Twista
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| Twista | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Carl Terrell Mitchell |
| Born | November 27, 1973 [citation needed] |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois |
| Genre(s) | Hip-hop Midwest Rap Chicago hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, actor, record producer |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Label(s) | Loud/Zoo/BMG Records Get Money Gang Atlantic Records |
| Associated acts | Do or Die, Pitbull, Kanye West, David Banner,T-Pain, Speedknot Mobstaz, R. Kelly, Yung Berg, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Roc-A-Fella |
| Website | Official Web Site |
Carl Terrell Mitchell (born on November 27, 1973,[citation needed] in Chicago, Illinois), better known by his stage name Twista, is an American hip-hop emcee who once held the title of fastest emcee in the world, according to the Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to spit 11.2 syllables per second.[1] His 2004 album Kamikaze went to number-one on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart after the success of his number-one Billboard Hot 100 single "Slow Jamz."
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[edit] Music career
Twista grew up in K-Town area on the West Side of Chicago, where he started rapping at the age of 12. Before starting his professional career, however, he had several other jobs, including working at a factory, selling shoes, telemarketing, working at McDonald's, and as a barber.
Twista was one of the first artists to sign with Loud Records. In 1991, he released Runnin' Off at Da Mouth under the name of Tung Twista.
Despite this recognition, the album achieved little success. Twista dropped "Tung" off of his stage name for his second album, Resurrection, which was never released outside of some parts of Chicago. On the album he disses Treach of Naughty By Nature, who had stated that Twista's style was all show and no content. Twista's local notoriety grew in the underground mixtape circuit, as he was featured on several Chicago rap mixtapes, notably Chibangin, alongside unsigned artists like Psychodrama, Triple Darkness, and DA Smart.
In 1996, he teamed with fellow Chicago act Do or Die on the track "Po' Pimp" the track became a hit single, leading to a contract with Atlantic Records. He released Adrenaline Rush during 1997, where the album was a huge success with little mainstream help. Around this time, Do or Die and he began a bout of dis tracks against Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, which accused Chicago acts of stealing their fast-spitting style.
This was followed by Mobstability in 1998. Twista then formed his own Legit Ballin' label, which released two compilation albums: Legit Ballin' in 1999 and Legit Ballin' Vol. 2: Street Scriptures in 2001. The label later released Respect The Game, Vol. 3 in 2002 and Volume 4: Tha Truth in 2006. In 2000, Twista collaborated with Ruff Ryders and Drag-On on the Ruff Ryders: Ryde or Die Vol. 2 album, on the track "Twisted Heat."
Twista's reputation in hip-hop circles led to work with some other midwestern acts, such as Royce da 5'9" and Da Brat, and southern acts such as Timbaland and Ludacris, as well as an appearance on P. Diddy's albums No Way Out and Forever, and ties to Roc-A-Fella Records. His long awaited 2004 album, Kamikaze, was cerified platinum on the strength of two singles produced by Roc-A-Fella's Kanye West. The first single, "Slow Jamz" (featured on both Kamikaze and Kanye's debut College Dropout), featured Kanye West and Jamie Foxx.
After this success, Dame Dash made clear his desire to sign Twista to Roc-A-Fella. Although Atlantic would not release him from his contract, Dame tried to negotiate a joint venture and made Twista an honorary member of the Roc-A-Fella roster. One of summer 2004's biggest hits, "Jook Gal" by Elephant Man, featured Twista & The YoungBloodZ (on the Coolie riddim) on a remix. Twista's next album, The Day After, was not as commercially or critically successful and showed a notable lack of Kanye West production. He recently reunited with Kanye for the Mission Impossible III soundtrack, and released his next album, titled Adrenaline Rush 2007, in August 2007, which featured Tight Mike aka Cuzzo, Toxic, The Neptunes, Kanye West, and Jazze Pha. Guest appearances included the likes of Lil Wayne, R Kelly, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
In 2006, He and his 17-year-old nephew Jesse Marvin Parks, a.k.a. Jmoney, an upcoming emcee out of Minnesota, released his debut single "Get Doe." Twista was also featured on the song "Hell No (Leave Home)" from Monica's new album, The Makings of Me.
Twista has his own column in the weekly Chicago Tribune publication RedEye, called "Twista's Turn", in which he shares his thoughts and answers readers' questions.[2] During April 2008, Twista even toured Iraq to entertain the American troops.
[edit] Get Money Gang Records (GMG)
- Twista (founder and CEO)
- Speedknot Mobstaz (Liffy Stokes & Mayz)
- B-Hype
- Anya
- Skooda Chose
- Mello Tha Guddaman
- Cuzzo aka DJ Tight Mike
- DJ Sean Mac
- DJ Mustafa Rocks
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1991: Runnin' Off at Da Mouth (as Tung Twista)
- 1994: Resurrection
- 1997: Adrenaline Rush (Gold)
- 1998: Mobstability (with Speedknot Mobstaz)
- 2004: Kamikaze (Platinum)
- 2005: The Day After (Gold)
- 2005: 2 For 10
- 2007: Adrenaline Rush 2007
- 2008: Mobstability II: Nation Business (with Speedknot Mobstaz)
[edit] Singles
- 2004: "Slow Jamz" (featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx)
- 2004: "Overnight Celebrity"
- 2004: "So Sexy" (featuring R. Kelly)
- 2005: "Hope" (featuring Faith Evans)
- 2005: "Girl Tonite" (featuring Trey Songz)
- 2005: "Hit the Floor" (featuring Pitbull)
- 2006: "So Lonely" (featuring Mariah Carey)
- 2007: "Give It Up" (featuring Pharrell)
[edit] Featured Singles
- 2005: "Let's Go" (Trick Daddy featuring Lil Jon & Twista)
- 2005: "DJ Play a Love Song" (Jamie Foxx featuring Twista)
- 2005: "Gotta Make It" (Trey Songz featuring Twista)
- 2006: "Spit Your Game" (Notorious B.I.G. featuring Twista & Krayzie Bone)
- 2007: "Hell No (Leave Home)" (Monica featuring Twista)
- 2007: "5000 Ones" (DJ Drama featuring Nelly, T.I., Yung Joc, Willie the Kid, Young Jeezy, & Twista)
- 2008: "Money" (Bizzy Bone featuring Twista)
[edit] External links
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