Smilez and Southstar
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Smilez and Southstar are a hip-hop duo based in Orlando, Florida. They had a Top 40 hit with the song Tell Me. Their music has been played on stations nationwide and their videos have appeared on MTV and BET.
The group is unique because of the difference of races. Smilez is African-American while Southstar is Chinese/Filipino-American. Southstar was born in Hawaii.
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[edit] Beginnings
[edit] Getting signed
Smilez met Southstar while rap battling in Orlando and then decided to start their own rap group. They kept performing and battling and eventually caught the eyes of Reincarnate Music and Smilez & Southstar immediately got a record deal.
[edit] Early success 2002-2003
The group's first single was "Who Wants This" featuring Kelis. The song had an underground vibe to it and created a buzz--but still didn't crack the top 40. The group's next single "Tell Me" hit the Top 40 charts. The duo then followed it up with "Now That You're Gone". Smilez talks about the death of his mother and Southstar speaks about the death of his son, Malik, however, it did poorly on the charts, and the group was considered a one-hit wonder. But, the group still followed on with a tour with reggae artist Beenie Man. They also were considered "different" because they didn't talk about drugs or sex in their music[citation needed]. However, that has since changed, as heard in their single "Good Look", which was featured on BET:Uncut.
The group has been quiet because of their switch in labels due to poor success of their album Crash The Party. They were signed to Reincarnate, an indie label, but now have created their own independent record label Groundworks Entertainment. The label features reggae artist Viper and rapper Vill.
[edit] Controversy
"Tell Me" used a sample from Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross's song Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart). There was controversy when Ja Rule and Ashanti's song "Mesmerized", released around the same time, used the same sample. This made a slight "beef" between Smilez & Southstar and Ja Rule's record label, Murder Inc. Records, which was really just a common misunderstanding when people would confuse the two songs.
[edit] Feature success
Smilez and Southstar are currently working on their next album and should have a release date in 2007. The album features the songs "Found Out", "Been a Long Time", and "Good Look". "Good Look" features Cash Money rapper Gotti. Beenie Man and Killer Mike will be featured on the album. The lead single "U Know" features rappers Treal. Southstar is featured on the mixtape freestyle "Protect Ya Neck" with fellow Asian rappers Jin, LS, Snacky Chan, Yung Mac, Thai, and Far East Movement.
[edit] Singles & videography
- "Who Wants This" feat. Kelis
- "Tell Me"
- "Now That You're Gone"
- "Good Look" feat. Gotti
- "U Know" feat. Treal
[edit] Albums
- Crash the Party
[edit] Mixtapes
- Mixtape Vol. 1
- F*$% Wit us Now
