| Twista |
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| Background information |
| Birth name |
Carl Terrell Mitchell |
| Origin |
Chicago, Illinois |
| Genre(s) |
Hip hop
Gangsta rap |
| Occupation(s) |
Rapper, record producer |
| Years active |
1991–present |
| Label(s) |
Loud, Zoo, BMG, Get Money Gang, Atlantic |
| Associated acts |
Do or Die, Pitbull, Kanye West, David Banner, Speedknot Mobstaz, R. Kelly, Yung Berg, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Roc-A-Fella |
| Website |
Twista.com |
Carl Terrell Mitchell , (born Novermber 27, 1973) 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 pronounce 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."
Early life
Mitchell grew up on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, known as "K-Town", a place he described as rampant with gang-related violence. He was the oldest of four children in a low-income family with a strict mother and drug-addicted stepfather. To support his family, Mitchell began working at an early age. He also found the hip hop culture to be an escape from the violent environment he felt in his neighborhood.[2]
Music career
Twista was among the first artists to sign with Loud Records, which released his debut album Runnin' Off at Da Mouth in 1991. At that time, he performed under the name Tung Twista.[2]
In 1996, he teamed with fellow Chicago act Do or Die on the track "Po' Pimp", which became a hit single. This led to a contract with Atlantic Records, which released Adrenaline Rush in 1997;[3] Twista had by then dropped the "Tung" from his stage name.[2]
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.[2] 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."
Beginning in 2002, Twista began recording his album Kamikaze with rappers like Jay-Z and Ludacris. Kamikaze came out in 2004 and debuted at the top spot of the American Billboard 200 album chart;[4] its first single "Slow Jamz" (also featured on The College Dropout, the debut album of Kanye West), featured West and Jamie Foxx and became a number-one hit in the US.[3] Other singles included "Overnight Celebrity" and "So Sexy" (featuring R. Kelly); the album sold around two million copies.[2]
The remix of the song "Jook Gal" by Elephant Man featured Twista and the YoungBloodZ. Twista's next album, The Day After, was released in 2006 and featured the hit singles "Girl Tonite" featuring Trey Songz, "Hit the Floor" featuring Pitbull, and "One and Only" featuring Mariah Carey. His next album, Adrenaline Rush 2007, came out the following year with the singles "Give it Up" featuring Pharrell and "Creep Fast" featuring T-Pain. This album was poorly received by most of the Twista fans.
Twista also appeared on the single "Hell No (Leave Home)" from Monica's album The Makings of Me. In 2008, Twista launched a new record label, Get Money Gang.[5]
Discography
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Albums
References
External links
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Twista |
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| Albums |
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| Singles |
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