Paul Wall
Encyclopedia
Paul Michael Slayton better known by his stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...

 Paul Wall, is an American rapper. He is currently affiliated with Swishahouse
Swishahouse
Swishahouse is a Houston, Texas-based independent southern rap record label.- History :Swishahouse was founded in North Houston in the late 1990s by Michael '5000' Watts and OG Ron C as a response to the popularity of chopped and screwed music from Houston's south side...

 Records, having released several albums under the label as well as
collaborating with other rappers signed to the label. He was formerly musical partners with rapper Chamillionaire
Chamillionaire
Hakeem Seriki , better known by his stage name Chamillionaire, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Chamillitary Entertainment. Chamillionaire is also the founder and an original member of The Color Changin' Click...

 releasing several collaborative albums including the independently released Get Ya Mind Correct
Get Ya Mind Correct
Get Ya Mind Correct is the debut album by rappers Paul Wall & Chamillionaire of The Color Changin' Click, released when they were both on the Paid In Full Entertainment Label. This release put the Houston underground rap scene on the map after it managed to sell over 150,000 copies independently...

. In 2005, he was signed to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...

 and became successful with his major-label debut The Peoples Champ
The Peoples Champ
The Peoples Champ is the major label debut album by rapper Paul Wall. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 176,000 copies its first week. This is his second studio album overall and first to reach #1 on the Billboard 200. This album is also available in a Chopped...

. Get Money, Stay True
Get Money, Stay True
Get Money, Stay True is the third studio album by rapper Paul Wall, released on April 3, 2007. It debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 with 92,000 copies sold.-Track listing:-Target Edition:...

followed in 2007.

Career

Wall attended Jersey Village High School
Jersey Village High School
Jersey Village High School is located in Jersey Village, Texas, United States. The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. Ralph Funk serves as its principal....

 and studied mass communications 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...

 for three years. After proposing to do promotions for Michael "5000" Watts' company, Swishahouse
Swishahouse
Swishahouse is a Houston, Texas-based independent southern rap record label.- History :Swishahouse was founded in North Houston in the late 1990s by Michael '5000' Watts and OG Ron C as a response to the popularity of chopped and screwed music from Houston's south side...

, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to Watts' studio, KBXX
KBXX
KBXX is a Houston-based radio station with an urban contemporary musical format. It is owned by Radio One. Its transmitter is located in Missouri City, Texas. 97.9 The Box is currently the only station that plays hip hop and modern R&B music in the Greater Houston area after the demise of KPTY in...

. Paul & Chamillionaire convinced Watts to let them rap on his radio show and put the verses on one of his mixtapes. That mixtape was titled Choppin Em Up Part 2, which was released in mid 1999. The freestyle became so popular in the streets that Chamillionaire and Paul Wall became regular staples on Houston's mixtape circuit, appeared on several of Watts' mixtapes and became permanent members of Swishahouse.

After fellow member Slim Thug
Slim Thug
Stayve Jerome Thomas , better known as Slim Thug, Boss Hogg or Thug Boss, is an American rapper. He gained mainstream attention for his contribution to the popular single from rapper Mike Jones, "Still Tippin'"....

 left the label, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall followed suit and the two started their own group known as The Color Changin' Click (named after Chamillion's Chameleon
Chameleon
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, the possession by many of a...

 persona). Each successive mixtape released by The Color Changin' Click led to more business opportunities; the most notable of which was a contract to do a full album for Paid in Full Records. A one album contract was then negotiated between the Color Changin' Click and Paid in Full's label head, DJ Madd Hatta from 97.9 The Box, and the CCC's first album, Get Ya Mind Correct
Get Ya Mind Correct
Get Ya Mind Correct is the debut album by rappers Paul Wall & Chamillionaire of The Color Changin' Click, released when they were both on the Paid In Full Entertainment Label. This release put the Houston underground rap scene on the map after it managed to sell over 150,000 copies independently...

, would go on to sell over 200,000 copies. Wall's first music exposure came as a street team member on the Northwest side of Houston, promoting southern labels like Def Jam Records, Cash Money
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 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:...

. He is also an accomplished and proficient mixtape and party DJ, known for producing mixtapes in the now well-known screwed & chopped style, which was invented by the late DJ Screw
DJ Screw
Robert Earl "DJ Screw" Davis, Jr. was a Houston, Texas-based DJ. He was known as a central figure in the Houston hip-hop community and was the creator of the now-famous Chopped and Screwed DJ technique...

.

Paul Wall and Chamillionaire
Chamillionaire
Hakeem Seriki , better known by his stage name Chamillionaire, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Chamillitary Entertainment. Chamillionaire is also the founder and an original member of The Color Changin' Click...

 were originally affiliated with Swishahouse Records, but left for Paid in Full Records a short time later. After several mixtape and independent releases including. Get Ya Mind Correct, the two parted ways, citing creative differences. Chamillionaire continued to release independent records, while Paul Wall returned to the Swishahouse fold. This move allowed him to appear on Mike Jones
Mike Jones (rapper)
Michael "Mike" Jones is an American southern rap artist, who initially was affiliated with the record label Swishahouse, then left to be the owner of Ice Age Entertainment....

' first commercially distributed single, "Still Tippin'
Still Tippin'
"Still Tippin" is the first official single taken from the Mike Jones' album Who Is Mike Jones?. The last verse was given to rapper Paul Wall after a feud between Jones and fellow artist Chamillionaire, resulting in Chamillionaire's departure from Swishahouse.The beat, produced by Salih Williams,...

", from his first major label album Who Is Mike Jones?. The single is originally on Swishahouse's The Day Hell Broke Loose Part 2 aka Major Without A Major Deal, released in 2003, the album went on to sell over 500,000 copies two months after being released.

In 2005, Paul Wall released his first album, The Peoples Champ
The Peoples Champ
The Peoples Champ is the major label debut album by rapper Paul Wall. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 176,000 copies its first week. This is his second studio album overall and first to reach #1 on the Billboard 200. This album is also available in a Chopped...

, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

. The first single "Sittin' Sidewayz
Sittin' Sidewayz
"Sittin' Sidewayz" is a song by American rapper Paul Wall, released as the first single from his album The Peoples Champ. It features rapper Big Pokey and was produced by Salih Williams. The single's music video had cameo appearances by Bun B, Three 6 Mafia, Big Hawk and Jim Jones...

" featuring Big Pokey
Big Pokey
Milton Powell , better known by his stage name Charbill the don, is a rap artist from Houston, Texas and is one of the original members of the Screwed Up Click....

. The second single, "They Don't Know", featured 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...

 of 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...

, and the video version also featured Mike Jones
Mike Jones (rapper)
Michael "Mike" Jones is an American southern rap artist, who initially was affiliated with the record label Swishahouse, then left to be the owner of Ice Age Entertainment....

. The third single is "Girl
Girl (Paul Wall song)
"Girl" is the third single from Houston rapper Paul Wall's album The Peoples Champ. It samples the song "Oh Girl" by The Chi-Lites. It peaked at #35 on The Billboard Hot 100, making it his highest-charting solo single to date. The video of the single also featured comedian Katt Williams and...

", receiving radio airplay and peaking at #35 onl the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

. In 2007, Paul Wall released his second album Get Money, Stay True
Get Money, Stay True
Get Money, Stay True is the third studio album by rapper Paul Wall, released on April 3, 2007. It debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 with 92,000 copies sold.-Track listing:-Target Edition:...

, which debuted in the #1 spot on the Billboard Chart Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...

. Paul Wall released the singles "Break 'Em Off
Break 'Em Off
"Break 'em Off" is the first single from Paul Wall's second studio album, Get Money, Stay True. The single features fellow Houston rapper Lil' Keke. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 72 in early March 2007. The music video featured Jessica aka Miss Rabbit and Flavor of Love winner...

" featuring Lil Keke and "I'm Throwed
I'm Throwed
"I'm Throwed" is the second single off Paul Wall's album, Get Money, Stay True. The song was released in late March 2007, nearly a week before the release of the album. The song is produced by and features Jermaine Dupri. Dupri uses the sounds from a Theremin as a part of the loop in the song...

" featuring and produced by Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...

.

In 2007, Paul Wall appeared alongside other celebrities and regular people in the music video for Rockstar by Nickelback
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....

. He also appears on Bermuda-based reggae artist Collie Buddz
Collie Buddz
Collie Buddz is a Bermudian reggae and dancehall artist best known for his single "Come Around". Although born in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was raised in Bermuda. He performed on Shaggy's 2007 album Intoxication on the track "Mad Mad World". In 2008, he performed the song "SOS" on WWE The Music,...

 self-titled debut album.

Paul Wall is currently a member of the rap group Expensive Taste
Expensive Taste
Expensive Taste is an American hip hop super-group formed by Paul Wall, Skinhead Rob , and Travis Barker . Expensive Taste recently released a 15-track mixtape for free from a newly registered website, but it is unknown when the band will have time to tour...

, with his good friends Travis Barker
Travis Barker
Travis Landon Barker is an American musician, producer and entrepreneur, most noted as the drummer for the American pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock band The Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car Racer. He was a frequent collaborator with...

 and Skinhead Rob (Transplants). The trio also collectively owns a line.

In the spring of 2008, Paul Wall joined Strange Music
Strange Music
Strange Music is an American independent record label specializing in hip hop music. It was founded by Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin in 1999. It is currently distributed through Fontana Distribution.-History:...

 recording artist Tech N9ne
Tech N9ne
Aaron Dontez Yates , better known by his stage name Tech N9ne , is an American rapper from Kansas City, Missouri. In 1999, Yates and Travis O'Guin founded the record label Strange Music. Throughout his career, Yates has sold over one million albums and has had his music featured in film,...

 on a nationwide tour, which also featured Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...

 rapper ILL BiLL
Ill Bill
William Braunstein, better known as Ill Bill, is a American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York. Having gained notoriety in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his hardcore lyrics and as the producer, founder and CEO of Uncle Howie Records...

.

In the 2008 presidential campaign, Paul Wall spoke out in favor of candidate Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

. He was quoted in The Source magazine as saying "Barack seems to come off as a true leader for everyone, whereas most people campaigning, including Hillary Clinton, seem to be just politicians. Barack seems to be genuine and sincere about his beliefs. He is selfless, while they are selfish. I'm gonna 'Barack the vote' this year and I've never voted before."

Paul Wall appears as fictional rapper Grillionaire in the movie I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (film)
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell is a 2009 American comedy film loosely based on the work and persona of writer Tucker Max, who co-wrote the screenplay. In an interview with Shave Magazine Max explained that the film is not "a direct recount or retelling. It says it is based on true events because it...

, released on September 25, 2009. He, along with screenwriters Nils Parker and Tucker Max
Tucker Max
Tucker Max is an American author and public speaker. He chronicles his drunken and sexual encounters in the form of short stories on his website TuckerMax.com, which has received millions of visitors since Max launched it for a bet in 2002, making him an Internet celebrity.Max's book I Hope They...

, co-wrote tracks for the movie.

In 2010, Paul Wall featured on the 'Przyjazn, Duma, Godnosc' (eng. 'Friendship, Pride and Dignity') album by a highly rated Polish rap artist Kaczor.

In February 2011, Paul appeared on an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...

along with rapper Yelawolf
Yelawolf
Michael Wayne Atha , better known by his stage name YelaWolf, is an American rapper. He is currently signed to Shady Records, Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment and Interscope Records...

 and singer Christina Milian
Christina Milian
Christine Flores , better known by her stage name Christina Milian , is an American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model....

.

In October 2011, Paul Wall joined forces with Silicon Valley based social and mobile game company Jump Shot Media
Jump Shot Media
Jump Shot Media is a social and mobile game developer located in San Jose, California, United States. The company develops and markets Rap and Hip hop focused social games and mobile applications.-History:...

 to create the world's first mobile battle rap
Battle Rap
Battle rap is a type of rapping that includes a lot of braggadocio content "combined with put-downs, insults, and disses against real or imaginary opponents"...

 game, Battle Rap Stars
Battle Rap Stars
Battle Rap Stars is a mobile rap battle game for iOS created by Jump Shot Media that uses inputted audio to evaluate and score.In Battle Rap Stars, gamers must battle rap against pre-recorded rappers featured in the game...

. Paul is featured as the "main event" and is the rapper to beat in order to win the game.

Personal life

Paul Wall married girlfriend Crystal in 2006. Their son William Patrick Slayton was born April 18, 2006.

During a concert in San Antonio Paul Wall hit a fan with a microphone. The fan was flicking his middle finger at Paul Wall. Paul Wall apologized to not only the victim but to all his San Antonio fans.

In 2010, Paul Wall went on an extreme diet and had gastric sleeve surgery, resulting in an over 100 lb. weight loss.

In February 2011, Paul Wall and his wife Crystal unveiled a Bonnie & Clyde 40's themed photo shoot, which revealed Paul's slimmer, trimmer physique.

Discography

  • 2004: Chick Magnet
  • 2005: The Peoples Champ
    The Peoples Champ
    The Peoples Champ is the major label debut album by rapper Paul Wall. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 176,000 copies its first week. This is his second studio album overall and first to reach #1 on the Billboard 200. This album is also available in a Chopped...

  • 2007: Get Money, Stay True
    Get Money, Stay True
    Get Money, Stay True is the third studio album by rapper Paul Wall, released on April 3, 2007. It debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 with 92,000 copies sold.-Track listing:-Target Edition:...

  • 2009: Fast Life
  • 2010: Heart of a Champion
    Heart of a Champion (album)
    - Chart positions :...

  • 2012: I Like Turtles

Awards and nominations

Year Award/Nomination
2006 Ozone Awards
Ozone Magazine
Ozone magazine is known as the southern voice for hip hop music. It represents the "dirty South".Ozone Magazine was founded in Orlando, Florida, in 2002. It has since expanded its reach nationally. In 2006 the magazine relocated its headquarters to Atlanta...

 Won in the categories of Taste Maker (style and trendsetter)
Ozone Awards Won for Best Rap/R&B Collaboration (for "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)
I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper)
"I'm 'n Luv " is a single performed by American R&B artist T-Pain featuring rapper Mike Jones. Released in late 2005 , it peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it T-Pain's second top 10 single, and Mike Jones' first...

 (Remix)" by T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...

 featuring Twista
Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds...

, Pimp C
Pimp C
Chad Lamont Butler , better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American rapper, singer, and producer...

, Paul Wall, 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...

, MJG, and Too Short)
Ozone Awards Won for Best Rap Collaboration ("Holla at Me
Holla at Me
"Holla at Me" is the first single from DJ Khaled's debut album, Listennn... the Album, produced by Cool & Dre. The single features Lil Wayne, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, and Pitbull...

" by DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled
Khaled bin Abdul Khaled , better known by his stage name DJ Khaled, is an American record producer, radio personality, DJ, and record label executive. He is a radio host for the Miami-based urban music radio station WEDR and the DJ for the hip hop group Terror Squad. In 2006, Khaled released his...

 featuring Lil' Wayne, Paul Wall, Fat Joe
Fat Joe
Joseph Antonio Cartagena , better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad....

, Rick Ross
Rick Ross
Rick, Ricky or Richard Ross may also refer to:* Rick Ross , American rapper* Richard J. Ross, a Massachusetts State Senator* Richard Ross , an American photographer...

, and Pitbull
Pitbull (rapper)
Armando Christian Pérez , better known by his stage name Pitbull, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer. His first recorded performance was from the Lil Jon album Kings of Crunk in 2002, after which he released his debut album in 2004 titled M.I.A.M.I. under TVT Records...

)
2007 Grammy Awards nominated Best Rap Performance as a Duo or Group (for "Grillz
Grillz
"Grillz" is a song by American rapper Nelly from his compilation album Sweatsuit. The song features Paul Wall and Ali & Gipp. Brandi Williams also does back-up vocals on the song, but is not officially credited as a featured artist . The song was produced by Jermaine Dupri. The song is about...

" by Nelly
Nelly
Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...

 featuring Paul Wall, and Ali & Gipp
Ali & Gipp
Ali & Gipp are a rap duo which consists of Ali of the St. Lunatics, and Big Gipp of Goodie Mob. They first appeared together on the single Grillz, by Nelly and Paul Wall...

)

Acting career

During his break from rapping, Paul Wall appeared in Furnace
Furnace (film)
Furnace is a 2006 horror film written and directed by William Butler. It stars Danny Trejo, Michael Pare, Tom Sizemore, Ja Rule, and Paul Wall.-Premise:A group of prisoners are assigned to assist in the re-opening of an old prison's closed wing...

with Ja Rule
Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...

. He also appeared in the 2009 movie I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (film)
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell is a 2009 American comedy film loosely based on the work and persona of writer Tucker Max, who co-wrote the screenplay. In an interview with Shave Magazine Max explained that the film is not "a direct recount or retelling. It says it is based on true events because it...

along with Jesse Bradford
Jesse Bradford
- Early life :Bradford was born Jesse Bradford Watrouse in Norwalk, Connecticut, the only child of actors Terry Porter and Curtis Watrouse, who appeared in commercials, soap operas, and industrial films. His mother also played his character's mother in Hackers...

 and Matt Czuchry. He is currently working on the movie Xtinction.

Filmography

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
|-
||2006
|Furnace
Furnace (film)
Furnace is a 2006 horror film written and directed by William Butler. It stars Danny Trejo, Michael Pare, Tom Sizemore, Ja Rule, and Paul Wall.-Premise:A group of prisoners are assigned to assist in the re-opening of an old prison's closed wing...


|Joey Robbins
|-
||2009
|I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (film)
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell is a 2009 American comedy film loosely based on the work and persona of writer Tucker Max, who co-wrote the screenplay. In an interview with Shave Magazine Max explained that the film is not "a direct recount or retelling. It says it is based on true events because it...


|Grillionaire
|-

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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