Stic.man
Encyclopedia
Khnum Muata ”STIC” Ibomu or Clayton Gavin, better known as stic.man, is an American emcee
, activist
and author known for his work as one half of the political hip-hop duo dead prez
.
in 1974. He studied at James S. Rickards
and Wakulla High School
s.
In 1990, while in the 10th grade at Wakulla, Gavin was prevented from performing a rap song entitled "Black As I Can Get" for a Black History Month
assembly. The incident prompted students to boycott classes following the assembly and lead to a picket of the school joined by parents.
Following a diagnosis of gout
when he was 21, stic.man stopped drinking and smoking, started practicing Jeet Kune Do
and began following a vegan
diet.
stic.man formed the hip-hop duo dead prez
with M-1
after the two met at Florida A&M University
. After a chance meeting with Brand Nubian
's Lord Jamar
at a Brooklyn block party, the two signed a recording deal with Loud Records, which in 2000 released Let's Get Free
. The pair went on to release RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta in 2004. stic.man was arrested at a Crown Heights
photo shoot in 2003 after refusing to show identification to police officers. He and two others were arrested again at the O'Hare International Airport
in 2004 for refusing to take off their headphones prior to takeoff.
In 2006 stic.man wrote two books. The first, entitled Warrior Names from Afrika, is a compilation of African warrior names and their meanings. His second book, The Art of Emceeing, is a 112-page resource that offers a step-by-step instructional guide on how to emcee
, unique tips on voice healing and vocal health practices, and an explanation on many aspects of the hip hop industry, including terminology, styles, and business dealings. stic.man collaborated with Young Noble
from Outlawz
on their Soldier 2 Soldier
album the same year.
stic.man also maintains Boss Up, Inc., an Atlanta-based music and entertainment company that offers information, music, and gear that reflects a sense of self-determination, creative consciousness, and entrepreneurship.
More recently stic.man has produced "Sly Fox", "Untitled" and "We're Not Alone" on Nas
' album Untitled
. He has also rapped on other artist's albums, such as Bizarre's Hannicap Circus
. He is also featured on the song Angels & Demons on Immortal Technique
's The Martyr
mixtape, along with dead prez
counterpart M-1
.
, directed by M.K. Asante, Jr. and narrated by Maya Angelou
.
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
, activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
and author known for his work as one half of the political hip-hop duo dead prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
.
History
Clayton Gavin was born in the rural unincorporated community of Shadeville, FloridaShadeville, Florida
Shadeville is a small unincorporated community in Wakulla County, Florida, United States of America....
in 1974. He studied at James S. Rickards
James S. Rickards High School
James S. Rickards High School is a public high school in Tallahassee, Florida. Rickards was ranked 49th in Newsweek's list of 1,000 top high schools in 2009, due to the high number of AP and IB exams taken by its students...
and Wakulla High School
Wakulla High School
Wakulla High School is the only public four year high school located in Wakulla County, FL.- Athletes :* Sam McGrew, former linebacker for the Florida State Seminoles and Miami Dolphins...
s.
In 1990, while in the 10th grade at Wakulla, Gavin was prevented from performing a rap song entitled "Black As I Can Get" for a Black History Month
Black History Month
Black History Month is an observance of the history of the African diaspora in a number of countries outside of Africa. Since 1976, it is observed annually in the United States and Canada in February, while in the United Kingdom it is observed in October...
assembly. The incident prompted students to boycott classes following the assembly and lead to a picket of the school joined by parents.
Following a diagnosis of gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
when he was 21, stic.man stopped drinking and smoking, started practicing Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
and began following a vegan
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
diet.
stic.man formed the hip-hop duo dead prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
with M-1
M-1 (rapper)
Mutulu Olugbala also known by his stage name M-1 is a rapper, activist and author known for his work as one half of the political hip hop duo Dead Prez along with his friend stic.man...
after the two met at Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
. After a chance meeting with Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, consisting of three MC's: Grand Puba , Sadat X and Lord Jamar , and two DJs: DJ Alamo and DJ Sincere...
's Lord Jamar
Lord Jamar
Lord Jamar is an American emcee and actor. He is a member of the hip-hop group Brand Nubian, which formed in 1989. As an actor, he is best known for his role of Supreme Allah on the TV series Oz. He has appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Third Watch, and The Sopranos...
at a Brooklyn block party, the two signed a recording deal with Loud Records, which in 2000 released Let's Get Free
Let's Get Free
Let's Get Free is the debut album by the political hip hop duo dead prez, released on February 8, 2000 on Loud Records.Critically acclaimed upon its first release, Let's Get Free was called a "return to politically conscious rap" and, "the most politically conscious rap since Public Enemy"; the...
. The pair went on to release RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta in 2004. stic.man was arrested at a Crown Heights
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Crown Heights is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The main thoroughfare through this neighborhood is Eastern Parkway, a tree-lined boulevard designed by Frederick Law Olmsted extending two miles east-west.Originally, the area was known as Crow Hill....
photo shoot in 2003 after refusing to show identification to police officers. He and two others were arrested again at the O'Hare International Airport
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
in 2004 for refusing to take off their headphones prior to takeoff.
In 2006 stic.man wrote two books. The first, entitled Warrior Names from Afrika, is a compilation of African warrior names and their meanings. His second book, The Art of Emceeing, is a 112-page resource that offers a step-by-step instructional guide on how to emcee
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
, unique tips on voice healing and vocal health practices, and an explanation on many aspects of the hip hop industry, including terminology, styles, and business dealings. stic.man collaborated with Young Noble
Young Noble
Rufus Cooper III , also known by his stage name Young Noble, is an American rapper who worked with the group Outlawz in 1996....
from Outlawz
Outlawz
Outlawz, formally known as Outlaw Immortalz, is an American hip hop group founded by Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison. Collectively, they are probably best known for appearing in the video "Hit 'Em Up", in a diss track aimed at Biggie Smalls and other New York...
on their Soldier 2 Soldier
Soldier 2 Soldier
Soldier 2 Soldier is an album by stic.man and Young Noble.In early 2006, the political, sometimes militant, Dead Prez member stic.man and Outlawz's Young Noble collaborated together to make Soldier 2 Soldier. The relationship between the two groups worked well enough that they decided to work on...
album the same year.
stic.man also maintains Boss Up, Inc., an Atlanta-based music and entertainment company that offers information, music, and gear that reflects a sense of self-determination, creative consciousness, and entrepreneurship.
More recently stic.man has produced "Sly Fox", "Untitled" and "We're Not Alone" on 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...
' album Untitled
Untitled (Nas album)
The untitled ninth studio album by American rapper Nas was released by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records on July 15, 2008 in the United States, with earlier dates in some other countries. Its original title—Nigger—was changed due to controversy surrounding the racial epithet...
. He has also rapped on other artist's albums, such as Bizarre's Hannicap Circus
Hannicap Circus
Note: On the edited Version, all skits were cut and it left only 17 tracks. Also all profanity was blanked on the edited version with the exception of "Fuck Your Life", which allegedly contained backmasking....
. He is also featured on the song Angels & Demons on 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...
's The Martyr
The Martyr
The Martyr is an Compilation album by Immortal Technique released on October 27, 2011 through free digital download on ViperRecords.com. It is a collection of previously unreleased and never before heard music from the artist. This album contains a never before heard song, called "Toast to the...
mixtape, along with dead prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
counterpart M-1
M-1 (rapper)
Mutulu Olugbala also known by his stage name M-1 is a rapper, activist and author known for his work as one half of the political hip hop duo Dead Prez along with his friend stic.man...
.
Personal life
Khnum ”STIC” Ibomu has a son and is married to nutritionist and author Afya Ibomu. He currently resides in Atlanta with his wife and son.Solo albums
- Soldier 2 SoldierSoldier 2 SoldierSoldier 2 Soldier is an album by stic.man and Young Noble.In early 2006, the political, sometimes militant, Dead Prez member stic.man and Outlawz's Young Noble collaborated together to make Soldier 2 Soldier. The relationship between the two groups worked well enough that they decided to work on...
(2006) (with Young NobleYoung NobleRufus Cooper III , also known by his stage name Young Noble, is an American rapper who worked with the group Outlawz in 1996....
) - ManhoodManhood (stic.man album)Manhood is the debut solo album by stic.man in 2007. The lyrical content of the album represents a bit of a departure from previous Stic.Man/dead prez music in that the underlying theme of the album--manhood--is encouraged through capital accumulation...
(2007) - The Workout (2011)
Film appearances
Ibomu appears in the 2008 film The Black CandleThe Black Candle
The Black Candle is a 2008 documentary film about Kwanzaa directed by M. K. Asante and narrated by Maya Angelou.-Synopsis:The Black Candle uses Kwanzaa as a vehicle to explore and celebrate the African-American experience....
, directed by M.K. Asante, Jr. and narrated by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first and most highly...
.