Prince Ea
Encyclopedia
Richard Williams, better known by his stage name Prince Ea, is an African-American rapper and activist.
, the youngest of three children, and has resided there his whole life. The alias Prince Ea is derived from Sumerian culture ("The prince of the Earth").
In 2009 he won a Funkvolume competition with the help of his 6000 subscribers on YouTube.
On March 13, 2009, Prince Ea's associate Yousef Taleb stated that his latest mixtape "The Mic In The Shoebox" would be released that summer.
Prince Ea is the first hip-hop artist to have a feature in Discover Magazine.
In February 2011, Prince Ea independently released "The Compilation Mixtape", a free digital compilation mixtape with selections from DJ Techne.
named "Make 'SMART' Cool". The "Make 'SMART' Cool" movement (SMART is an acronym for "Sophisticating Minds And Revolutionizing Thought") attempts to "promote intelligence to everyone, everywhere and integrate it with hip-hop. To create and nurture, without discrimination or preference, a community of free-thinking individuals under the singular purpose of promoting the ideals of education, intelligence, unity and creativity throughout the world at large."
A successful underground clothing line for the movement, which includes t-shirts and sweaters, was released and has gained support from artists such as newly signed So So Def producer Mike Kalombo.
Other artists to support the movement include Black Thought
, Immortal Technique
, Sha Stimuli
, August Rigo
, and Klassic.
Official singles
Early life
Prince Ea was born as Richard Williams on September 16, 1988 in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, the youngest of three children, and has resided there his whole life. The alias Prince Ea is derived from Sumerian culture ("The prince of the Earth").
Music career
In late 2008 Prince Ea released the mixtape "The Adolescence" on the internet for free download. A few days after the release, Prince Ea recorded an amateur video of himself rapping and entered it into a VIBE Magazine contest dubbed "VIBE Verses". A few months later, Ea was declared the VIBE Verses grand champion and was awarded $5000 in music recording equipment along with a full page article in the VIBE Magazine, which held a total value of $50,000.In 2009 he won a Funkvolume competition with the help of his 6000 subscribers on YouTube.
On March 13, 2009, Prince Ea's associate Yousef Taleb stated that his latest mixtape "The Mic In The Shoebox" would be released that summer.
Prince Ea is the first hip-hop artist to have a feature in Discover Magazine.
In February 2011, Prince Ea independently released "The Compilation Mixtape", a free digital compilation mixtape with selections from DJ Techne.
The "Make 'SMART' Cool" movement
In late 2009 Prince Ea, upset at the present state of the music industry, and along with his long-time friend and teenage entrepreneur Yousef Taleb and newest associate Ericka Henderson., decided to form a movementSocial movement
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change....
named "Make 'SMART' Cool". The "Make 'SMART' Cool" movement (SMART is an acronym for "Sophisticating Minds And Revolutionizing Thought") attempts to "promote intelligence to everyone, everywhere and integrate it with hip-hop. To create and nurture, without discrimination or preference, a community of free-thinking individuals under the singular purpose of promoting the ideals of education, intelligence, unity and creativity throughout the world at large."
A successful underground clothing line for the movement, which includes t-shirts and sweaters, was released and has gained support from artists such as newly signed So So Def producer Mike Kalombo.
Other artists to support the movement include Black Thought
Black Thought
Tariq Trotter , better known as Black Thought, is an American hip-hop artist who is the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots and occasional actor...
, Immortal Technique
Immortal Technique
Felipe Andres Coronel , better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper of Afro-Peruvian descent as well as an urban activist. He was born in Lima, Peru and raised in Harlem, New York. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics...
, Sha Stimuli
Sha Stimuli
Sha Stimuli, born Sherod Khaalis , is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. He is known for his mixtape releases, beginning with Let Me Show You The Way in 2002, which earned him a spot in Source Magazine's Unsigned Hype section...
, August Rigo
August Rigo
Dan August Rigo or better known professionally as August Rigo is a recording artist, songwriter, producer and musician. August Rigo is signed to a publishing contract with Sony/ATV as a songwriter.-Early life:...
, and Klassic.
Discography
Official mixtapes- 2008: The Adolescence
- 2010: The Mic In The Shoebox
- 2011: The Compilation
Official singles
- 2010: "The Brain”
- 2010: "The Game” (Featuring Sha StimuliSha StimuliSha Stimuli, born Sherod Khaalis , is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. He is known for his mixtape releases, beginning with Let Me Show You The Way in 2002, which earned him a spot in Source Magazine's Unsigned Hype section...
)
Awards/Nominations
- Vibe Magazine
- 2008, Vibe Verses Contest (won).
- Funkvolume
- 2009, Funkvolume Contest (won).
- Discover Magazine
- 2010, Discover Magazine Feature
- Trojan (condoms)Trojan (condoms)Trojan is a brand name of condoms manufactured by the Church & Dwight Company. 70.5 percent of condoms purchased in United States drugstores are Trojan brand. Trojan began selling condoms in 1927 through an ad placed in a trade magazine for pharmacists....
- 2011, Magnum Trojan Live Large Contest (won).
- Riverfront TimesRiverfront TimesThe Riverfront Times is a weekly newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri that consists of local politics, music, arts and dining news in the print edition and daily updates to blogs and photo galleries on its website...
- 2011, Riverfront Times contest - Best Hip Hop artist nominee. (won)
- Juicy JJuicy JJordan Michael Houston, better known by his stage name Juicy J is an Academy Award winning American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee and is the co-founder and a member of the duo Three 6 Mafia . He is also the younger brother of Project Pat...
- 2011, Juicy J underground search contest.(won)
- Jae Millz
- 2011, Jae Millz Contest. (won)