A-Wax
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A-Wax | ||
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Background information | ||
Origin | Pittsburg, CA | |
Genre(s) | Rap / Hip-hop / Gangsta | |
Years active | 2000-present | |
Label(s) | Bayrider Pie-Rx Group/Konvict Music | |
Website | Official website/ |
Contents |
[edit] Personal life
A-Wax (born Aaron Scott on July 17, 1980) grew up in Pittsburg, CA (not Pennsylvania) and later in the Tacoma area in the State of Washington and eventually settled back in the San Francisco Bay Area but also spends alot of time between West Hollywood, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Phoenix, AZ.
[edit] Before The Music
Like most youngsters in the ghetto, playing sports, video games and listening to their favorite rappers. As the years went by though the small San Francisco suburb of Pittsburg became plagued with the same problems of any other major city. Drive-bys and drug deals replaced football games, and school dances. As the impressionable A-Wax became infatuated with the street life and started having run ins with the law, he was sent to Seattle to shape up his act…this would forever change his life.
While the Bay Area pretty much rejected the migration from L.A. of Crips and Bloods in the 1980’s, Seattle, Washington was hit hard. Control of the turfs and the city’s fast growing drug trade was the #1 priority of the Bloods and Crips and recruitment was at an all time high. A-Wax was drawn into the gang lifestyle immediately and pledged his allegiance to the Elm Street Piru’s an infamous Blood set based in Compton, CA but influential in the Pacific Northwest and sworn enemies of the Crips, the nation’s largest gang. As A-Wax’s life was consumed by gang warfare a fateful night in Tacoma, WA would land him in Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, WA for five years for manslaughter. At 16 years old, A-Wax went from street thug to "konvict" and there was no turning back.
Embracing the prison life was easy for A-Wax and the love and respect he earned from his gang homies for “puttin’ in work” in the streets made his time easier. A little over half way through his prison bid, A-Wax started writing raps and had dreams of recording an album when he got out.
[edit] Career
When A-Wax hit the streets in 2001, he moved back to Pittsburg and recorded and released his debut album Savage Timez. His smooth delivery combined with his raspy voice and realistic tales of street and prison life made A-Wax an instant underground hit in the Bay Area. A-Wax's efforts soon drew the attentions of music mogul B-12, former Vice President of Urban Music for Bayside Entertainment Distribution (a division of now defunct and bankrupt retail giant Tower Records), who immediately signed A-Wax to a two year distribution deal and then eventually went onto perosnally manage and consult for A-Wax.
Critical acclaim came easy but commercial success and a major record deal would continue to elude him. His no nonsense demeanor and street ethics have slowed his ascension to the top but as A-Wax says “they (the majors) will come around when they see I don’t waiver on my belief’s and everything I spit is real, I mean the streets love me so the radio is next, I promise!”
Wax has recorded four solo albums including his last album “Thug Deluxe” (featuring Dr. Dre’s protégé and former G-Unit member The Game ) which is an underground favorite in the streets and clubs of the West Coast. He has also appeared on over 80 albums and compilations to date but his greatest accomplishment yet was when he received an RIAA Gold Certification Award for his stellar guest appearance on Latin rap sensations Baby Bash’s “Smokin’ Nephew” album.
What started as little more than a hobby to pass time while he was locked up became a full-time career for this gang banger turned MC. In recent times, A-Wax's career seems to have been overshadowed by a series of personal rap beefs with fellow Pittsburg rappers the Mob Figaz. Not wavering on his position, A-Wax has proven his staying power as he has moved out to network across the country including doing music in Los Angeles with platinum R&B crooner Mario Winans' brother Bishop as well as recently signing with Akon's Konvict Music.
His next album, entitled "Unconditional Thug" is part two in his Thug Trilogy series and features Napoleon of The Outlawz, Devin The Dude, Danny Boy and more. The album features production from Vince V. (best known for his work with Bizzy Bone, Yukmouth, Brotha Lynch Hung, and Dead Prez) as well as Lev Berlak of Richie Rich, Snoop Dogg and Mob Figaz fame.
[edit] Film
As of right now, a book and film are in the works for A-Wax's life story from his childhood in Pittsburg, CA to his joining a gang to prison to the music business. A-Wax released his own DVD in 2005 with his former rhyme partner "Smigg Dirtee" entitled Behind The Scenes on the Bayrider Pie-Rx Group. A-Wax also makes an appearance in the upcoming Ya-Da-Da Movie the first "hyphy" film to be released from the San Francisco Bay Area starring Chopper and Sara Stokes from MTV and P. Diddy's Da Band as well as Rude Jude, Jose Rosete, Dem Hoodstarz and others.
[edit] Albums
A-Wax / Savage Timez (2001) ("Possi/Big Treez")
A-Wax / 65 G'z In A Jordan Briefcase (2002) ("Possi/Bayside")
A-Wax / Conceptz & Contradictionz (2003) ("Pie-Rx")
A-Wax / Thug Deluxe (2004) ("Pie-Rx/City Hall")
[edit] Appearances
(F**K The Game) (from "Northern Expozure V.4) 2004 "East Co. Co. Records"