| Shortyo | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Richard Hentosh |
| Born | January 31, 1980 Chester, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations | Rapper, songwriter, MC, record executive, record producer, entrepreneur, businessman, media mogul |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Affiliated Records |
| Website | shortyo.com |
Richard Hentosh (born January 31, 1980),[1] better known by his stage name, Shortyo, is an American hip hop artist and businessman. He is the CEO of Affiliated Records. He co-owns Cornerboy Clothing with fellow Philly MC Cyssero. He is one of the only artists from Philadelphia that has major distribution with Koch Entertainment.[2]
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Originally from the Highland Gardens section 8 housing in the Chester, Pennsylvania neighborhood Shortyo was abandoned by his father when he was young and was raised by his mother and grandmother. Later moving to Eddystone, Pennsylvania Shortyo attended Eddystone Elementary School where he got a nack for music from his 3rd grade teacher. Shortyo attended Ridley High School in Folsom, where he started to craft his skills on the mic. Shortyo performed at a few clubs and performed at his High School After Prom party.
Music started early from Shortyo, around the age of 9, with the help of a friend whose dad was a piano player, he began freestyling and writing rhymes to the beats his friends dad was creating on the keyboard.
In his neighborhood, Hentosh was known as "Shorty Ounce", a nickname that eventually developed into his stage name, "Shortyo". The nickname was giving to him in high school by a friend who used to sit around class with Rich and listen to him freestyle.
From the beginning of his professional recording career, when no major label gave him a record deal, Shortyo created Affiliated Records as his own independent label. After striking a deal with 101 Distribution to distribute his material, Shortyo released his 2001 debut album Living My Life[3] with features from acclaimed rappers such as Kurupt and Daz.
In 2005, Shortyo recorded a follow up album to Living My Life titled Death Notice. The album was scheduled to be released on 101 Distribution but after a year or so of not getting paid Shortyo decided to terminate the deal with 101 Distribution. Later in that year Shortyo put the album out for free online and all digital outlets and decided to take a break from being the artist and focus on bringing new artists out and developing them.
Shortyo announced on May 21, 2009 that his Company Affiliated Records had inked a deal with the major distribution company E1 Entertainment also known as Koch Entertainment and that he was going to drop his new album King Of The Kounty On Affiliated/E1. Shortyo released the 1st single off the album titled Stripper featuring multi platinum artist Yung Berg. Later on his official website [4] shortyo announced the album would be released October 13, 2009 and features artists like Lil Wayne, Nate Dogg, Too Short, and more.
On July 4, 2011 Shortyo announced on his Official Facebook page the title of his next album. Titled Father Forgive Me, shortyo's 2nd album being distributed by EOne Entertainment also known as Koch Entertainment, will be released in early 2012. Shortyo also reveled the 1st single off the album will be titles "Getting Money" And Feature multi platinum artist Snoop Dogg and fellow Affiliated Entertainment Group R&B Singer Shoshyn. Later on his official Facebook [5] shortyo announced the album would feature artists like DMX, Bow Wow, Fabolous, Justin Bieber and more.
Shortyo has also established himself as an entrepreneur like his fellow hip hop moguls. In interview, he stated that "my companies are an extension of me. They're close to me. It's not like running a major corporation, where there's no emotional attachment. Everything I Do its from my own self experience."
Shortyo is the founder of Affiliated Records . The label would was initially stated as an outlet to release his material when no label would sign him. In 2009 Shortyo partnered up with his cousin and started Affiliated Entertainment Group which is a 360° entertainment company. The company serves as a record label, talent/management agency, and music publishing company and maintains control over development, production, administration, branding, marketing and distribution through its deal with Koch Entertainment.