| Fat Tony | |
|---|---|
Fat Tony |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anthony Lawson Jude Ifeanyichukwu Obiawunaotu |
| Born | March 24, 1988 |
| Origin | Third Ward, Houston, Texas |
| Genres | Hip Hop |
| Occupations | rapper, record producer |
| Instruments | vocals |
| Years active | 2005 - Present |
| Labels | Greedhead, Home Skool Rekordz |
| Associated acts | The Low Ends Das Racist Supreeme Murs |
| Website | http://fattonyrap.com |
Anthony Obi (born March 24,[1] 1988) is a Nigerian-American rapper from, and based in Houston, Texas known as Fat Tony. He is affiliated with Greedhead and Home Skool Rekordz, but previously released the Love Life EP on Same Struggle Ent. and self-released the remainder of his discography.
Fat Tony's debut album RABDARGAB was released October 19, 2010 and features production entirely from Tom Cruz (Shaka Girvan) of Atlanta based rap group Supreeme.[2] The album features appearances by Murs, Negashi Armada aka Blunt Fang from Supreeme, Charly East, Bo. P, Kam Franklin, and Tom Cruz (Shaka Girvan). RABDARGAB is a reference to a late 1990s Houston Independent School District campaign aimed at elementary school students to promote literacy by offering $1 to students in exchange for book reports. The acronym stands for "Read a Book - Do A Report - Get a Buck."[3] With the release of this album Fat Tony ran a promotion entitled LISDARGAB (Listen, Do a Review, Get a Buck) where Fat Tony would send anyone who emailed him a review for RABDARGAB a dollar bill in the mail.[4]
On his birthday March 24, 2011 he released a remix album entitled SCREWDARGAB. It was a "chopped-up, not slopped up" version of his debut album RABDARGAB remixed by legendary Houston based DJ OG RON C.[5]
The album RABDARGAB was preceded by a mixtape release entitled RABDARGAB: The EPreview mixed by Fat Tony's DJ (iPod Ammo). The mix tape featured collaborations with Das Racist, Juiceboxxx, HOSPITAL, Jade <3, Tecla, Smash Bro, and more.[6]
Fat Tony is currently preparing his as of yet untitled second album and a mixtape, both produced by Tom Cruz (Shaka Girvan). The mixtape will feature two upcoming singles "Good While It Lasted" and "Bad Habits" featuring Bun B and Nicholas Thorburn of Islands / Mister Heavenly / The Unicorns.[7]
Fat Tony won the 2010, 2009 and 2008 Houston Press Music Awards' Best Underground Hip Hop award, and has been recognized in URB's Next 1000, a list of emerging new artists anticipated to breakthrough.[8][9][10] He wont the Houston Press "Best Underground Rapper" award three times, as of 2011.[11]
Fat Tony, whom lives in the Third Ward area of Houston,[12] attended Carnegie Vanguard High School (Class of 2006[13]) and the University of St. Thomas.[14] He also studied as a communications major at the University of Houston.[15] Fat Tony first gained prominence in Texas' underground Hip Hop scene as a founding member of Houston based Hip Hop group The Low Ends.[16] As a teenager he was known for organizing music events in Houston inviting regional and national bands such as The Ergs!, Joe Jitsu, The Rushmores, The Cocker Spaniels and other underground acts. He intentionally organized events featuring artists of various genres to bring forth an avenue for developing diverse tastes. For the often young audiences, they were getting their first sighting of underground and independent music.
Fat Tony's debut solo EP release entitled the Love Life EP (released by Same Struggle Ent. on March 4, 2008) was spread to thousands due to its initial online release as a free download with a limited run pressing of 300 CDs. Reviews for the EP have been generally positive.[17]
Fat Tony also works as a music journalist, currently writing for his blog,[18]. He has written for Hater magazine and Free Press Houston.[19] He also contributed to articles in the Houston Press and the Houston Chronicle.[20][21] and other publications as well.
In 2008 Fat Tony participated in a charity concert to raise money for prevention and treatment of HIV.[22]
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His primary musical influences are drawn from Pop music, Punk rock, Southern hip hop, Indie rock and Hip Hop music.[23]
He has openly admitted to being influenced by a variety of artists such as Supreeme, The Smiths, Prince, Jay-Z, Nas, UGK, Ramones, My Bloody Valentine, Devin the Dude, E-40, A Tribe Called Quest, Black Flag, Bad Brains, Sly & the Family Stone, R. Kelly among others.