Bossman

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Bossman
Birth name Travis Holifield
Also known as The B.O.S.S, Charm City's King, Bulletproof B, Jimmy Hash, Heavy Metal Boss
Born 1982
Origin Baltimore City, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Genre(s) Hip Hop
Years active 2002–present
Label(s) Northeast Kings (N.E.K)/1Up Entertainment/Power Hitters
Associated acts Jermaine Dupri, No I.D., Just Blaze, Scott Storch
Website Bossman's Official Myspace Page

Travis Holifield is a hip hop artist.[1] from Baltimore,Maryland. He is better known by the stage name Bossman as well as Jimmy Hash. He is now common with the nickname Bulletproof B as well as Charm City's King.

He has appeared on mixtapes promoted by DJ Kayslay and DJ Radio with other Baltimore rappers such as Skarr Akbar, D.O.G., X.O, Barnes and rapper/producer and CEO/Founder of Academy Records Y.K., and is well known through Baltimore Club music. Travis began his rapping career as a part of N.E.K (Northeast Kings) where he was known as "Jimmy Hash". The rap qroup gained a moderate level of popularity throughout Baltimore. Bossman has released his debut album Law and Order in 2004 in Baltimore only as well as Mixtapes hosted by DJ Envy and Big Mike. He is currently a free agent after leaving his deal under Sony Urban Music. The only distrbution label he has now is 1up entertainment which only can release his albums in Maryland, Northern Virgina, and Delaware as well as selling his album through the internet. His 2nd long-awaited album Home Of The Wire (Formally named Law & Order until bossman left the majors as well as Orange & Black Monsta) is officially due for a local release only.

Contents

[edit] Jena 6

Bossman is a supporter of the Jena 6 and made a song called Far Too Long dedicated to the Jena 6. He released it on his Myspace page. The song also appeared on DJ D-Mob's Put B-More On The Map Volume 7 mixtape which came out October 27, 2007 on Datpiff. It also appared on N.E.K's latest mixtape N.E.K All Day Part 1.

[edit] Personal Life

Travis is a single father, he has a daughter named Kenedi. The mother of the child is unknown to sources.

[edit] Influences

Bossman has looked up to many of the well known great rappers such as 2Pac, Notorious BIG, Nas, and Jay-Z.Rumors had surfaced that Bossman reportedly made negative comments about New York based rapper Jadakiss in his single Off The Record. Bossman corrected the rumors by explaining his belief in Jadakiss being one of best rappers left in hip-hop.

Baltimore is a city riddled with crime, drugs, sex, and poverty. To make matters worst Bossman's father was deeply involved in the streets and both his mother and father spent time in jail. Being raised in and overcoming severe hardships has armed Bossman with a positive mindset and powerful lyrics.

[edit] Album History

[edit] Law & Order

Bossman's Debut album was called Law & Order. The album was released on December 21, 2004 on Double Down Entertainment and was generaly produced by 1Up productions (which is now known as 1Up Entertainment). Bossman's reason why he named his album Law & Order is explained below

"Without No Law it's no order... It was the Law that put my life in Order. It was the Law that sentenced my pa to a quarter and took my mom from her son and her daughter. This is Law & Order, so by Law I gotta put this game in order and without no Law there can be no Order."

He will then but that saying in the booklet for the album. It's original single was "Oh!" (also known by his fans as The Baltimore Anthem) and was produced by Baltimore Club producer Rod Lee. Its second single became Off da Record after it got massive radio play on 92Q and was produced by 1Up Productions, Off Da Record was the song that got Jermaine Dupri to sign Bossman to Virgin Records and his label So So Def.

It's sales for the album was pretty high for a local release selling 13,000 copies first week alone in Baltimore. as of now, the CD has sold close to 80,000 copies making it the best selling local CD in Baltimore with ex-rival Mullyman's album Mullymania right under it only selling 67,000 copies as of now.

[edit] Home Of The Wire

Home Of The wire is marked as bossman's 2nd LP release since 2004. Rumored to be named Orange & Black Monsta, the named was then officially announced by 1Up Entertainment to be named Home of The Wire. The album is due for a 2008 or 2009 release. It's current single is "Ghetto" featuring ex-Dru Hill member Scola. Ghetto has currently been ranked by WERQ-FM (Known as 92Q) as #1 in the local hip hop singles chart with fellow Baltimore rapper TestMe's track Dremin' ranked as #2. Its 2nd single for the album is supposed to be titled Colors as said by 1Up. Its possiable 3rd single is supposed to be Love Is Pain Featuring fellow rapper TestMe and T-Pain.

[edit] Northeast Kings (N.E.K)

Northeast Kings
Also known as N.E.K
Origin Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Genre(s) Hip Hop
Years active 2002 - present
Label(s) Double Down Entertainment (2003 - 2005)
1Up Entertainment (2003 - Present)
Associated acts Skarr Akbar, A-Maz-On, Caddy Da Don, Tim Trees,T-Pain, Tony Yayo
Members
Bossman
Dollars
Tony Manson
Former members
Heavy Gold
Hots
Johnny Cash

Northeast Kings was made up of various Baltimore rappers by the names of Johnny Cash, Dollars, Tony Manson, Heavy Gold, Hots and Bossman. Bossman was the most popular artist in the group. Their former member Heavy Gold left N.E.K and went to Skarr Akbar's Arabz label while the other former member Hots went on and wanted to do his own thing as a solo artist. Johnny Cash's departure from N.E.K is still unknown to sources.On March 24, 2008, the group released a new mixtape called N.E.K All Day Part 1. A rumor came out that the mixtape was marked to have Bossman's song Colors on it but was later announced that the rumor was false and announced that Bossman will not drop that song until his 2nd local LP is ready to drop.

[edit] Feuds

[edit] Jermaine Dupri

The feud was first known as a rumor when So So Def member/owner Jermaine Dupri left Virgin Records when their deal with Capital Records was going on and went to Island Def Jam Music Group along with his So So Def crew. What started the feud was that Dupri left Bossman behind knowing that he was the one who got him signed to Virgin under the So So Def label. Bossman appeared on the Deep Freeze DVD hosted by Sub-Zero 3 months after So So Def left Virgin and sub-zero asked him if he still works with Dupri or not. Bossman replied saying "Why the Fuck Does It Matter, J.D. Is gone. I don't work wit da nigga no more" as well as making various comments about him and the So So Def label on his Bulletproof B mixtape. In July 2007, Bossman and Dupri both announced that there was no feud between them anymore until Bossman had some words about Dupri's So So Def label on his mixtape End Of Discussion saying "I'm not So So but i'm so much defer" claiming that he got much better than when he was a So So Def member. He also made another Dupri remark on his So Fresh Remix saying "I'm So much def and now that J.D left, N.E.K all day that be the set that we rep" as well as admitting that they rarely did work together right after he dropped his first Mainstream single Hand Clap.

[edit] From Virgin to Sony Urban Music and back to the Underground

In Early August 2007, bossman left Virgin Records right after the deal with Capital Records, Bossman signed a $2.5 million-plus deal with Sony Records under the Sony Urban Music label, later after he signed, Bossman announced that his long awaited major debut album version of this 2004 Baltimore Underground album "Law & Order" will be officially released in Mid December 2007. While He's got his fans getting ready for his album, he released a Pre-album CD entitled End Of Discussion which is only found in Baltimore stores only. 5 Days after End Of Discussion released, it then went on Datpiff as a free download. End Of Discussion also came with another mixtape called The Overdose which was by N.E.K member Dollars. in early December, Bossman announced that the CD was pushed back to sometime in the Summer of 2008 and is looking forward to have a change of an album name. Currently, the rumored album title is The Orange & Black Monsta (which was later confirmed and then changed). In early March 2008, Bossman left Sony and is now back in the underground circit. On Bossman's myspace, he marked that he is a "Free Agent". On May 7, 2008 Bossman later changed the title from Orange & Black Monsta to Home Of The Wire"' and is still expected for a 2008 Local release

[edit] Orange & Black Tour

Bossman as well as rappers TestMe, Ogun, Caddy Da Don, Dollars & Tony Manson Started a Maryland only tour called the Orange & Black Tour. So far their biggest show was the Orange & Black New Years Bash '08 which only contained the N.E.K members. The show took place at the Westminster AG Center in Westminster, Maryland and was sold out 8 hours before showtime. The people who attended the shows received the Orange & Black EP for free upon entry of the event. Bossman's Tour Manager is currently working on getting the tour outside of Maryland as well as outside the United States.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums, EPs & Mixtapes

Law & Order (Debut Local LP Release) (2004)
This Is A Warning (Mixtape hosted by DJ Envy) (2005)
Yellow Tape (Mixtape hosted by DJ Envy & Big Mike) (2005)
Bulletproof B (2006)
No Law No Order - The Pre Album (Mixtape hosted by DJ Lil Skrilla) (2007)
End Of Discussion (2007)
Orange & Black EP (Only given away at the Orange & Black Tour shows)
N.E.K All Day Part 1 (Group mixtape) (2008)
Home Of The Wire (2nd Local LP Release) (TBA 2008)

[edit] Singles

Song Title Release Date
"Oh" (B-More Anthem) (Local Release) (Appeared on Law & Order) July 19, 2004
Off The Record (Local Release) (Appeared On Law & Order) December 4, 2004
Hand Clap (Mainstream release) (Appeared on This is A Warning & Yellowtape) November 29, 2005 (On iTunes)
You're Wrong (Mainstream release) (Appeared On Bulletproof B) July 25, 2006 (On iTunes)
A-Yo! (Mainstream release) (Appeared on both versions of The Wire Soundtracks & Bulletproof B) December 6, 2006
So Fresh (Local Release) (Appeared On End Of Discussion) May 2, 2007
Colors (Local Release) (Appeared on the Orange & Black EP and rumored to be on Home Of The Wire) November 14, 2007
Ghetto (Local Release) (To Appear on Home Of The Wire) March 25, 2008

[edit] Mixtapes & Albums He Has Appeared On

DJ D-Mob's Put B-More On The Map Mixtape Series (all Volumes except for Volume 8)
DJ Newport's In De Face Part 3
The Wire Soundtrack (His song "A-Yo!" appeared on both versions of the soundtrack)

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ City Paper [http://www.citypaper.com/music/review.asp?rid=8393 "Star Trek Fast-Rising Local MC Bossman Wants to Ride His Hometown Buzz to Places Where No Baltimore Rapper Has Been Before"].