Demarco Castle
Encyclopedia
Demarco Castle from Chicago, Illinois was once an aspiring rapper/singer associated with another superstar MC out of Chicago, Lupe Fiasco
. Formerly known through the stage name of Gemini and most recently GemStones, he has dropped that former moniker and everything associated with it and has converted into pursuing a career as a gospel music artist. Castle, through Lupe Fiasco’s 1st and 15th imprint was set to release his long awaited and delayed debut album tilted, “Troubles of the World” in the first half of 2009 but the album release is up in the air due to his venture into gospel music.
. Castle was given another great opportunity by headlining the soundtrack for the MTV special “My Block: Chicago”, where Castle released and shot a video for his first buzz single “Got What You Need”. With much buzz stemming from “Food and Liquor” and his appearance on “MTV’s My Block” it was time for Castle to demonstrate what he could do. In 2006, Castle released the fifth part of the popular mixtape series Fahrenheit 1st and 15th which mainly had been headlined by Lupe Fiasco. “Untamed Beast” was Castle as the headliner and he demonstrated his rapping and vocal abilities. The mixtape was an internet sensation and was featured on most major download sites, even receiving 5 star ratings from many sites. In 2007 Castle released his first single from his debut album “Troubles of the World”. The single “We On” features Lupe Fiasco and generated a massive buzz, gaining Castle fans and supporters from across the globe. Following the release of “We On” Castle was featured once again and even wrote on Lupe Fiasco’s sophomore LP “Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
”. Castle was featured on “Dumb it Down”, the first single from that project. In support of the album Fiasco embarked on a nationwide tour, where Castle served as one of the featured artist on the sold out venture. He’s received plenty attention from the press, being featured in prominent hip hop magazines such as The Source and XXL.
Lupe Fiasco
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
. Formerly known through the stage name of Gemini and most recently GemStones, he has dropped that former moniker and everything associated with it and has converted into pursuing a career as a gospel music artist. Castle, through Lupe Fiasco’s 1st and 15th imprint was set to release his long awaited and delayed debut album tilted, “Troubles of the World” in the first half of 2009 but the album release is up in the air due to his venture into gospel music.
Early Life: Aligning with Lupe Fiasco
Castle was raised in Jeffrey Manor/ South C on Chicago’s tough South Side. Castle derives from a family where music was a heavy influence. Sounds of R&B, Jazz and even Funk all influenced Castle’s musical development. As a student in Bowen High Schools’ visual and performing and arts program, Castle excelled and learned to develop his outstanding musical talents. After graduation from Bowen, Castle had a life changing meeting with then unknown rappers Lupe Fiasco and the late Stack Bundles. Fiasco who had his own record company, 1st and 15th Recordings, was tremendously impressed by Castle’s rapping and singing abilities and in 2001 he decided to sign Castle to this 1st and 15th Label.Career Takes Off: Food and Liquor, Mixtapes and The Cool
Castle now performing under the stage name of Gemini began writing and preparing for his release into the hip hop world. It finally came in 2006 when his boss and label mate released his highly anticipated debut album “Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor”. Out of the 16 tracks on the album Castle was featured on five tracks including standout tracks “He Say She Say” and “Pressure” also featuring Jay-ZJay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
. Castle was given another great opportunity by headlining the soundtrack for the MTV special “My Block: Chicago”, where Castle released and shot a video for his first buzz single “Got What You Need”. With much buzz stemming from “Food and Liquor” and his appearance on “MTV’s My Block” it was time for Castle to demonstrate what he could do. In 2006, Castle released the fifth part of the popular mixtape series Fahrenheit 1st and 15th which mainly had been headlined by Lupe Fiasco. “Untamed Beast” was Castle as the headliner and he demonstrated his rapping and vocal abilities. The mixtape was an internet sensation and was featured on most major download sites, even receiving 5 star ratings from many sites. In 2007 Castle released his first single from his debut album “Troubles of the World”. The single “We On” features Lupe Fiasco and generated a massive buzz, gaining Castle fans and supporters from across the globe. Following the release of “We On” Castle was featured once again and even wrote on Lupe Fiasco’s sophomore LP “Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, commonly referred to as simply The Cool, is the second studio album by Chicago hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco, released on December 18, 2007 in the United States. The Cool is a loose concept album, based on a song and its titular character from his debut album Food & Liquor...
”. Castle was featured on “Dumb it Down”, the first single from that project. In support of the album Fiasco embarked on a nationwide tour, where Castle served as one of the featured artist on the sold out venture. He’s received plenty attention from the press, being featured in prominent hip hop magazines such as The Source and XXL.
From Gemini to GemStones back to Demarco Castle
In 2007, Castle was forced to change his stage name from Gemini to GemStones. Due to a legal technicality the change arose but GemStones did not have a problem because many people around him were already calling him by the name of GemStones. When the stage name Gemini was gone, Castle arose as GemStones and let go everything associated with the performer known as Gemini. Castle lost weight, and cut off his trademark braids and changed the issues he was addressing in his music due to personal issues he was having. With the transformation from Gemini to GemStones a new person came out and he was ready to give his own testimony. GemStones admitted to being guilty of talking about issues that he really could not relate to, like drug pushing, materialism and women, and just said them because they went well together. But now GemStones is ready to relay his true message to the masses and let the true GemStones stand up. In 2008, in advance of his debut album, “Troubles of the World”, he released the sixth part of the mixtape series Fahrenheit 1st and 15th ,“The Testimony of GemStones”. The Testimony was an instant hit and demonstrated a changed artist and not the GemStones everyone knew. With various popular features and two highly successful mixtapes Castle was ready to release the beast in 2009. Being highlighted as a “Hip Hop Act to Watch” GemStones and “Troubles of the World” was set to release with much anticipation. It was rumored that in early April, Castle decided to stray away from hip hop music and decided to pursue a career in gospel music. He has most recently appeared on the "Ellen DeGeneres" show.Studio Albums
- 2009: Troubles of the World
- 2010: On the Road to Glory My StoryOn the Road to Glory My StoryOn The Road To Glory: My Story New comeback project from Gemstones 'On The Road To Glory My Story'. The end result is an epic, 21 track hip hop and R&B mix that illustrates the journey of overcoming trials and tribulations in the growth from Gemini to Gemstones, the artist, and Demarco Castle, the...
Mixtapes
- 2006: Fahrenheit 1st and 15th Vol.V: Untamed Beast
- 2008: Fahrenheit 1st and 15th Vol. VI: The Testimony of GemStones