. He is often associated with Yo Gotti and Kingpin Skinny Pimp.

Music career

''Due Season'' (2007)

Shine's major label debut, ''Due Season'', was released on Universal Records on July 31, 2007. The first single is "Krispy". A remix was released in late July 2007 featuring E-40, Jim Jones, Swizz Beatz, LL Cool J, Remy Ma, Young Buck, Fabolous and Slim Thug.

TBA (2009-present)

On March 3 Kia Shine released "Checkin' My Fresh", the lead single off his upcoming Mixtape ''2000 Shine'' via DatPiff. The single features Maino & Young Dro and samples part of Jay-Z's verse from "Swagga Like Us". The music video was directed by Kurt Williams and was the ''New Joint of the Day'' on 106 & Park July 3.

2010–present) Kia Shine released launch the first of his ALARM CLOCK THEORY mixtape series where he coined the very popular phrase "Everybody Sleeping on me will wake up working for me" the origan project was very well received and received over 100,000 downloads. In Sept 2010 Kia Shine Coleman was the winner of yet another BMI award for his creative on the DRAKE "Best I ever Had" single. In OCT Kia Shine released via Itunes "CLub Walmart" which features Yung JOC

2011- to present. KIa Shine released "NEWMONIA" via Itunes The single features ATLANTA rapper YUNG SEAN. The single was also written and produced by Kia Shine & Yung Sean. The video was directed Dre Cannonz , A find of Kia shine, NEWMONIA was featured on 106 and Park 7/8/11

Controversy

Drake

Kia Shine stated that he owned 25% of Drake's "Best I Ever Had", which Drake later denied. Kia Shine later received 4 BMI awards and a grammy nod for his credit on "Best I Ever Had"

Discography

Studio albums

2007: ''Due Season''

EPs

2008: ''The Kush - EP''

2009: ''Checkin' My Fresh - EP''

20010 ''Club Walmart (single)

2010: ''Dreads - EP''

2011 ''NEWMONIA (SINGLE)

Mixtapes

2009: ''2000Shine''

2010: ''The Alarm Clock Theory''

2011 '' MEMPHIS BEAY''

Singles

{|class="wikitable" !rowspan="2"|Year !rowspan="2"|Song !colspan="3"|Chart positions !rowspan="2"|Album |- !width="40"|U.S. Hot 100 !width="40"|U.S. R&B; !width="40"|U.S. Rap |- |align="center" rowspan=2|2007 |align="left"|"Krispy" |align="center"|107 |align="center"|66 |align="center"|24 |align="left" rowspan=2|''Due Season'' |- |align="left"|"W.O.W." |align="center"|- |align="center"|125 |align="center"|- |- |align="center" rowspan="1"|2009 |align="left"|"Checkin' My Fresh" (featuring Young Dro & Maino) |align="center"|- |align="center"|- |align="center"|- |align="left" rowspan="1"|''Checkin' My Fresh - EP'' |- |align="center" rowspan="1"|2010 |align="left"|"Club Walmart" (featuring Yung Joc) |align="center"|- |align="center"|- |align="center"|- |align="left" rowspan="1"|''TBA'' |- |}

References

Category:1980 births Category:People from Memphis, Tennessee Category:Living people Category:American rappers Category:American record producers Category:African American rappers

Coordinates	12°58′0″N77°34′0″N
name	Yo Gotti
background	solo_singer
birth name	Mario Mims
birth date	May 17, 1981
origin	Memphis, Tennessee
genre	Southern hip hop
occupation	Rapper
years active	1996–present
label	Polo Grounds, J Records
website	}}

Mario Mims better known by his stage name Yo Gotti, is a southern rapper from the northern side of Memphis, Tennessee who was previously known as Lil Yo.

Music career

Independent Albums

Yo Gotti released a string of independent albums. ''From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game'' (2000),''Self-Explanatory'' (2001), ''Life'' (2003) and ''Back 2 da Basics'' (2006)

First Studio Album

Yo Gotti;s first studio album called ''Live from the Kitchen''. The album had many singles "5 Star" was the first single, it was released on May 20, 2009. The single peaked at 79 on the Hot 100, 19 on U.S R&B; and 11 on U.S Rap."Women Lie, Men Lie" was the second official single released December 11, 2009. The song peaked at 81 on the Hot 100, 22 on the U.S R&B; and 12 on U.S Rap "Look In the Mirror" was the third single released 7th months after his second single on July 27, 2010. The song peaked at 97 on the U.S R&B; chart "For the Hood" featured rapper Gucci Mane it was released on October 1, 2010 and charted at 86 on the U.S R&B; chart "We Can Get It On" was released May 10, 2011, the single featured R&B; singer Ciara, the single peaked at 40 on the U.S R&B; Chart.

Discography

;Studio albums

''Live from the Kitchen'' (2011)

;Independent albums

''From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game'' (2000)

''Self-Explanatory'' (2001)

''Life'' (2003)

''Back 2 da Basics'' (2006)

Mixtapes

''I Told U So, Gangsta Grillz,(2006)

''Cocaine Muzik,(Hosted By (DJ Smallz) (2008)

''Cocaine Muzik 2,(Hosted By DJ Drama (Gangsta Grillz) (2009)

''Cocaine Muzik 3,(Hosted By (DJ Scream)(2009)

''Cocaine Muzik 4, with Zedzilla,(Hosted By DJ Drama (Gangsta Grillz) (2010)

''Cocaine Muzik 4.5 (Da Documentary),(Hosted By DJ Drama (Gangsta Grillz) (2010)

''Cocaine Muzik 5: White Friday,(Hosted By Bigga Rankin) (2010)

''Cocaine Muzik 6: Gangsta of The Year,(Hosted By DJ Drama (Gangsta Grillz) (2011)

References

External links

Yo Gotti Official Site

Yo Gotti | Features Artist | Global Hit Music

Behind the Scenes, Yo Gotti, "Women Lie, Men Lie" in Los Angeles, February 4, 2010 by Streetgangs.com

Yo Gotti Interview, Jan 18, 2010

Non-commercial Yo Gotti mixtapes

Category:Rappers from Memphis, Tennessee Category:African American rappers Category:Living people Category:1980 births Category:TVT Records artists

de:Yo Gotti fr:Yo Gotti it:Yo Gotti lt:Yo Gotti pl:Yo Gotti

Coordinates	12°58′0″N77°34′0″N
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Christopher Gholson
Origin	Memphis, Tennessee
Instrument	Roland TR-808, Akai MPC-4000, Apple GarageBand, Korg Triton, Vocals
Genre	Hip hop, R&B;
Occupation	Producer, Rapper, Singer
Years active	2002-Present
Label	Drum Squad
Associated acts	Young Buck, Young Jeezy, T.I., Rick Ross, Gorilla Zoe, Plies, Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, Bun B, Rocko
Website	}}

Christopher Gholson, better known by his stage name Drumma Boy, is an Multi-platinum record producer and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee.

Early life

Born in Memphis, TN and bred in Cordova, Tennessee, Drumma Boy was exposed to musicianship at a young age. His mother was a professional opera singer and his father, a professional clarinetist and music professor at the University of Memphis, was the first African-American male to hold the 1st chair position in the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, where he is still an active member. The rest of his extended family including grandmothers and aunts were also musicians are taught music in the schools. Drumma Boy says he had a recorder in his hand at age 3 and a clarinet at age 5. His father was instrumental in teaching him about traditional music but it was his mother that introduced him to Curtis Mayfield and 70’s oldies. Gholson is the younger brother of producer Ensayne Wayne.

Drumma Boy attended the University of Memphis as a Music Business Major. In between attending classes, he would shop his homemade beats to Memphis rappers such as Gangsta Boo and Tela, as well as travel to Texas to work on projects for Scarface and Bun B of UGK.

Career

Drumma Boy relocated to Atlanta in 2004 and founded Drum Squad, an umbrella company that encompasses Drum Squad Productions which represents producers and songwriters, as well as Drum Squad Records. Citing Quincy Jones, Raphael Saadiq and The Funk Brothers as production inspirations his musical influences range from German composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach to Jazz icons Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis all the way to Academy Award winning Three 6 Mafia and Scarface. He is known to combine classical chords with urban street sounds. He has worked with a host of hip hop acts that include Young Buck, Jeezy, T.I., Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, Nelly, T-Pain, Gorilla Zoe, Drake, Gucci Mane, Ludacris, Plies, Young Joc, Rick Ross, E-40, Rocko, Paul Wall,Lil’ Jon,Travis Porter.

In January 2009 he starred alongside Jazze Pha and Def Jam Recording Artist Vawn in BET's reality series "Welcome to Dreamland". He appeared on a segment of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" while making beats for cast member Kandi Burruss as well as appearing in the studio during an episode of Monica’s BET reality series “Still Standing.” In November 2009 Drumma Boy released his music video “Dis Girl” shot by Mr. Boomtown, the first single off his mixtape Welcome II My City, which went on to receive 5.4 million hits on Worldstarhiphop. He has appeared on FOX Good Day Atlanta, Good Morning Memphis, CBS News Channel 9, BET and MTV.

In 2008 Vibe Magazine named him one of the Top 5 Producers "making noise" in the music industry and in December 2009 he was named by The New York Times as one of the 4 hottest producers “driving the city” in Atlanta, describing his sound as “a busy bee swarm of synths overlaid with brash bass injections that’s equal parts Memphis and Atlanta." He was quoted in the January 2010 issue of Rolling Stone surrounding his production work for controversial recording artist Gucci Mane’s #1 Rap Album The State vs. Radric Davis. Drumma Boy produced Waka Flocka Flame's hit No Hands.

Drumma Boy's signature drop on his beats is a voice saying "listen to the track, bitch". He is also known for the origination of extending sounds at the end of a verse. "Yea Girl" or "Yea Boy" is another signature.

Awards

Drumma Boy won “Best Indie Producer of the Year” at both the 2009 and 2010 Southern Entertainment Awards. He received a nomination for “Producer of the Year” at the 2008 Ozone Awards. His beats assisted with two nominations during the 2009 Grammy Awards including his work on T.I’s Paper trail (Best Rap Album) and “Put On” by Young Jeezy & Kanye West (Best Performance by a Rap Duo.)

Discography

''Welcome II My City - Mixtape'' (Drum Squad Records 2009)

''The Birth Of D-Boy Fresh - Mixtape'' (Drum Squad Records 2011)

Production credits

References

External links

Official Website

Official Myspace

Official Beatbuggy

Category:Rappers from Memphis, Tennessee Category:American hip hop record producers Category:African American rappers Category:Living people

pl:Drumma Boy pt:Drumma Boy