Currensy
Encyclopedia
Shante Scott Franklin, born April 4, 1981, better known by his stage name Curren$y, is an American
rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana
.
's No Limit Records
and was a member of the 504 Boyz
. The Song "Get Back" by 504 Boyz made it to the Malibu's Most Wanted
soundtrack. Curren$y appeared on 5 songs in Master P's Good Side, Bad Side
album, released in 2004. Later on in 2004, Curren$y signed with Cash Money Records
and Lil Wayne
's Young Money Entertainment
, where he remained until late 2007. While still at Young Money, Curren$y created Fly Society with skateboarder Terry Kennedy
, first as a clothing company, then expanding to release music. He released the song, "Where da Cash At
" as the lead single for his Young Money debut, Music To Fly To, in 2006, but due to several push-backs and lack of promotion, Curren$y decided to leave the label and venture off to do business on his own. For several months throughout 2008, Curren$y released a series of mixtapes. Though he then had the co-sign of one of the top hip hop magazines, Curren$y was still overlooked by major labels. Curren$y reached a milestone in his rapping career with appearances on MTV
for his music video "Address", and for a track titled "Breakfast", which was produced by Mos Def
. After he took on the music industry by himself, Curren$y recently gained significant recognition via fellow musician Wiz Khalifa
, whom he released the mixtape "How Fly" in collaboration with. His fan base continues to expand due to his original, laid-back flow which is accompanied by his soothing, spacey beats.
to release his debut album, This Ain't No Mixtape, in 2009. Curren$y also released his second album, Jet Files, through Amalgam Digital in 2009. Amalgam Digital finally released physical copies of This Ain't No Mixtape and Jet Files on May 31, 2011.
. However, Curren$y stated in interviews with both XXL
and Complex Magazine that the album would be released under Damon Dash
's DD172
record label division, BluRoc Records and distributed through Def Jam Recordings
. Curren$y made numerous appearances on labelmate Ski Beatz
' debut studio album, 24 Hour Karate School
, which was released on September 21, 2010. Curren$y's fourth album, Pilot Talk II, was released on November 22, 2010, which featured Fiend
and Raekwon
, among others.
for his imprint, Jet Life Recordings. Covert Coup was his first project on his Jet Life Recordings imprint under Warner Bros. Released for free via Curren$y's official website on April 20, the album contains ten songs completely produced by The Alchemist
. He released his sixth album, Weekend at Burnie's on June 28, 2011, featuring his Jet-Life anthem "#JetsGo". All but one of the album's songs feature production by frequent collaborator Monsta Beatz. His seventh album, Muscle Car Chronicles
, a 2-Disc set, was recently postponed and a release date has not yet been announced. Curren$y also plans on releasing Pilot Talk III in 2011 and mentioned the possibility of it being a free album. A Jet Life sampler, an album called Puff Daddy and a DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz mixtape called Verde Terrace, which was released on August 23, 2011. "Verde Terrace" was well-received by Curren$y's fanbase and gained 49,696 downloads in part of 204,427 views within 24 hours of its release. It has been announced that Curren$y will release a compilation album to be called "Jet World Order" featuring his fellow Jet Life Recording artists Trademark Da Skydiver, Young Roddy, Street Wiz, Corner Boy P, Fiend as well as new members Smoke DZA and Sir Michael Rocks (a.k.a. Mikey Rocks)And Producer Nesby Phips.
Official Mixtapes
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
Early career
In 2002, Curren$y signed to Master PMaster P
Percy Robert Miller , better known by his stage name Master P or his business name P. Miller, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, and producer. He is the founder of the popular label No Limit Records, which went bankrupt and was relaunched as New No Limit Records through Koch...
's No Limit Records
No Limit Records
No Limit Records was an American hip-hop record label that was founded in 1990 by hip-hop artist, Percy "Master P" Miller. It was distributed by Priority Records.-No Limit Early years:...
and was a member of the 504 Boyz
504 Boyz
504 Boyz is a hip hop group led by Percy Miller, aka Master P. The group's name is a reference to the area code 504. Originally the group consisted of Master P, Mystikal and Silkk The Shocker . Right before the release of their first album C-Murder & Krazy were added to the lineup...
. The Song "Get Back" by 504 Boyz made it to the Malibu's Most Wanted
Malibu's Most Wanted
Malibu's Most Wanted is a 2003 comedic feature film written by and starring Jamie Kennedy and co-starring Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson, and Regina Hall....
soundtrack. Curren$y appeared on 5 songs in Master P's Good Side, Bad Side
Good Side, Bad Side (Master P album)
Good Side, Bad Side is a 2004 album by rapper Master P. It marked Master P's return to his independent roots. After the New No Limit's deal with Universal Records expired a year earlier, P signed his company to a partnership with independent kingpin's Koch Records. "Good Side, Bad Side" was a...
album, released in 2004. Later on in 2004, Curren$y signed with Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records is a record label founded by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Universal Republic Records as of 2011...
and Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
's Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment is an American record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne. Young Money's president is Lil Wayne's lifelong friend Mack Maine. The label is an imprint of Cash Money Records and is distributed by Universal Republic Records...
, where he remained until late 2007. While still at Young Money, Curren$y created Fly Society with skateboarder Terry Kennedy
Terry Kennedy (skateboarder)
Terry Kennedy , commonly known as "Compton Ass Terry" or TK, is a professional skateboarder. He rides his skateboard with a regular footed stance...
, first as a clothing company, then expanding to release music. He released the song, "Where da Cash At
Where Da Cash At
"Where da Cash At" is the debut single by New Orleans rapper Curren$y, and features Lil Wayne and Remy Ma. It was released in 2006 from Lil Wayne's Dedication 2 and peaked at number seventy-three on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart...
" as the lead single for his Young Money debut, Music To Fly To, in 2006, but due to several push-backs and lack of promotion, Curren$y decided to leave the label and venture off to do business on his own. For several months throughout 2008, Curren$y released a series of mixtapes. Though he then had the co-sign of one of the top hip hop magazines, Curren$y was still overlooked by major labels. Curren$y reached a milestone in his rapping career with appearances on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
for his music video "Address", and for a track titled "Breakfast", which was produced by Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
. After he took on the music industry by himself, Curren$y recently gained significant recognition via fellow musician Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa
Cameron Jibril Thomaz , better known by the stage name Wiz Khalifa , is an American rapper. He released his debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006, and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007...
, whom he released the mixtape "How Fly" in collaboration with. His fan base continues to expand due to his original, laid-back flow which is accompanied by his soothing, spacey beats.
2009: This Ain't No Mixtape and Jet Files
Curren$y signed with Amalgam DigitalAmalgam Digital
Amalgam Digital, Inc. is a new media outfit that was founded in 2006 as a privately owned company and launched AmalgamDigital.com in 2007. Amalgam is a digital media/technology platform that leverages the Internet to revolutionize the way artist & music are discovered, marketed and distributed...
to release his debut album, This Ain't No Mixtape, in 2009. Curren$y also released his second album, Jet Files, through Amalgam Digital in 2009. Amalgam Digital finally released physical copies of This Ain't No Mixtape and Jet Files on May 31, 2011.
2010: Pilot Talk and Pilot Talk II
Curren$y's third album, Pilot Talk, was released on July 13, 2010. Prior to the album's release, there was news of Pilot Talk being released under a newly relaunched Roc-A-Fella RecordsRoc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records is a record label founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon "Dame" Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Island Def Jam Motown Music Group.-Formation and Early Years:...
. However, Curren$y stated in interviews with both XXL
XXL (magazine)
XXL is a Hip-Hop magazine, published by Harris Publications.In 1997, XXL was founded by former Source staffers as well as other Harris Publication employees, who wanted to create their own magazine about the hip-hop music and culture using the model developed by the founders of The Source...
and Complex Magazine that the album would be released under Damon Dash
Damon Dash
__NOINDEX__...
's DD172
DD172
DD172 is a media collective founded by American entrepreneur Damon Dash. DD172 encompasses Creative Control, a video agency; America Nu, a magazine; and VNGRD79, a web design firm. It also includes an art gallery. DD172 is named for Dash's initials and its original street address...
record label division, BluRoc Records and distributed through Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
. Curren$y made numerous appearances on labelmate Ski Beatz
Ski (producer)
David Willis, otherwise known as DJ Ski and Ski Beatz, is an American record producer mainly working in hip hop.-Biography:Discovered by DJ Clark Kent, Ski was originally known as "MC Will-Ski". In the 1990s, he was a member of the group Original Flavor, the first group managed by future recording...
' debut studio album, 24 Hour Karate School
24 Hour Karate School
24 Hour Karate School is the debut album by hip hop record producer, Ski Beatz. Originally, the album was set for a March 30, 2010 but was pushed back due to sample clearance issues. The project was then given a September 7, 2010 release date, however, was not released until September 21...
, which was released on September 21, 2010. Curren$y's fourth album, Pilot Talk II, was released on November 22, 2010, which featured Fiend
Fiend (rapper)
Richard Jones, better known as Fiend is an American rapper and producer best known for his time spent with Master P's No Limit Records. Fiend was also briefly a member of DMX's label Ruff Ryders Entertainment....
and Raekwon
Raekwon
Corey Woods , better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded four solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with...
, among others.
2011: Covert Coup, Weekend at Burnie's, Muscle Car Chronicles, and Pilot Talk III
On February 1, 2011, it was announced that Curren$y signed a label deal with Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
for his imprint, Jet Life Recordings. Covert Coup was his first project on his Jet Life Recordings imprint under Warner Bros. Released for free via Curren$y's official website on April 20, the album contains ten songs completely produced by The Alchemist
The Alchemist (producer)
Alan Daniel Maman , better known as The Alchemist, is an American hip hop producer, DJ and rapper. He hails from Beverly Hills, California...
. He released his sixth album, Weekend at Burnie's on June 28, 2011, featuring his Jet-Life anthem "#JetsGo". All but one of the album's songs feature production by frequent collaborator Monsta Beatz. His seventh album, Muscle Car Chronicles
Muscle Car Chronicles
Muscle Car Chronicles is the seventh studio album by American rapper Curren$y. It is produced by Sean O'Connell and contains features of Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids and Tabi Bonney. A movie for this album has been produced. It is going to be released along with the album. It is Curren$y's final...
, a 2-Disc set, was recently postponed and a release date has not yet been announced. Curren$y also plans on releasing Pilot Talk III in 2011 and mentioned the possibility of it being a free album. A Jet Life sampler, an album called Puff Daddy and a DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz mixtape called Verde Terrace, which was released on August 23, 2011. "Verde Terrace" was well-received by Curren$y's fanbase and gained 49,696 downloads in part of 204,427 views within 24 hours of its release. It has been announced that Curren$y will release a compilation album to be called "Jet World Order" featuring his fellow Jet Life Recording artists Trademark Da Skydiver, Young Roddy, Street Wiz, Corner Boy P, Fiend as well as new members Smoke DZA and Sir Michael Rocks (a.k.a. Mikey Rocks)And Producer Nesby Phips.
2012: "The Stoned Immaculate"
November 10, 2011, while on twitter, Curren$y announced that "The Stoned Immaculate would be coming out, "The Stoned Immaculate" March 2012...Andretti."Studio albums
- This Ain't No Mixtape (2009)
- Jet Files (2009)
- Pilot Talk (2010)
- Pilot Talk II (2010)
- Covert CoupCovert CoupCovert Coup is Curren$y's fifth studio album and his first released through Warner Bros.. This album was entirely produced by The Alchemist, featured appearances from rappers Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Freddie Gibbs, Smoke DZA, & Fiend, and contains 10 songs. Covert Coup was created as a retail EP....
(with The Alchemist)The Alchemist (producer)Alan Daniel Maman , better known as The Alchemist, is an American hip hop producer, DJ and rapper. He hails from Beverly Hills, California...
(2011) - Weekend at Burnie's (2011)
- Jet World OrderJet World OrderJet World Order is a collaboration album between Curren$y and his Jet Life crew.-Track listing:...
(with Jet Life) (2011) - Re-ConversionalizeRe-ConversionalizeRe-Coversionalize, is an album by Rapper Curren$y and the producer The Alchemist. Re-Coversionalize, is their second album together, and the sequel to Covert Coup, their first album together....
(with The Alchemist)The Alchemist (producer)Alan Daniel Maman , better known as The Alchemist, is an American hip hop producer, DJ and rapper. He hails from Beverly Hills, California...
(2012) - Muscle Car ChroniclesMuscle Car ChroniclesMuscle Car Chronicles is the seventh studio album by American rapper Curren$y. It is produced by Sean O'Connell and contains features of Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids and Tabi Bonney. A movie for this album has been produced. It is going to be released along with the album. It is Curren$y's final...
(TBA) - The Stoned Immaculate (TBA)
- Pilot Talk III (TBA)
Official Mixtapes
- G-Series (with Mack MaineMack MaineJermaine Preyan, , known by his stage name Mack Maine, is an American rapper and singer. Mack Maine is signed to Young Money Entertainment, an imprint of Birdman's Universal Motown-distributed Cash Money Records, and is currently the president of the label...
) (2006) - Life At 30,000 Feet (2007)
- Independence Day (2008)
- Higher Than 30,000 Feet (2008)
- Welcome to The Winners Circle (2008)
- Fear and Loathing in New Orleans (2008)
- Super Tecmo Bowl (2008)
- Fast Times at Ridgemont Fly (2008)
- Fin... (2008)
- How Fly (with Wiz KhalifaWiz KhalifaCameron Jibril Thomaz , better known by the stage name Wiz Khalifa , is an American rapper. He released his debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006, and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007...
) (2009) - Smokee Robinson (2010)
- Return to The Winners Circle (2011)
- Verde Terrace (with DJ DramaDJ DramaTyree Cinque Simmons better known as DJ Drama is an American hip hop artist and the official DJ for Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I.....
) (2011) - Puff Daddy (with Chuck Inglish) (TBA)
External links
- Curren$y at TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- Curren$y at FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Curren$y at MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....