Champtown
Encyclopedia
Champtown is an American rapper, disc jockey, film director and teacher from Detroit, Michigan
. Founder of the Straight Jacket independent record label, Champtown is known for helping establish the careers of a number of Detroit hip hop artists, including Kid Rock
and Eminem
. He has also worked with Ice-T
, Rev Run, Public Enemy and Uncle Kracker
. He is currently producing a documentary film, The Untold Story of Detroit Hip Hop, which will be narrated by Chuck D
and feature interviews with notable Detroit rappers.
concert, the Fresh Fest, at the age of 8, leading Champtown to become enamored with the genre. In the second grade, Champtown met future rapper Esham
, and the two performed together at open mic events at Seafood Bay. In one occurance, Champtown and Esham were forced to rap for a drug dealer at gunpoint. Although he was kicked out of high school
, Champtown earned his GED
at the age of 15, and began a professional music career. Through his manager, local DJ Blackman, Champtown became friends with a young Kid Rock
, and was a member of the local hip hop group The Beast Crew, with Blackman, KDC, Chris "Doc Roun-Cee" Pouncy and Kid Rock. The Beast Crew split after Kid Rock signed with Jive Records
, and Champtown formed the Straight Jacket independent record label in 1990. The label operates under a strong DIY ethic
.
Champtown helped Eminem
with his earliest recordings, and Eminem made his music video
debut in Champtown's 1992 video for "Do-Da-Dipity", but they later had a falling out. A later Champtown video, "Bang Bang Boogie", featured appearances by Chuck D
and Flavor Flav
of Public Enemy. In 2001, Straight Jacket signed a national distribution deal with Sumthing Distribution. In 2004, Champtown was interviewed by The Source
, and criticized Eminem, accusing him and his manager Paul Rosenberg of racism. In 2005, Champtown wrote the song "I Used to Think I Was Run" for Rev Run's solo album Distortion.
In 2009, Champtown joined the Institute of Production & Recording as a teacher. In 2011, Champtown began working on a documentary film, The Untold Story of Detroit Hip Hop. The film will focus on the city's hip hop music
scene from 1982 to present, and highlight underrepresented rappers such as Awesome Dre, Detroit's Most Wanted
, Big Herk, Rockbottom, Street Lords, Chedda Boyz, Royce da 5'9", Slum Village
, Trick Trick, Stretch Money, K Deezy, Verdict, J Dilla
and Detroit Hit Squad, as well as chronicle the early days of pioneers such as Kid Rock
, Insane Clown Posse
and Eminem
. Champtown has stated that he wanted to resolve his former issues with Eminem in order to keep his documentary historically accurate.
. Champtown was once known for performing in a jester's hat. He directly influenced Kid Rock
, and is believed to have shaped the styles of Eminem
and Insane Clown Posse
.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Founder of the Straight Jacket independent record label, Champtown is known for helping establish the careers of a number of Detroit hip hop artists, including Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
and Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
. He has also worked with Ice-T
ICE-T
* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
, Rev Run, Public Enemy and Uncle Kracker
Uncle Kracker
Matthew Shafer is an American rock musician known as Uncle Kracker. His singles include "Follow Me", "Smile", and "Drift Away". His music was more rap rock-based at the start of his career before turning in a more rock and Top 40 style music direction on later releases.-Biography:Shafer was born...
. He is currently producing a documentary film, The Untold Story of Detroit Hip Hop, which will be narrated by Chuck D
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
and feature interviews with notable Detroit rappers.
Biography
Champtown grew up in the Fairport neighborhood, and attended Detroit Boys and Girls Club with the drug dealers Best Friends. Attending the Boys and Girls Club, Champtown was the subject of much racism. Champtown's older half brother, John, took him to his first hip hop musicHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
concert, the Fresh Fest, at the age of 8, leading Champtown to become enamored with the genre. In the second grade, Champtown met future rapper Esham
Esham
Rashaam Attica Smith, better known by his stage name Esham , is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan known for his hallucinogenic style of hip hop which he refers to as "acid rap", which fuses rock-based beats and lyrics involving subjects such as death, drug use, evil, paranoia and...
, and the two performed together at open mic events at Seafood Bay. In one occurance, Champtown and Esham were forced to rap for a drug dealer at gunpoint. Although he was kicked out of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Champtown earned his GED
GED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
at the age of 15, and began a professional music career. Through his manager, local DJ Blackman, Champtown became friends with a young Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
, and was a member of the local hip hop group The Beast Crew, with Blackman, KDC, Chris "Doc Roun-Cee" Pouncy and Kid Rock. The Beast Crew split after Kid Rock signed with Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
, and Champtown formed the Straight Jacket independent record label in 1990. The label operates under a strong DIY ethic
DIY ethic
The DIY ethic refers to the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are more experienced or able complete them for one's behalf. It promotes the idea that an ordinary person can learn to do more than he or she thought was possible...
.
Champtown helped Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
with his earliest recordings, and Eminem made his music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
debut in Champtown's 1992 video for "Do-Da-Dipity", but they later had a falling out. A later Champtown video, "Bang Bang Boogie", featured appearances by Chuck D
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
and Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav
William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. , better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper and television personality who rose to prominence as a member of the rap group Public Enemy...
of Public Enemy. In 2001, Straight Jacket signed a national distribution deal with Sumthing Distribution. In 2004, Champtown was interviewed by The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
, and criticized Eminem, accusing him and his manager Paul Rosenberg of racism. In 2005, Champtown wrote the song "I Used to Think I Was Run" for Rev Run's solo album Distortion.
In 2009, Champtown joined the Institute of Production & Recording as a teacher. In 2011, Champtown began working on a documentary film, The Untold Story of Detroit Hip Hop. The film will focus on the city's hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
scene from 1982 to present, and highlight underrepresented rappers such as Awesome Dre, Detroit's Most Wanted
Detroit's Most Wanted
Detroit's Most Wanted were a hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. Their name is a reference to the both America's Most Wanted List List and the California rap group Compton's Most Wanted. They were signed to Ichiban Records. Founding members were Motsi Ski , who is the grandson of late R&B...
, Big Herk, Rockbottom, Street Lords, Chedda Boyz, Royce da 5'9", Slum Village
Slum Village
Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...
, Trick Trick, Stretch Money, K Deezy, Verdict, J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
and Detroit Hit Squad, as well as chronicle the early days of pioneers such as Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
, Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
and Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
. Champtown has stated that he wanted to resolve his former issues with Eminem in order to keep his documentary historically accurate.
Style and influences
Champtown's influences include Run-DMC and LL Cool JLL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
. Champtown was once known for performing in a jester's hat. He directly influenced Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
, and is believed to have shaped the styles of Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
and Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
.