Fat Tony (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Obi is a Nigerian-American rapper from, and based in Houston, Texas
known as Fat Tony. He is affiliated with Greedhead and Home Skool Rekordz, but previously released the Love Life EP on Same Struggle Ent. and self-released the remainder of his discography.
Fat Tony's debut album RABDARGAB was released October 19, 2010 and features production entirely from Tom Cruz (Shaka Girvan) of Atlanta based rap group Supreeme
. The album features appearances by Murs, Negashi Armada aka Blunt Fang from Supreeme
, Charly East, Bo. P, Kam Franklin, and Tom Cruz (Shaka Girvan). RABDARGAB is a reference to a late 1990s Houston Independent School District
campaign aimed at elementary school students to promote literacy by offering $1 to students in exchange for book reports. The acronym stands for "Read a Book - Do A Report - Get a Buck." With the release of this album Fat Tony ran a promotion entitled LISDARGAB (Listen, Do a Review, Get a Buck) where Fat Tony would send anyone who emailed him a review for RABDARGAB a dollar bill in the mail.
On his birthday March 24, 2011 he released a remix album entitled SCREWDARGAB. It was a "chopped-up, not slopped up" version of his debut album RABDARGAB remixed by legendary Houston based DJ OG RON C
.
The album RABDARGAB was preceded by a mixtape release entitled RABDARGAB: The EPreview mixed by Fat Tony's DJ (iPod Ammo). The mix tape featured collaborations with Das Racist
, Juiceboxxx, HOSPITAL, Jade <3, Tecla, Smash Bro, and more.
Fat Tony is currently preparing his as of yet untitled second album and a mixtape, both produced by Tom Cruz (Shaka Girvan). The mixtape will feature two upcoming singles "Good While It Lasted" and "Bad Habits" featuring Bun B
and Nicholas Thorburn
of Islands
/ Mister Heavenly
/ The Unicorns
.
Fat Tony won the 2010, 2009 and 2008 Houston Press
Music Awards' Best Underground Hip Hop award, and has been recognized in URB's Next 1000, a list of emerging new artists anticipated to breakthrough. He wont the Houston Press "Best Underground Rapper" award three times, as of 2011.
Fat Tony, whom lives in the Third Ward area of Houston, attended Carnegie Vanguard High School
(Class of 2006) and the University of St. Thomas
. He also studied as a communications major at the University of Houston
. Fat Tony first gained prominence in Texas' underground Hip Hop scene as a founding member of Houston based Hip Hop group The Low Ends. As a teenager he was known for organizing music events in Houston inviting regional and national bands such as The Ergs!
, Joe Jitsu, The Rushmores, The Cocker Spaniels and other underground acts. He intentionally organized events featuring artists of various genres to bring forth an avenue for developing diverse tastes. For the often young audiences, they were getting their first sighting of underground and independent music.
Fat Tony's debut solo EP release entitled the Love Life EP (released by Same Struggle Ent. on March 4, 2008) was spread to thousands due to its initial online release as a free download with a limited run pressing of 300 CDs. Reviews for the EP have been generally positive.
Fat Tony also works as a music journalist, currently writing for his blog,. He has written for Hater magazine and Free Press Houston. He also contributed to articles in the Houston Press
and the Houston Chronicle
. and other publications as well.
In 2008 Fat Tony participated in a charity concert to raise money for prevention and treatment of HIV
.
, Punk rock
, Southern hip hop, Indie rock
and Hip Hop music
.
He has openly admitted to being influenced by a variety of artists such as Supreeme
, The Smiths
, Prince
, Jay-Z
, Nas
, UGK
, Ramones
, My Bloody Valentine, Devin the Dude
, E-40
, A Tribe Called Quest
, Black Flag
, Bad Brains
, Sly & the Family Stone
, R. Kelly
among others.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
known as Fat Tony. He is affiliated with Greedhead and Home Skool Rekordz, but previously released the Love Life EP on Same Struggle Ent. and self-released the remainder of his discography.
Fat Tony's debut album RABDARGAB was released October 19, 2010 and features production entirely from Tom Cruz (Shaka Girvan) of Atlanta based rap group Supreeme
Supreeme
Supreeme were an American rap group. Members include Shaka "Tom Cruz" Girvan aka Dope Pope, Negashi Armada, and Sam "King Self" Terrell. Girvan produces all of the music, and all three members contribute lyrical content and stylistic elements. They are best known for their release Supremacy but...
. The album features appearances by Murs, Negashi Armada aka Blunt Fang from Supreeme
Supreeme
Supreeme were an American rap group. Members include Shaka "Tom Cruz" Girvan aka Dope Pope, Negashi Armada, and Sam "King Self" Terrell. Girvan produces all of the music, and all three members contribute lyrical content and stylistic elements. They are best known for their release Supremacy but...
, Charly East, Bo. P, Kam Franklin, and Tom Cruz (Shaka Girvan). RABDARGAB is a reference to a late 1990s Houston Independent School District
Houston Independent School District
The Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. Houston ISD serves as a community school district for most of the city of Houston and several nearby and insular municipalities...
campaign aimed at elementary school students to promote literacy by offering $1 to students in exchange for book reports. The acronym stands for "Read a Book - Do A Report - Get a Buck." With the release of this album Fat Tony ran a promotion entitled LISDARGAB (Listen, Do a Review, Get a Buck) where Fat Tony would send anyone who emailed him a review for RABDARGAB a dollar bill in the mail.
On his birthday March 24, 2011 he released a remix album entitled SCREWDARGAB. It was a "chopped-up, not slopped up" version of his debut album RABDARGAB remixed by legendary Houston based DJ OG RON C
OG Ron C
Ronald Coleman , better known for his stage name OG RON C, is an American record producer, radio personality, DJ, and entertainment and management company executive. He is a radio host for the Houston-based urban music online radio station chopnotslop.com, former DJ for Chamillionaire and current...
.
The album RABDARGAB was preceded by a mixtape release entitled RABDARGAB: The EPreview mixed by Fat Tony's DJ (iPod Ammo). The mix tape featured collaborations with Das Racist
Das Racist
Das Racist is an alternative hip hop group based in Brooklyn, New York City, composed of MCs Himanshu Suri , and Victor Vazquez and hype man Ashok Kondabolu...
, Juiceboxxx, HOSPITAL, Jade <3, Tecla, Smash Bro, and more.
Fat Tony is currently preparing his as of yet untitled second album and a mixtape, both produced by Tom Cruz (Shaka Girvan). The mixtape will feature two upcoming singles "Good While It Lasted" and "Bad Habits" featuring Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
and Nicholas Thorburn
Nicholas Thorburn
Nicholas Thorburn is a Canadian musician who has fronted The Unicorns, Th' Corn Gangg, Islands, Reefer, and Human Highway. He has gone by the stage name "Nick Diamonds."...
of Islands
Islands (band)
Islands is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2005 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and currently based in Brooklyn, New York.-Return to the Sea:In mid-2005 Islands recorded a debut album titled Return to the Sea, which was released in April 2006...
/ Mister Heavenly
Mister Heavenly
Mister Heavenly is an indie rock supergroup consisting of Honus Honus of Man Man, Nicholas Thorburn of Islands and The Unicorns, and Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse and The Shins. They recorded their first album in late 2010, finishing the year with a string of tour dates supporting Passion Pit, joined...
/ The Unicorns
The Unicorns
The Unicorns were a Lo-Fi/Indie Pop band from Montreal, Canada formed in December 2000 by Nicholas Thorburn and Alden Penner , who were later joined by Jamie Thompson in December 2003.-History:...
.
Fat Tony won the 2010, 2009 and 2008 Houston Press
Houston Press
The Houston Press is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Houston, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in Downtown Houston....
Music Awards' Best Underground Hip Hop award, and has been recognized in URB's Next 1000, a list of emerging new artists anticipated to breakthrough. He wont the Houston Press "Best Underground Rapper" award three times, as of 2011.
Fat Tony, whom lives in the Third Ward area of Houston, attended Carnegie Vanguard High School
Carnegie Vanguard High School
Andrew Carnegie Vanguard High School is a public secondary school in Houston, Texas, United States.Carnegie Vanguard High School, which serves grades 9-12, is a part of the Houston Independent School District...
(Class of 2006) and the University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas (Houston)
The University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, United States is a comprehensive Catholic university, grounded in the liberal arts...
. He also studied as a communications major at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. Fat Tony first gained prominence in Texas' underground Hip Hop scene as a founding member of Houston based Hip Hop group The Low Ends. As a teenager he was known for organizing music events in Houston inviting regional and national bands such as The Ergs!
The Ergs!
The Ergs! were an American punk rock band formed in 2000 in South Amboy, New Jersey, by three high school friends: drummer/lead vocalist Mikey Erg , guitarist/vocalist Jeff Erg , and bassist Joey Erg...
, Joe Jitsu, The Rushmores, The Cocker Spaniels and other underground acts. He intentionally organized events featuring artists of various genres to bring forth an avenue for developing diverse tastes. For the often young audiences, they were getting their first sighting of underground and independent music.
Fat Tony's debut solo EP release entitled the Love Life EP (released by Same Struggle Ent. on March 4, 2008) was spread to thousands due to its initial online release as a free download with a limited run pressing of 300 CDs. Reviews for the EP have been generally positive.
Fat Tony also works as a music journalist, currently writing for his blog,. He has written for Hater magazine and Free Press Houston. He also contributed to articles in the Houston Press
Houston Press
The Houston Press is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Houston, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in Downtown Houston....
and the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
. and other publications as well.
In 2008 Fat Tony participated in a charity concert to raise money for prevention and treatment of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
.
Influences
His primary musical influences are drawn from Pop musicPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, Punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, Southern hip hop, Indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
and 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...
.
He has openly admitted to being influenced by a variety of artists such as Supreeme
Supreeme
Supreeme were an American rap group. Members include Shaka "Tom Cruz" Girvan aka Dope Pope, Negashi Armada, and Sam "King Self" Terrell. Girvan produces all of the music, and all three members contribute lyrical content and stylistic elements. They are best known for their release Supremacy but...
, The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, Jay-Z
Jay-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...
, Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, UGK
UGK
UGK was an American hip hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas formed in 1987 by the late Chad "Pimp C" Butler . He then joined with Bernard "Bun B" Freeman, who became his longtime partner...
, Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
, My Bloody Valentine, Devin the Dude
Devin the Dude
Devin Copeland , better known by his stage name, Devin the Dude, is a Houston hip hop artist, and rapper. He is best known for his unique rapping style, his long career signed to Rap-A-Lot Records, and his 2002 song, "Lacville '79"....
, E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
, A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
, Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
, Sly & the Family Stone
Sly & the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
, R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
among others.
Compilations
- 2010 - Like, Hell Yeah
- 2009 - DJ Sly: Beyond It
- 2009 - The Creation of Fat Tony
- 2008 - Sucker4Clothes.com: The Mixtape Vol. 1
- 2008 - SMKA: The 808 Experiment Vol. 1
Mixtapes
- 2010 - RABDARGAB: The EPreview
- 2008 - Tipping Point Store & Fly 68 Presents Fat Tony
- 2006 - The $Free.99 Mixtape (with The Low Ends)