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Curren$y
Background information
Birth name	Shante Scott Franklin
Born	(1981-04-04) April 4, 1981 (age 31)
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Hip Hop
Occupations	Rapper
Years active	2000–Present
Labels	Jet Life Recordings, Warner Bros. Records
Associated acts	Wiz Khalifa, The Alchemist, Ski Beatz, Dom Kennedy, Pharrell, Styles P, Raekwon, Prodigy, Fiend, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Jay Electronica
Website	www.currensyspitta.com

Shante Scott Franklin, April 4, 1981, better known by his stage name Curren$y is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is from the 3rd Ward in New Orleans. Curren$y started his own Jet Life movement,.

[edit] Music career

[edit] Early career

In 2002, Curren$y signed to Master P's No Limit Records and was a member of the 504 Boyz. The Song "Get Back" by 504 Boyz made it to the Malibu's Most Wanted soundtrack. Curren$y appeared on 5 songs in Master P's Good Side, Bad Side album, released in 2004.^{[citation needed]} Even though he was signed with No limit he represented C-Murders TRU label. Curren$y has several songs with incarcerated friend C-Murder, and was featured on the late Soulja Slim's album, Years Later.

Later on in 2004, RC signed with Cash Money Records and Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. He featured in Lil Wayne's Dedication 1,Dedication 2,Suffix and several unreleased songs while with Young Money. He released a mixtape entitled 'Welcome Back,' in 2004. He was featured in Lil Wayne's "Grown man" on the Carter 2 and on the "Grown man remix" with Boo. He remained in Young Money until late 2007. While still at Young Money, Curren$y created Fly Society with skateboarder Terry Kennedy, first as a clothing company, then expanding to release music. He released the song, "Where da Cash At" as the lead single for his Young Money debut, Music To Fly To, in 2006, but had to deal with several push-backs and lack of promotion. Also in 2006, he released G Series with Young Money members, Mack Maine and Lil Wayne. In 2007, another mixtape was released entitled "Life at 30,000 Feet".

Curren$y decided to leave the label and venture off to do business on his own. For several months throughout 2008, Curren$y released a series of mixtapes. Though he then had the co-sign of one of the top hip hop magazines, Curren$y was still overlooked by major labels. Curren$y reached a milestone in his rapping career with appearances on MTV for his music video "Address", and for a track titled "Breakfast", which was produced by Mos Def. After he took on the music industry by himself, Curren$y recently gained significant recognition via fellow musician Wiz Khalifa, whom he released the mixtape "How Fly" in collaboration with in 2009. His fan base continues to expand due to his original, laid-back flow which is accompanied by his soothing, spacey beats.

[edit] 2009: This Ain't No Mixtape and Jet Files

Curren$y signed with Amalgam Digital to release his debut album, This Ain't No Mixtape, in 2009.^[1] This album was entirely produced by Monsta Beatz. Curren$y also released his second album, Jet Files, through Amalgam Digital in 2009.^[2] Amalgam Digital finally released physical copies of This Ain't No Mixtape and Jet Files on May 31, 2010.

[edit] 2010: Pilot Talk and Pilot Talk II

Curren$y's third album, Pilot Talk, was released on July 13, 2010. The album featured guest appearances by Snoop Dogg, Big K.R.I.T. and Mos Def, amongst others, with most of the songs produced by Ski Beatz. Prior to the album's release, there was news of Pilot Talk being released under a newly relaunched Roc-A-Fella Records.^[3] However, Curren$y stated in interviews with both XXL and Complex Magazine that the album would be released under Damon Dash's DD172 record label division, BluRoc Records^[4][4][5][6] and distributed through Def Jam Recordings. He was signed to the label after being recommended by Dame Dash's nephew; Dame Dash asked who was hot at the time, because he was about to go back into the music industry. Curren$y made numerous appearances on labelmate Ski Beatz' debut studio album, 24 Hour Karate School, which was released on September 21, 2010. Curren$y's fourth album, Pilot Talk II, was released on November 22, 2010,^[7] which featured Fiend and Raekwon, among others, with many of the songs produced by Ski Beatz.^[8] 2010 also saw the release of mixtape Smokee Robinson with DJ Don Cannon.

[edit] 2011: Covert Coup, Weekend at Burnie's, Verde Terrace

On February 1, 2011, it was announced that Curren$y signed a label deal with Warner Bros. Records for his imprint, Jet Life Recordings.^[9] Covert Coup was his first project on his Jet Life Recordings imprint under Warner Bros. Released for free via Curren$y's official website on April 20, the album contains ten songs completely produced by The Alchemist.^[10] He released his sixth album, Weekend at Burnie's on June 28, 2011, featuring his Jet-Life anthem "#JetsGo", which was produced by Rahki. The rest of the album was produced by frequent collaborator Monsta Beatz.^[11] Mixtape Verde Terrace was well-received by Curren$y's fanbase and gained 49,696 downloads in part of 204,427 views within 24 hours of its release. In 2011, Curren$y and his Jet Life crew released the album Jet World Order, under Jets International / iHipHop. Every track on this album features Young Roddy and Trademark da Skydiver. Frequent collaborators of Curren$y are also featured on this album, including Smoke DZA, The Cool Kids' Mikey Rocks, Cornerboy P, Fiend, Street Wiz, and Nesby Phips. Curren$y himself appears on 3 tracks.

[edit] 2012: Muscle Car Chronicles, The Stoned Immaculate

On November 10, 2011, Curren$y announced through Twitter the release of a new album. Muscle Car Chronicles, a 2-Disc set, was released on February 14, 2012. Curren$y also plans on releasing Pilot Talk III in 2012, and mentioned the possibility of it being a free album. An album entirely produced by Chuck Inglish called Puff Daddy is set to be released this year, as well as another titled The Stoned Immaculate. Curren$y and The Alchemist also intended on releasing the sequel to Covert Coup, Re-conversionalize in April 2012, the project has not yet been released. In February 2012, Curren$y released the EP Here..., and a few days later released another EP #The1st28 with Styles P.

On April 21, 2012 the track listing for "The Stoned Immaculate" was released. ^[12] In March 2012, news surfaced of legal action being taken against Damon Dash by Curren$y. In the lawsuit, the rapper claimed that he never legally signed to Dash's DD172 label, and the record executive released the pair of albums (Pilot Talk I and II) as well as Muscle Car Chronicles without authorization. Curren$y is demanding that Dash immediately stop releasing his music for profit, and is seeking $1.5 million in damages. A ruling has yet to be decided in the case.^[13]

[edit] Jet Life Recordings

On February 1, 2011, Curren$y signed a label deal with Warner Bros. Records for his imprint Jet Life Recordings. The roster includes Trademark Da Skydiver, Young Roddy, Smoke DZA, Sir Michael Rocks (a.k.a. Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids), Nesby Phips, MonstaBeatz, Street Wiz, DeeLow, Corner Boy P and Fiend. ^[14]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Mixtapes

• Sportscenter (2004)
• Young Money: The Mixtape (with Young Money) (2005)
• Welcome Back (2005)
• G-Series (with Mack Maine) (2006)
• Life at 30,000 Feet (2006)
• Independence Day (2008)
• Higher Than 30,000 Feet (2008)
• Welcome to the Winner's Circle (2008)
• Fear and Loathing in New Orleans (2008)
• Super Tecmo Bowl (2008)
• Fast Times at Ridgemont Fly (2008)
• Fin... (2008)
• How Fly (with Wiz Khalifa) (2009)
• Smokee Robinson (2010)
• Return to the Winner's Circle (2011)
• Verde Terrace (2011)

[edit] Studio albums

• This Ain't No Mixtape (2009)
• Jet Files (2009)
• Pilot Talk (2010)
• Pilot Talk II (2010)
• Covert Coup (2011)
• Weekend at Burnie's (2011)
• Muscle Car Chronicles (2012)
• The Stoned Immaculate (June 5, 2012)
• Re-Coversionalize (2012)
• Pilot Talk III (TBA)

[edit] EPs

• Here... (2012)
• #The1st28 (with Styles P) (2012)
• Cigarette Boats (with Harry Fraud) (TBA)

[edit] Collaboration albums

• Jet World Order (with Jet Life) (2011)
• Puff Daddy (with Chuck Inglish (of The Cool Kids)) (TBA)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Curren$y on Myspace
• Curren$y at Twitter
• Curren$y at Facebook
• Curren$y at MTV
• Curren$y at Allmusic

Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa in Brooklyn, New York in August 2009.
Background information
Birth name	Cameron Jibril Thomaz
Born	(1987-09-08) 8 September 1987 (age 24) Minot, North Dakota, United States
Origin	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres	Hip hop, pop
Occupations	Rapper, singer, songwriter, actor
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Rostrum, Warner Bros., Atlantic
Associated acts	Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Curren$y, Big Sean, Chevy Woods, Mac Miller, Juicy J, Tinie Tempah, Yelawolf, Maroon 5, Big K.R.I.T.
Website	wizkhalifa.com

Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), better known by the stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper. He released his debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006, and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007. His eurodance-influenced single, "Say Yeah", received urban radio airplay, charting on the Rhythmic Top 40 and Hot Rap Tracks charts in 2008.^[1] Khalifa parted with Warner Bros. and released his second album, Deal or No Deal, in November 2009. He released the mixtape Kush and Orange Juice as a free download in April 2010; he then signed with Atlantic Records.^[2] He is also well known for his debut single for Atlantic, "Black and Yellow", which peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut album for the label, Rolling Papers, was released on March 29, 2011.^[3]

[edit] Early life

Khalifa was born on September 8, 1987 to a mother and a father serving in the military.^[1][4] His parents divorced when Khalifa was about three years old. His parents' military service caused him to move regularly: Khalifa lived in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan before settling in Pittsburgh where he attended Taylor Allderdice High School.^[1][4]

His stage name is derived from khalifa, an Arabic word meaning "successor", and wisdom, which was shortened to Wiz when Khalifa was a young boy .^[5] Khalifa stated to spinner.com that the name also came from being called "young Wiz 'cause I was good at everything I did, and my granddad is Muslim, so he gave me that name; he felt like that's what I was doing with my music." He got his stage name tattooed on his 17th birthday.^[6][7] He includes Jimi Hendrix, Camp Lo, The Notorious B.I.G. and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony among his influences.^[8]

[edit] Career

[edit] 2005–08: Early mixtapes and Show and Prove

Rostrum Records president Benjy Grinberg first heard about Wiz Khalifa in 2004 when the rapper's contribution to a mixtape of various new Pittsburgh artists attracted his interest.^[9] When Grinberg finally met the 16-year-old artist, he immediately decided he wanted to work with him, later telling HitQuarters: "Even though he wasn’t all the way developed you could just tell that he was a diamond in the rough, and that with some polishing, guidance and backing he could become something special."^[9] Khalifa signed to the label shortly after and began a seven year period of artist development.^[9]

Khalifa released his first mixtape, Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania, in 2005. The mixtape paved the way for his first full length album entitled Show and Prove in 2006. Khalifa was declared an "artist to watch" that year in Rolling Stone magazine.^[10][11]

In 2007, Khalifa signed to Warner Bros. Records and released two mixtapes through Rostrum Records: Grow Season, hosted by DJ Green Lantern and released on July 4, 2007, and Prince of the City 2, released on November 20, 2007. His debut Warner Bros. single "Say Yeah" reached number 25 on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 music chart and number 20 on Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks. The song samples "Better Off Alone" by Alice Deejay. Khalifa's vocals from "Say Yeah" appear near the end of Pittsburgh mash up producer Girl Talk's 2008 album, Feed the Animals, over music from Underworld's "Born Slippy", Usher's "Love in This Club", and the Cure's "In Between Days".^[12] Khalifa appeared with The Game, David Banner and Play-n-Skillz at U92's Summer Jam at the USANA Amphitheatre in West Valley City, Utah on August 2, 2008.^[13] Khalifa released the mixtapes Star Power in September 2008, and Flight School in April 2009 on Rostrum Records.

Khalifa parted ways with Warner Bros. Records in July 2009 after numerous delays in releasing his planned debut album for the label, First Flight. Khalifa stated to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that, "I learned a lot during my time there and matured as an artist during the process. I'm happy to be moving on with all of my material and having the chance to be in control of my next moves".^[14] Khalifa appeared with Girl Talk, Modey Lemon, Donora, Grand Buffet, and Don Caballero at the Amphitheatre at Station Square in Pittsburgh on July 31, 2009, where he announced that his relationship with Warner Bros. was over.^[15]

Wiz Khalifa performing at Columbia University in New York City in April 2010.

[edit] 2009–10: Deal or No Deal

Continuing his association with Rostrum Records, Khalifa released the single "Teach U to Fly", and the mixtape How Fly, a collaboration with New Orleans rapper Curren$y, on August 9, 2009.^[14] Khalifa introduced a more melodic style on the mixtape, alternating between singing and rapping. He opened for Wu-Tang Clan member U-God at the 2009 CMJ Music Marathon in New York City.^[16] Khalifa released the mixtape Burn After Rolling on November 2, 2009, where he raps over familiar beats from other artists, including the songs "If I Were A Boy" and "Diva" by Beyoncé, "Walking on a Dream" by Empire of the Sun, "Luchini AKA This Is It" by Camp Lo, and "Best I Ever Had" by Drake.^[17] Khalifa released his second album, Deal or No Deal, on November 24, 2009.^[18]

Khalifa performed at Emo's in Austin, Texas in March 2010 as part of the 2010 South by Southwest Music Festival.^[19] He appeared on the cover of XXL magazine that same month, for the magazine's annual list of Top 10 Freshman, which included Donnis, J. Cole, Pill, Freddie Gibbs, and Fashawn. Wiz Khalifa was named 2010 "Rookie Of The Year" by "The Source", with alongside Rick Ross, "The Man Of The Year".^[20] He toured with rapper Yelawolf on a 20-date tour, the Deal Or No Deal Tour.^[21] Khalifa released the free mixtape Kush and Orange Juice for download on April 14, 2010. Due to Khalifa's devoted grassroots fan base, the mixtape became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter with the hash tag #kushandorangejuice, and "Kush and Orange Juice download” ranked No. 1 on Google’s hot search trends.^[22]

[edit] 2010: Signing with Atlantic Records

Citing music industry insiders, New York magazine wrote that Khalifa signed with Atlantic Records in April 2010, although the rapper did not confirm it.^[23] He stated to AllHipHop in June 2010 that he was working on a new album, but was weighing his options and had not yet decided on a label to distribute it.^[24] Khalifa confirmed to MTV on July 30 that he was signing an Atlantic Records deal.^[25]

Wiz Khalifa on stage in Boston in August 2010.

Khalifa was featured in a remix and video for the 2010 Rick Ross single "Super High", alongside Curren$y.^[26] He guested on the mixtape Grey Goose, Head Phones, and Thirsty Women by St. Louis rapper M.C,^[27] and was featured on the track "The Breeze (Cool)" on rapper Wale's August 2010 mixtape More About Nothing.^[28] Khalifa was named MTV's Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010, winning with nearly 70,000 votes, and beating out finalists Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, Travis Porter, and Diggy Simmons.^[29]

Khalifa appeared at the Soundset 2010 festival in May 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, alongside Method Man & Redman, Del the Funky Homosapien and Hieroglyphics, Atmosphere, Murs, Cage, and others.^[30] He also performed at the 2010 Rock the Bells festival, along with hip hop veterans Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill, A Tribe Called Quest, Rakim, KRS-One, Jedi Mind Tricks and Slick Rick.^[31] Khalifa declined an invitation to tour with rapper Drake and launched his own "Waken Baken" tour, a 50-city national tour with rapper Yelawolf. The tour, scheduled to last from September to November 2010, has, as of October, sold out every venue.^[8] On November 2010, during his "Waken Baken" tour at East Carolina University, Wiz Khalifa was arrested for possession and trafficking of marijuana. He was then released the next morning after a $300K bail, and resumed his tour. Khalifa performed in a cypher during the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards. He recited his verse from the song, "The Check Point", from his mixtape with Curren$y, How Fly.^[32]

[edit] 2010–11: Mainstream success and Rolling Papers

Khalifa released "Black and Yellow", his first single for Rostrum/Atlantic, produced by Stargate, which has received radio airplay.^[8][33] The single was peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100; the title of the song refers to the colours of the Pittsburgh Steelers.^[34] Khalifa released his debut album with Atlantic Records in 2011.^[35] He appeared with Curren$y on the track "Scaling the Building" on producer Ski Beatz' 2010 album, 24 Hour Karate School.^[36] Khalifa's record label is Taylor Gang Records, named after his love of Chuck Taylor All-Stars shoes.^[8]

On March 29, 2011, Khalifa released his first studio album, Rolling Papers. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 197,000 copies in the United States.^[37] Shortly afterward on March 31, 2011 Wiz Khalifa performed at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia as part of the school's annual Dooley's Weekend.^[38] On June 26, 2011, Khalifa was nominated and won Best New Artist at the BET Awards of 2011.^[39] Khalifa collaborated with British rapper Tinie Tempah whom Tinie announced in an interview with Rolling Stone that his next single is to be called "Till I'm Gone" and would feature Wiz Khalifa and is to be produced by Stargate.^[40][41] The single and the video song were released at the end of June 2011.^[42]

[edit] Personal life

Thomaz proposed to model Amber Rose on March 1, 2012 showing off the ring on Twitter.^[43] He is personal friends with Snoop Dogg, Juicy J, Yelawolf, and fellow Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller.^[44]

In March 2012, Thomaz purchased a 2.8 private wooded acres with a 3,891-square-foot residence in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. The residence includes 5-bedroom, 4-bath eco-friendly, Brazilian Koa floors, stainless steel appliances, a separate guest house, and a lavish master suite with high ceilings.^[45]He currently resides there with his fiancée Amber Rose.

[edit] Discography

Studio albums

• 2006: Show and Prove
• 2009: Deal or No Deal
• 2011: Rolling Papers
• 2012: O.N.I.F.C. ^[11][46][47]

[edit] Awards and nominations

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Wiz Khalifa

• Official website
• Wiz Khalifa on Facebook
• Wiz Khalifa on Myspace
• Wiz Khalifa on Twitter
• Wiz Khalifa at MTV
• Non-commercial Wiz Khalifa mixtapes

David Willis, otherwise known as DJ Ski and Ski Beatz, is an American record producer mainly working in hip hop.

[edit] Biography

Discovered by DJ Clark Kent,^[1] Ski was originally known as "MC Will-Ski". In the 1990s, he was a member of the group Original Flavor, the first group managed by future recording industry executive Damon Dash.^[2] In the mid-90s, Ski was working on duo Camp Lo's debut album Uptown Saturday Night when Dash called him in to work on the debut album of his own artist, Jay-Z. Jay's album, Reasonable Doubt, was released in 1996, marking Ski's first major production placement. Ski produced four tracks off the album, including the singles "Dead Presidents" and "Feelin' It".

After the critical success of Reasonable Doubt, Ski formed Roc-A-Blok Productions in affiliation with Jay and Dame's label, Roc-A-Fella Records, working with Camp Lo and Sporty Thievz. The producer crafted most of Camp Lo's debut, which dropped in 1997, and produced the Fat Joe single "John Blaze"; Ski continued to work with Jay-Z, on his second album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 as well as non-solo albums and compilation projects, until 1998, when Jay released his third project Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life without beats from any of his former producers except for DJ Premier.

Though Roc-A-Blok Productions had since folded, Ski stayed somewhat active in music. Relocating to his home state of North Carolina for a break from New York City's fast-paced lifestyle, he continued producing for artists such as Nature, members of the New Jersey crew The Outsidaz, Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, Ras Kass and Proof. The producer has continued to produce for Camp Lo, providing most of the production for their second album Let's Do it Again, as well as their third album, Black Hollywood.

Recently, Ski linked back up with Dame Dash, joining the entrepreneur's DD172 collective, subsequently nicknamed the 24-Hour Karate School. Since the foundation of the studio enclave, Ski has worked with Mos Def, Jay Electronica, Jean Grae and others; on April 30, 2010, he announced that he will be producing upcoming albums for Jean Grae, Joell Ortiz, Ras Kass and others, and will be producing all but three songs on the rapper Curren$y's 3rd album Pilot Talk ; these artists are also all featured on the producer's upcoming solo debut, entitled 24 Hour Karate School in honor of the collective.^[2]

[edit] Discography

Ski Beatz production discography

Studio albums

• 24 Hour Karate School (2010)
• 24 Hour Karate School Pt.2(2011)
• Twilight (2012)

Collaboration albums

• Embedded (with Locksmith) (2011)^[3]
• TBA (with Freddie Gibbs) (TBA 2012)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ski's on Myspace
• Ski Hip Hop Pow Interview
• Ski's's channel on YouTube
• Interview, HitQuarters Nov 08

Delmar Drew Arnaud^[1] (born May 25,^[2] 1973, Long Beach, California), better known by his stage name Daz Dillinger (formerly Dat Nigga Daz) is an American hip hop producer and rapper mostly known for his membership in the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, with Kurupt, and his work with Death Row Records.

[edit] Death Row years

[edit] The Chronic, Tha Dogg Pound and Dogg Food

Daz began his career on Death Row Records as a producer for co-founder Suge Knight's then-girlfriend, Paradise. He was signed to the label and subsequently began working with Dr. Dre on the breakthrough west coast album, The Chronic;^[3] during its recording, he met and grew close to Kurupt, whom he would soon work with professionally. The two formed Tha Dogg Pound for Doggystyle, the debut album of his cousin the record label's up-and-coming star Snoop Dogg. The critically acclaimed album, as well as their later single "What Would You Do?", saw Tha Dogg Pound partake in the rivalry between Dr. Dre and former N.W.A. groupmate Eazy-E, by dissing artists on Eazy's Ruthless Records.

Dillinger was more heavily involved in Doggystyle than was his groupmate; while it was produced and mixed by Dre, Arnaud was featured on one track and received co-production credit on two ("Serial Killa" and "For All My Niggaz and Bitches") he also produced tracks for Above The Rim and Murder Was the Case soundtracks. Following Daz and Kurupt put out their debut group album, Dogg Food, to rave reviews and platinum sales. While the duo dissed Ruthless act Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on the album, Dogg Food also saw the duo engage in yet another conflict, this time the beef Suge and new signee 2Pac initiated against Bad Boy Entertainment's Puff Daddy and Notorious B.I.G.; Daz and Kurupt would expand the feud to include Capone-N-Noreaga, Tragedy Khadafi and Mobb Deep with their Snoop-assisted single "New York, New York."

[edit] Head producer, All Eyez on Me & Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back

As the intercoastal rivalry escalated, and Suge Knight's increasingly intense strong-arm tactics entered the studio, head producer Dr. Dre steadily grew resentful of the label's dangerous atmosphere. Beginning with Dogg Food, which Daz produced, Dre no longer produced whole Death Row albums; in his latter days as in-house producer, he worked only with 2Pac, producing three tracks (California Love, which was originally supposed to appear on the Aftermath compilation album, California Love Remix, and Can't C Me) for the rapper's definitive album All Eyez on Me. Even before Dre left the label to found his own Aftermath Entertainment, Daz went to produce the hit songs "2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted", "Ambitionz Az A Ridah", and "I Ain't Mad At Cha" among other tracks which solidified his status as a talented and successful producer. Arnaud effectively took over as head producer, crafting most of the double-album's first disc and providing beats for Snoop Dogg's sophomore effort, Tha Doggfather, from which Dre's production was absent. His status as head producer was made official once Dre left, and continued on even after 2Pac's murder and the artist-exodus it initiated. During his tenure heading the label's sound, Daz contributed production to the Gridlock'd soundtrack, Lady of Rage's Necessary Roughness, and Nate Dogg's G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1. His production would also pop up on the unofficial Snoop Dogg release Dead Man Walkin put out by Suge in 2001, after Daz himself had left the label.

Dillinger went on to put out his own solo album, Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back on Death Row in 1998; Nate Dogg, Kurupt and Snoop had already left the label, followed shortly thereafter by Daz himself. During this time a short-lived feud sparked between Daz and Snoop, regarding the latter's words against Suge Knight and the former's status at the label and disses inherent in the album, which Snoop Dogg later dropped out of respect for his cousin.^[4]

[edit] Off Death Row

[edit] Solo career & feud with Kurupt

After ending his tenure at Death Row, Arnaud would go on to produce for acts like Kurupt, Soopafly, and B-Legit; he put out the album R.A.W. in 2000, the flagship release for his own D.P.G. Recordz, which would for some time function as a vehicle for releasing solo albums. He and Kurupt united in 2001 for a second album, Dillinger & Young Gotti, which received mixed reviews, under the name D.P.G. (as Suge still owned rights to the name 'Tha Dogg Pound' at the time). The group unity was short-lived, as Kurupt would subsequently re-sign with Death Row, prompting his former groupmate to diss him several times in song and interviews.^[5][6] Daz dissed Death Row with "Catch U In The Club", "U Ain't Shit" and a skit called "A Message to Ricardo Brown". Kurupt respond with "No Vaseline Part 2." The feud carried on from 2002 to 2005, while Dillinger released several solo efforts, including a 'DPGC' album with Snoop Dogg, Soopafly and Bad Azz and Tha Dogg Pound Gangsta LP on his own.

[edit] Reconciliation & upcoming projects

In 2005, Daz and Kurupt reconciled their differences at a west coast unity event hosted by Snoop Dogg;^[7] Kurupt proceeded to leave Death Row a second time, procuring rights to the name of Tha Dogg Pound and re-forming the duo with his former partner, who on his part ended his brief tenure at Jermaine Dupri's So So Def. The duo immediately commenced to releasing albums, including Dillinger & Young Gotti II: The Saga Continuez, the Let'z Ryde Tonite EP and Cali iz Active with Snoop Dogg as the DPG.^[3] Their next proper album came in the form of 2007's Dogg Chit, and then in 2009 with "That Was Then This Is Now". In the works for Daz are two Dogg Pound releases, one entitled 100 Wayz--formerly Westcoast Aftershocc, through Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle records, and one produced in conjunction with Pete Rock.^[8] August 1, 2008, Daz Dillinger offered the new owners of Death Row Records to record videos for Dogg Food; he also plans to repackage and release unreleased material.^[9]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

• 1998: Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back
• 2000: R.A.W.
• 2002: This Is the Life I Lead
• 2003: DPGC: U Know What I'm Throwin' Up
• 2004: I Got Love in These Streetz
• 2005: Tha Dogg Pound Gangsta LP
• 2005: Gangsta Crunk
• 2006: So So Gangsta
• 2007: Gangsta Party
• 2008: Only on the Left Side
• 2009: Public Enemiez
• 2010: Matter of Dayz
• 2011: D.A.Z.
• TBA: When We All Get to Heaven

[edit] Compilation albums

• 2001: Who Ride wit Us: Tha Compalation, Vol. 1
• 2002: To Live and Die in CA
• 2002: Who Ride wit Us: Tha Compalation, Vol. 2
• 2008: Who Ride wit Us: Tha Compalation, Vol. 3
• 2009: Who Ride wit Us: Tha Compalation, Vol. 4

[edit] Collaboration albums

• 2001: Long Beach 2 Fillmoe (with JT the Bigga Figga)
• 2001: Game for Sale (with JT the Bigga Figga)
• 2003: Southwest (with Nuwine)
• 2009: Get That Paper (with Fratthouse)
• TBA: West Coast Gangsta Shit (with W.C.)
• TBA: Stay of Execution^[10] (with The N'Matez)^[11][12]

[edit] EPs

• 2001: Makaveli & Dillinger Don't Go 2 Sleep (with Makaveli)
• TBA: Witit Witit^[13]

[edit] Mixtapes

• 2004: DPG: Till The Day I Die Mixtape
• 2005: So So Gangsta - The Mixtape
• 2005: West Coast Gangstas - Starring: Tha Dogg Pound (Hosted by DJ Kurupt)
• 2009: Dillinger & Makaveli - Tribute: Streetz of LA Special Edition (Hosted by DJ Nik Bean)
• 2010: R.O.W. (Return Of Westcoast)

[edit] Awards

• Nominated in 1996 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (with Kurupt): "What Would You Do"

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Daz Dillinger on Myspace
• Daz Dillinger at MTV
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French Montana (born November 9, 1984) is an American rapper and singer of Moroccan^[2][3] and Somali^[2][4] descent. He is the founder and CEO of Cocaine City Records, and in 2012, signed a joint recording deal with Diddy's Bad Boy Records and Rick Rosss' Maybach Music Group. He is known for his frequent collaborations with Max B, and more recently with Chinx Drugz and the rest of his group, the Coke Boys.

[edit] Biography

French Montana was born Karim Kharbouch in 1984 in Rabat, Morocco,^[1][4] where he lived for the first 13 years of his life. Growing up in Rabat, he was consumed by playing soccer and rapping, describing them as his two favorite childhood hobbies.^[5] In 1996, French emigrated with his parents and two younger brothers to the Bronx in New York City.^[6] His father left the family when French was 17, and so he began to provide for his mother and younger brothers.

His stage name is a conflation of French (from the French protectorate of Morocco) and Montana (from the fictitious Tony Montana in the 1983 movie Scarface).^[3]

Between 2003 and 2004, French was shot in the head as he was exiting a recording studio in New York. He was rushed to the hospital after the incident and survived. Describing the shooting as a possible assassination attempt, the artist was subsequently involved in a murder trial in which he was eventually found not guilty. Rumors began to swirl that he had received settlement money from the case, which he then used to start his rap career. However, French later dismissed these claims as false in an interview.^[7]

[edit] Music career

[edit] Cocaine City

In 2002, along with his friend Camz he created a series of street-flavoured DVD documentaries called 'Cocaine City' after drawing inspiration from the 'Smack' DVD series. Under the name Young French he used the DVDs as a means of showcasing his talent as an underground artist. To gain a broader fan base, French incorporated interviews with major artists, as well as some up and comers. The first edition in the series included Pee Wee Kirkland and Remy Ma alongside French himself among others. What started out as simply a medium for developing an audience quickly grew into one of the top-selling "street DVDs".^[3][6][8] The series ran for 8 years between 2002 and 2010, with a total of 14 editions being released.^[9]

[edit] 2009-2010

In 2009, French signed a deal with Akon's Konvict Muzik record label, but later left the label in 2011 due to album delays.^[10] Montana was subsequently reportedly close to signing a deal with Rick Ross's Maybach Music Group (MMG).^[11] There were also reports that he would join Kanye West's GOOD Music label.^[12]

[edit] Bad Boy Records & Maybach Music Group

In December 2011, Montana signed a joint record deal with Rick Rosss' Maybach Music Group and P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records^[13] and Interscope Records.^[14] According to French, of the many major labels that were courting him, the Maybach |Music Group would have been his second choice had he not signed with Bad Boy.^[15] Montana still maintains strong ties with MMG, and Rick Ross is slated to executive produce his debut album.^[16] It was announced that the debut album will be released July 17, 2012 by Rick Ross.

French was featured on XXL's Freshman Class of 2012 alongside Future, Kid Ink, Danny Brown, Macklemore, Don Trip, Hopsin, Iggy Azalea, Roscoe Dash and labelmate Machine Gun Kelly (rapper).^[17][18] However, he later revealed to Sway Calloway on RapFix Live that he almost turned down the cover opportunity, feeling he "deserved it two years ago" and that he had surpassed the current crop of rap rookies.^[19][8]

[edit] Influences

According to French, the rappers Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, The Notorious B.I.G. and Wu-Tang Clan were among the hip hop artists that he listened to while growing up. He also considers himself a general music lover.^[20]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

• Excuse My French (2012)

[edit] Mixtapes

• French Revolution Vol. 1 (Hosted by Cutmaster C) (2007)^[21]
• Live From Africa (Hosted by Cocaine City) (2008)^[22]
• Coke Wave (with Max B; Hosted by DJ Whoo Kid) (2008)^[23]
• Coke Wave 2 (with Max B; Hosted by Evil Empire) (2009)^[24]
• The Laundry Man (Hosted by Evil Empire & Big Mike) (2009)^[25]
• Mac Wit Da Cheese (Hosted by Big Mike) (2009)^[26]
• The Laundry Man 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire) (2009)^[27]
• Cocaine Konvicts: Gangsta Grillz (Hosted by DJ Drama) (2009)^[28]
• Mac & Cheese 2 (Hosted by Evil Empire, Self & Big Mike) (2010)^[29]
• Coke Boys (with Coke Boys; Hosted by DJ Lust, DJ Drama & DJ Diggz) (2010)^[30]
• Mister 16 (Casino Life) (Hosted by DJ Holiday) (2011)^[31]
• Coke Boys 2 (with Coke Boys) (Hosted by Evil Empire) (2011)^[32]
• Coke Boys Run NY (with Chinx Drugz; Hosted by ItsBizkit, Trapemasters Inc & Evil Empire) (2011)^[33]
• Lock Out (with Waka Flocka Flame; Presented by DJ Drama & DJ Green Lantern) (2011)^[34]
• Cocaine Mafia (with Juicy J and Project Pat; Hosted by Evil Empire) (2011)^[35]
• N.W.C. (Niggas With Coke): Coke Boys 3 (2012)^[36]
• Mac & Cheese 3 (Hosted by Evil Empire, Self & Big Mike) (TBA)

[edit] Other Mixtapes

• Cocaine & Caviar (2010)
• Cocaine & Caviar 2 (2011)

[edit] Guest appearances

• TTG (Trained to Go) (Waka Flocka Flame feat. French Montana, YG Hootie, Joe Moses, Suge Gotti & Baby Bomb) off: Flockaveli (2010)
• Big Bank (Pill, Meek Mill, Wale & Rick Ross feat. French Montana) off: Self Made Vol. 1 (2011)
• Body Work (Pusha T feat. Juicy J, Meek Mill & French Montana) off: Fear of God II: Let Us Pray (2011)
• Everything That Glitters (DJ Drama feat. Pusha T & French Montana) off: Third Power (2011)
• Off the Boat (Rick Ross feat. French Montana) off: Rich Forever (2012)
• Stay Schemin' (Rick Ross feat. Drake & French Montana) off: Rich Forever (2012)^[37]
• Ghetto Boy (Young Buck feat. French Montana & Uncle Murda) off: Bond Money (2012)
• She Did It (Fabolous) (2012)
• Hurt Somebody (Akon feat. French Montana) off: The Koncrete Mixtape (2012)
• Top Chef (Akon feat. Gucci Mane & French Montana) off: The Koncrete Mixtape (2012)
• Self Made (Akon feat. French Montana, Juicy J & Project Pat) off: The Koncrete Mixtape (2012)
• Got Damn (remix) (DJ Kay Slay feat. Torch, Gunplay, Busta Rhymes, French Montana & 2 Chainz) (2012)
• Mean Muggin (Game feat. 2 Chainz & French Montana) off: California Republic (2012)
• Paper Tags (Jadakiss feat. Wale, French Montana & Styles P) off: Consignment (2012)
• Back To The Money (Jadakiss feat. Waka Flocka Flame, Slim Dunkin & French Montana) off: Cosignment (2012)

[edit] Singles

[edit] As featured performer

[edit] Videography

[edit] 2008

• "Why So Serious"
• "Do It Right"
• "Smoking"
• "We Run new York"
• "Why So Serious"

[edit] 2009

• "Im So Special"
• "New York Minute"
• "Playing In The Wind"
• "Henny & My 44"
• "Lay Down"
• "Stick up Boys"

[edit] 2010

• "Them Girls"
• "Go Hard"
• "Whatcha Know About It"
• "Im On It"
• "Heartache & Pain"

[edit] 2011

• "Tryna Breathe"
• "Choppa Choppa Down"
• "Choppa Choppa Down (Remix)"
• "Shot Caller"
• "We Mobb"
• "Stay Schemin'"

[edit] 2012

• "Weed & Drinks"
• "Shot Caller (Remix)"

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• French Montana - Breakthrough Artist 2009/2010
• French Montana - Last.fm
• XXL magazine - French Montana
• CHAMP Magazine
• [2]
• [3]
• [4]
• [5]