Tha Realest
Encyclopedia
Jevon Jones is an American
rapper
better known by his stage name
Tha Realest, and formerly Tenkamenin The Vigilante (or simply Tenkamenin). His debut album, Witness Tha Realest, was released on July 14, 2009, following numerous delays. Tha Realest is also known, often in a negative light, for his strikingly similar appearance and voice to that of the deceased rapper and former label-mate, Tupac Shakur
. Tha Realest is also a member of The Regime.
. His father worked as a preacher. As an Oak Cliff
native, Jones started rapping in the early 1980s at the age of 10 and competed in rap battles on the local circuit. In the early 1990s, Jones and former Dallas Cowboys
player, Kevin Smith
, formed their first record label called Puppy Dog Unlimited Records. Tha Realest got married at July 7, 2011. He's got a son from a previous relationship, which he's allowed to see once a month. Tha Realest's hobbies include watching baskbetball. During the 2011 NBA playoffs
he was supporting Miami Heat
, despite being from Dallas.
. Following Shakur's death in September 1996, Suge Knight
offered Jones a contract with the label. He made his musical debut on the Gang Related soundtrack
, appearing in two songs with rapper J-Flexx under the pseudonym
Tenkamenin, sharing his name with a 11th century African Emperor of the Ghana Empire. In 1999 he performed several tracks on the Death Row collaboration
Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000
alongside fellow Death Row artists Swoop G and Lil' C-Style. These songs had been written by Tha Realest for his solo project which was to be called Inside Out. He would again collaborate with them on yet another Death Row compilation
titled Too Gangsta for Radio, appearing on the tracks "Fuck Dre" and "Fuck Hollywood". "Fuck Dre", seemingly a response to the Dr. Dre
single "Forgot About Dre
", insults many former Death Row artists and their affiliates, primarily Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg
, Nate Dogg
, N.W.A and Eminem
, who is an artist on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records.
On October 17, 1999, while working on Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000, Tha Realest sustained relatively serious injuries to the foot, having been shot in a drive-by shooting
after leaving the studio in which he had just finished recording a song with Tha Dogg Pound (Kurupt
and Daz Dillinger
). Dwayne "Draws" Dupree, a security officer
working in the area, was also shot, but died shortly after.
at Can-Am Studios with Mob Life Records artist 730 entitled From East 2 West which featured musical performances by Swoop G and New Child of Outlawz
. It was released in early 2007.
Tha Realest was signed to Tru 'Dat' Entertainment
in 2006, a company founded by Hysear Randell to seek and recruit talented individuals in film, music, fashion and sports. The music video
for his debut single, "Eurry Now and Then" was released shortly thereafter. It features cameo appearances by C-Bo
, Yukmouth
, Nutt-So, Young Hogg, Big C-Style and Ray J
. In 2007, Hysear was accused of embezzling
millions of dollars worth of tax payers money through fraudulent money transfers. Tru 'Dat' Entertainment was subsequently forced to discontinue the label.
On July 14, 2009, Tha Realest released his album Witness Tha Realest, which had been delayed substantially due to the demise of Tru 'Dat' Entertainment. It is distributed by E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records) via RBC Records and Team Dime Entertainment. Witness Tha Realest features guest appearances from Yukmouth, Fat Joe
, Dru Down, C-Bo, WC
, E.D.I., Napoleon
, Devin The Dude
and Swoop G among others. The albums contains 17 tracks, close to his initial goal of 18 when he told interviewers:
Witness Tha Realest Mixtape, was released in November 2006 which consisted of some leftovers from the original Witness Tha Realest studio album
scheduled for release on July 15, 2004. This, however, changed due to the absence of a distribution company.
Tha Realest is currently working on his second studio album Remember My Name which most likely will be released early 2012. There are going to be 2 music videos for his upcoming album, one confirmed to be directed by Tha Razor, who also the directed Peep 'N' Game and Thug Lova music video. He is also working on albums with long-time associate C-Bo and underground artist Don Twizzi as well as a debut studio album by The Regime.
and Ice-T
, has appeared in several hip-hop themed pornographic productions including a few alongside other rappers such as Snoop Dogg
who, himself, has produced several pornographic films. His main productions are titled Tha Realest #1 and #2 and feature original music by Tha Realest and many popular pornographic actresses such as Mika Tan
, Lyla Lei and Brooke Haven
. The films were produced by Antiqua Pictures and Fatt Entertainment. The Realest also appeared in a low-budget film titled Slumber Party which was released in 2005 and also featured several former Death Row Records performers such as Daz Dillinger and Crooked I
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
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:...
Tha Realest, and formerly Tenkamenin The Vigilante (or simply Tenkamenin). His debut album, Witness Tha Realest, was released on July 14, 2009, following numerous delays. Tha Realest is also known, often in a negative light, for his strikingly similar appearance and voice to that of the deceased rapper and former label-mate, Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
. Tha Realest is also a member of The Regime.
Personal life
Jevon Jones was born in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. His father worked as a preacher. As an Oak Cliff
Oak Cliff
Oak Cliff is a community in Dallas, Texas, United States that was formerly a separate town located in Dallas County; Dallas annexed Oak Cliff in 1903...
native, Jones started rapping in the early 1980s at the age of 10 and competed in rap battles on the local circuit. In the early 1990s, Jones and former Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
player, Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith (cornerback)
Kevin Rey Smith is a former professional American football player who played cornerback in the National Football League for nine seasons for the Dallas Cowboys.-High school career:...
, formed their first record label called Puppy Dog Unlimited Records. Tha Realest got married at July 7, 2011. He's got a son from a previous relationship, which he's allowed to see once a month. Tha Realest's hobbies include watching baskbetball. During the 2011 NBA playoffs
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
he was supporting Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
, despite being from Dallas.
Death Row Records
Jones began his association with Death Row Records in March 1996 when he auditioned for Tupac Shakur in Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Following Shakur's death in September 1996, Suge Knight
Suge Knight
Marion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
offered Jones a contract with the label. He made his musical debut on the Gang Related soundtrack
Gang Related (soundtrack)
Gang Related is a double disc audio soundtrack for the film Gang Related, released on October 7, 1997, under Priority Records. It features four songs by the supporting actor Tupac Shakur. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart....
, appearing in two songs with rapper J-Flexx under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Tenkamenin, sharing his name with a 11th century African Emperor of the Ghana Empire. In 1999 he performed several tracks on the Death Row collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000
Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000
Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000 is a compilation album released in 1999 by Death Row Records featuring performances by various artists, including 2Pac, Treach, Scarface, Tha Realest, Swoop G, Lil' C-Style, K-Ci, Soopafly, Jewell, Danny Boy, Outlawz, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, E-40, Top Dogg and DJ...
alongside fellow Death Row artists Swoop G and Lil' C-Style. These songs had been written by Tha Realest for his solo project which was to be called Inside Out. He would again collaborate with them on yet another Death Row compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
titled Too Gangsta for Radio, appearing on the tracks "Fuck Dre" and "Fuck Hollywood". "Fuck Dre", seemingly a response to the Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
single "Forgot About Dre
Forgot About Dre
-Peak positions:-End of year charts:-Awards:"Forgot About Dre" won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2001 Grammy Awards....
", insults many former Death Row artists and their affiliates, primarily Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
, Nate Dogg
Nate Dogg
Nathaniel Dwayne Hale , better known by his stage name Nate Dogg, was an American musician. He is noted for his membership of rap trio 213 and his solo career in which he collaborated with Dr. Dre, Warren G, Tupac and Snoop Dogg on many hit releases. Nate Dogg released three solo albums, G-Funk...
, N.W.A and Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, who is an artist on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records.
On October 17, 1999, while working on Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000, Tha Realest sustained relatively serious injuries to the foot, having been shot in a drive-by shooting
Drive-by shooting
A drive-by shooting is a form of hit-and-run tactic, a personal attack carried out by an individual or individuals from a moving or momentarily stopped vehicle without use of headlights to avoid being noticed. It often results in bystanders being shot instead of, or as well as, the intended target...
after leaving the studio in which he had just finished recording a song with Tha Dogg Pound (Kurupt
Kurupt
Ricardo Emmanuel Brown , better known by his stage name Kurupt, also known as Kurupt Tha Kingpin, Kurupt Young Gotti or Young Gotstra is an American rapper and former Executive Vice President of Death Row Records...
and Daz Dillinger
Daz Dillinger
Delmar Drew Arnaud , better known by his stage name Daz Dillinger is an American hip hop producer and rapper mostly known for his membership in the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, with Kurupt, and his work with Death Row Records.-The Chronic, Tha Dogg Pound and Dogg Food:Daz began his career on Death Row...
). Dwayne "Draws" Dupree, a security officer
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
working in the area, was also shot, but died shortly after.
After Death Row Records
Following Suge Knight's release from prison, Tha Realest left Death Row Records in late 2001 to pursue a record deal in order to release his debut album, for which he had recorded approximately 150 songs. Tha Realest had difficulty obtaining a contract as labels were unwilling to associate with a former artist of Death Row Records and the notoriety it accumulated over the years. In 2002, Tha Realest formed his own record label, 2 Real Entertainment (later Omertà Entertainment). In 2004, he recorded a mixtapeMixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
at Can-Am Studios with Mob Life Records artist 730 entitled From East 2 West which featured musical performances by Swoop G and New Child of 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...
. It was released in early 2007.
Tha Realest was signed to Tru 'Dat' Entertainment
Tru 'Dat' Entertainment
Tru 'Dat' Entertainment or plainly Tru Dat was a Los Angeles, California-based firm founded in 2006 by Hysear Randell, a wealthy African-American entrepreneur, as a recruitment platform for urban talent in music, sport, film and fashion...
in 2006, a company founded by Hysear Randell to seek and recruit talented individuals in film, music, fashion and sports. The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for his debut single, "Eurry Now and Then" was released shortly thereafter. It features cameo appearances by C-Bo
C-Bo
Shawn Thomas, better known by his stage name C-Bo is an American rapper. He was born and raised in the south area of Sacramento, California. He has sold over 3.5 million albums independently since 1993...
, Yukmouth
Yukmouth
Jerold Dwight Ellis, III, better known by his stage name Yukmouth, is a Grammy-nominated American rapper from East Oakland, Oakland, California. He is the founder of The Regime, Smoke-A-Lot Records and Godzilla Entertainment.-Career:He is a member of the platinum-selling rap duo Luniz along with...
, Nutt-So, Young Hogg, Big C-Style and Ray J
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
. In 2007, Hysear was accused of embezzling
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
millions of dollars worth of tax payers money through fraudulent money transfers. Tru 'Dat' Entertainment was subsequently forced to discontinue the label.
On July 14, 2009, Tha Realest released his album Witness Tha Realest, which had been delayed substantially due to the demise of Tru 'Dat' Entertainment. It is distributed by E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records) via RBC Records and Team Dime Entertainment. Witness Tha Realest features guest appearances from Yukmouth, 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....
, Dru Down, C-Bo, WC
WC (rapper)
William L. Calhoun Jr. , better known by his stage name WC , is an American rapper. He was born in Texas, but moved to South Central Los Angeles at an early age. He originally was a rapper in the group Low Profile, and later formed his group WC and the Maad Circle, which also included fellow rapper...
, E.D.I., Napoleon
Napoleon (rapper)
Mutah Wassin Shabazz Beale , better known as Napoleon, is a former member of Tupac Shakur's rap group the Outlawz. Beale has since converted to Islam and is now a motivational speaker....
, 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"....
and Swoop G among others. The albums contains 17 tracks, close to his initial goal of 18 when he told interviewers:
Witness Tha Realest Mixtape, was released in November 2006 which consisted of some leftovers from the original Witness Tha Realest studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
scheduled for release on July 15, 2004. This, however, changed due to the absence of a distribution company.
Tha Realest is currently working on his second studio album Remember My Name which most likely will be released early 2012. There are going to be 2 music videos for his upcoming album, one confirmed to be directed by Tha Razor, who also the directed Peep 'N' Game and Thug Lova music video. He is also working on albums with long-time associate C-Bo and underground artist Don Twizzi as well as a debut studio album by The Regime.
Films
Tha Realest, like many other rappers such as G-UnitG-Unit
G-Unit is an American hip hop group originating from New York City formed by 50 Cents. G-Unit emerged on the New York scene by independently releasing several mix tapes...
and Ice-T
ICE-T
* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
, has appeared in several hip-hop themed pornographic productions including a few alongside other rappers such as Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
who, himself, has produced several pornographic films. His main productions are titled Tha Realest #1 and #2 and feature original music by Tha Realest and many popular pornographic actresses such as Mika Tan
Mika Tan
Mika Tan is the stage name of a fetish model , and pornographic actress of Asian ancestry.-Background:...
, Lyla Lei and Brooke Haven
Brooke Haven
__notoc__Brooke Haven is an American pornographic actress.Haven grew up in Sonora, California and lived there until she turned 19, when she moved to San Francisco to start working as a stripper. She worked at a club called Deja Vu for three and a half years...
. The films were produced by Antiqua Pictures and Fatt Entertainment. The Realest also appeared in a low-budget film titled Slumber Party which was released in 2005 and also featured several former Death Row Records performers such as Daz Dillinger and Crooked I
Crooked I
Dominick Wickliffe, better known by his stage name Crooked I, is an American rapper from Long Beach, California. He is a member of the hip hop group, Slaughterhouse with other members Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9. Slaughterhouse is currently signed to Shady Records / Interscope Records....
.
Compilations
- Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000 is a compilation album released in 1999 by Death Row Records featuring performances by various artists, including 2Pac, Treach, Scarface, Tha Realest, Swoop G, Lil' C-Style, K-Ci, Soopafly, Jewell, Danny Boy, Outlawz, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, E-40, Top Dogg and DJ...
(1999) - Too Gangsta for Radio (2000)
Filmography & TV Series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Slumber Party | Himself | Cameo |
| 2008 | Triloquist Triloquist Triloquist is a 2008 American horror film written and directed by Mark Jones produced by Jack Edward Sawyers and Marlon Parry and Michael Levine... |
Himself | Performer |
| 2008 | Keeping Up with the Kardashians Keeping Up with the Kardashians Keeping Up with the Kardashians is an American reality television series that airs on E!. The series premiered in October 2007. It focuses on the personal and professional lives of the members of the Kardashian and Jenner family. There will be a 7th Season to premiere in 2012.As of September 2011,... |
Himself | S02E11 |
| 2011 | Old Skool with Terry & Gita | Himself | S01E05 |
Pornographic movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Tha Realest - The Party's Just Getting Started! | Himself | Host |
| 2006 | Tha Realest - Volume 2: The Party Continues! | Himself | Host |
Music Videos
| Year | Title | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Unconditional Love | 2Pac | Tha Realest plays 2Pac. |
| 1999 | Because of You Girl | Tha Dogg Pound Tha Dogg Pound Tha Dogg Pound is a rap group made up of Daz Dillinger and Kurupt. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. The group made their 1992 rap debut on Dr. Dre's The Chronic, on various songs. They also appeared on Snoop Dogg's debut album... ft. Tha Realest Tha Realest Jevon Jones is an American rapper better known by his stage name Tha Realest, and formerly Tenkamenin The Vigilante . His debut album, Witness Tha Realest, was released on July 14, 2009, following numerous delays... |
|
| 2000 | Cindafella | Top Dogg | Cameo |
| 2006 | Get Wild | The Regime | |
| 2006 | Apple Bottom Anthem | Yukmouth Yukmouth Jerold Dwight Ellis, III, better known by his stage name Yukmouth, is a Grammy-nominated American rapper from East Oakland, Oakland, California. He is the founder of The Regime, Smoke-A-Lot Records and Godzilla Entertainment.-Career:He is a member of the platinum-selling rap duo Luniz along with... ft. Tha Realest Tha Realest Jevon Jones is an American rapper better known by his stage name Tha Realest, and formerly Tenkamenin The Vigilante . His debut album, Witness Tha Realest, was released on July 14, 2009, following numerous delays... & Dru Down Dru Down Darnel Robinson, better known by his stage name Dru Down, is an American rapper and actor from Oakland, California... |
|
| 2007 | Eurry Now & Then | Tha Realest Tha Realest Jevon Jones is an American rapper better known by his stage name Tha Realest, and formerly Tenkamenin The Vigilante . His debut album, Witness Tha Realest, was released on July 14, 2009, following numerous delays... |
|
| 2010 | Peep'N Game | Tha Realest Tha Realest Jevon Jones is an American rapper better known by his stage name Tha Realest, and formerly Tenkamenin The Vigilante . His debut album, Witness Tha Realest, was released on July 14, 2009, following numerous delays... ft. Ray J Ray J William Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:... |
|
| 2010 | Thug Lover | Parlay Starr Parlay Starr Parlay Starr is the stage name of Deshawn Carter, an American Rapper from South Los Angeles, California.-Musical career:In 1999, Parlay Starr met and began to perform with the group 2nd II None. Soon thereafter he was introduced to DJ Quik, and began to tour nationally. In 2005, Parlay Starr... ft. Tha Realest Tha Realest Jevon Jones is an American rapper better known by his stage name Tha Realest, and formerly Tenkamenin The Vigilante . His debut album, Witness Tha Realest, was released on July 14, 2009, following numerous delays... |