Twista
Encyclopedia
Carl Terrell Mitchell 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:...

 Twista, is an American 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”...

. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...

 in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds. In 1997, after appearing on Do or Die
Do or Die
Do or Die is an American rap trio originally from Chicago, Illinois, consisting of group members Belo Zero, N.A.R.D. and AK-47. The trio has sold more than 3 million albums. The group experienced mainstream success with the gold single "Po Pimp", Produced by The Legendary Traxster off of their...

's hit "Po Pimp
Po Pimp
"Po Pimp" is the debut single by Do or Die, it served as the lead single from their debut album, Picture This. The song was produced by The Legendary Traxster and featured a guest verse from fellow Chicago rapper Twista and vocals from R&B singer Johnny P....

" Produced by The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....

, Twista signed with Big Beat/Atlantic Records and debuted under that label with Adrenaline Rush
Adrenaline Rush (album)
Adrenaline Rush, released in 1997, is the third studio album by rap artist Twista. It was his second album nationally released, after his previous effort Resurrection was shelved outside of Chicago. The album had guest artists: Johnny P, Liffy Stokes, Miss Kane, Malif, Mayze, and Turtle Banxx...

and formed the group Speedknot Mobstaz
Speedknot Mobstaz
Speedknot Mobstaz are a hip hop group affiliated with Twista. They have released albums Mobstability, and Mobstability II: Nation Business. In 1994, they appeared on Twista's 2nd album, Resurrection...

 in 1998. His 2004 album Kamikaze
Kamikaze (album)
Kamikaze is the fourth studio album by Chicago, Illinois, rapper Twista which reached the top of the US Billboard 200 album charts in early 2004 based on the success of the lead single "Slow Jamz". It was released on January 27, 2004. The album has received generally positive reviews from critics...

went to the top on the U.S. 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...

 album chart after the success of his 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...

 single "Slow Jamz
Slow Jamz
"Slow Jamz" is the Grammy-nominated first single from Twista's album Kamikaze and from Kanye West's debut album The College Dropout. Released in 2003, the single, which features Kanye West and Jamie Foxx peaked at number one in the USA for a week on February 10, 2004 becoming Twista's, West's and...

."

Career

His second album, titled Resurrection
Resurrection (Twista album)
Resurrection is the second studio album by Chicago rapper Twista, who had released his first album under the name Tung Twista. Along with the name and label change, the rapper slowed his flow slightly and deepened his voice; he also took to darker, rougher production...

, was set to be released in 1994, but due to problems with record labels and marketing issues involving fellow Chicago rapper Common
Common (rapper)
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....

's album of the same name
Resurrection (Common album)
Resurrection is the second album by American rapper Common . Released in 1994 , the album received a great deal of critical acclaim, but not a significant amount of mainstream attention. Resurrection was entirely produced by No I.D. , and Ynot...

, the album was only released in the city of Chicago and thus got very little national attention.

In 1996 he teamed with Chicago Producer The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....

 and Cwal's Do or Die
Do or Die
Do or Die is an American rap trio originally from Chicago, Illinois, consisting of group members Belo Zero, N.A.R.D. and AK-47. The trio has sold more than 3 million albums. The group experienced mainstream success with the gold single "Po Pimp", Produced by The Legendary Traxster off of their...

 on the track "Po Pimp
Po Pimp
"Po Pimp" is the debut single by Do or Die, it served as the lead single from their debut album, Picture This. The song was produced by The Legendary Traxster and featured a guest verse from fellow Chicago rapper Twista and vocals from R&B singer Johnny P....

" Produced by The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....

, which became a hit single. This led to a Cwal's label deal with Atlantic Records, which released Adrenaline Rush
Adrenaline Rush (album)
Adrenaline Rush, released in 1997, is the third studio album by rap artist Twista. It was his second album nationally released, after his previous effort Resurrection was shelved outside of Chicago. The album had guest artists: Johnny P, Liffy Stokes, Miss Kane, Malif, Mayze, and Turtle Banxx...

in 1997. Twista had by then dropped the "Tung" from his stage name. Adrenaline Rush became Twista's first charting album, as it peaked at #77 on the Billboard Hot 200. The album also spawned a 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...

 hit in "Get It Wet" Produced by The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....

, which peaked at #96.

In 1998 Twista teamed with other Chicago area rappers to form the Speedknot Mobstaz
Speedknot Mobstaz
Speedknot Mobstaz are a hip hop group affiliated with Twista. They have released albums Mobstability, and Mobstability II: Nation Business. In 1994, they appeared on Twista's 2nd album, Resurrection...

. They released their first album, Mobstability Produced entirely by The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....

, in 1998. Twista then formed his own Legit Ballin' label, which released two compilation albums: Legit Ballin' in 1999 and Legit Ballin' Vol. 2: Street Scriptures in 2001. The label later released Respect The Game, Vol. 3 in 2002 and Volume 4: Tha Truth in 2006. In 2000, Twista collaborated with Ruff Ryders
Ruff Ryders
Ruff Ryders Entertainment is a record label founded by brothers Darrin "Dee" Dean and Joaquin "Waah" Dean, uncles of producer Swizz Beatz. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Fontana Distribution.The label is currently active as Ruff Ryders...

 and Drag-On
Drag-On
Mel Jason Smalls , better known as Drag-On, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York City.Drag-On was originally signed to Interscope Records under the Ruff Ryders Entertainment imprint, where he released his successful debut album, Opposite of H2O, which debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200...

 on the Ruff Ryders: Ryde or Die Vol. 2 album, on the track "Twisted Heat."

Beginning in 2002, Twista began recording his album Kamikaze
Kamikaze (album)
Kamikaze is the fourth studio album by Chicago, Illinois, rapper Twista which reached the top of the US Billboard 200 album charts in early 2004 based on the success of the lead single "Slow Jamz". It was released on January 27, 2004. The album has received generally positive reviews from critics...

with rappers like Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...

 and Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...

. Kamikaze came out in 2004 and debuted at the top spot of the American 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...

 album chart at #1. Its first single "Slow Jamz
Slow Jamz
"Slow Jamz" is the Grammy-nominated first single from Twista's album Kamikaze and from Kanye West's debut album The College Dropout. Released in 2003, the single, which features Kanye West and Jamie Foxx peaked at number one in the USA for a week on February 10, 2004 becoming Twista's, West's and...

" (also featured on Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...

's debut album The College Dropout
The College Dropout
The College Dropout is the debut album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released February 10, 2004, on Roc-A-Fella Records. It was recorded over a period of four years, beginning in 1999. Prior to the album's release, West had worked on rapper Jay-Z's The Blueprint , which showcased his...

), featured West and Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...

 and became a number-one hit in the US. Other singles included "Overnight Celebrity" and "So Sexy" (featuring 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...

); the album sold around two million copies. The remix of the song "Jook Gal" by Elephant Man featured Twista and the YoungBloodZ
YoungBloodZ
YoungBloodZ are an American Southern rap duo from Atlanta, Georgia, comprising members J-Bo and Sean P YoungBloodZ are an American Southern rap duo from Atlanta, Georgia, comprising members J-Bo (born Jeffrey Ray Grigsby on October 4, 1977) and Sean P YoungBloodZ are an American Southern rap duo...

. The Kamikaze album and its singles gave Twista a new level of success and rose his profile significantly within the rap community.

Twista's album The Day After was released in 2005. It featured the hit singles "Girl Tonite" featuring Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...

, "Hit the Floor" featuring 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...

, and "So Lonely" featuring Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...

. His next album, Adrenaline Rush 2007 came out in 2007. Its singles were "Give it Up" featuring Pharrell
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...

 and "Creep Fast" featuring 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,...

. This album sold poorly compared to Twista's earlier albums. Twista appeared on the single "Hell No (Leave Home)
Hell No (Leave Home)
"Hell No " is a song by American singer Monica. It was written by Bryan Michael Cox, Sean Garrett, and Carl Mitchell and co-produced by Cox and Garrett, and features guest vocals by rapper Twista for her fourth studio album The Makings of Me...

" from Monica's
Monica (singer)
Monica Denise Brown , and professionally known as Monica, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, Monica began performing as a child and became part of a traveling gospel choir, by the time she was ten...

 album fall 2006 The Makings of Me
The Makings of Me
The Makings of Me is the fifth studio album by American singer Monica, released by J Records on October 3, 2006 in the United States and October 10, 2006 in Canada...

.

In 2008, Twista launched a new record label called Get Money Gang Entertainment and the album Category F5 with the hit, "Wetter". In 2009, Twista appeared on the single "Legendary" with fellow Chicago rappers AK47 of Do or Die
Do or Die
Do or Die is an American rap trio originally from Chicago, Illinois, consisting of group members Belo Zero, N.A.R.D. and AK-47. The trio has sold more than 3 million albums. The group experienced mainstream success with the gold single "Po Pimp", Produced by The Legendary Traxster off of their...

 and Saurus and Bones
Saurus and Bones
Keith Hoskins and Brett Hoskins, better known as Saurus and Bones, are American rap artists from Chicago, Illinois. They gained notoriety in 2009 after the release of their debut album, Mind Like Mine, with their single "Legendary" which featured Chicago hip hop legends Twista and AK47 of Do or Die...

.

Twista is set to release his eighth solo album entitled, The Perfect Storm on Nov 9. The first single from the album, "Make a Movie
Make a Movie
"Make a Movie" is the second single off American rapper Twista's eighth studio album The Perfect Storm. It was released on August 24, 2010. The track charted in the United States and a music video was shot.- Background :...

" Produced by The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....

, featuring Chris Brown, was released on August 24, 2010. Two buzz singles were released, "I Do" produced by Traxster and "Heat" produced by fellow Chicago producers NO I.D.
No I.D.
No I.D., officially known as Immenslope and also known as Ernest Wilson , is a hip hop and R&B record producer, also the vice-president of Def Jam Recordings, best known for his early work with Chicago rapper Common and is known as "The Godfather of Chicago hip hop".. The nickname No I.D...

 and The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....

. The album will feature artists such as Waka Flocka Flame
Waka Flocka Flame
Juaquin Malphurs , better known by his stage name Waka Flocka Flame, is an American rapper signed to 1017 Brick Squad and Warner Bros. He is a Southern hip hop artist best known for his singles "O Let's Do It", "Hard in da Paint" & "No Hands", along with his debut album, Flockaveli...

, Raekwon
Raekwon
Corey Woods , better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded four solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with...

, Tia London, Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...

, 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:...

 and others. Production on the album is mainly by The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....

 along with Streetrunner
StreetRunner
Nicholas Warwar, better known as STREETRUNNER, is a Grammy Award Winning American record producer and DJ who works and lives in Miami, Florida. He first gained recognition in 2004 for producing Terror Squad's hit single, "Take Me Home". More recently he has gained fame for working with Lil Wayne on...

, Twinz, Tight Mike and NO I.D.
No I.D.
No I.D., officially known as Immenslope and also known as Ernest Wilson , is a hip hop and R&B record producer, also the vice-president of Def Jam Recordings, best known for his early work with Chicago rapper Common and is known as "The Godfather of Chicago hip hop".. The nickname No I.D...



In an October 31, 2010 interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio, Twista discussed his new documentary, directed by Vlad Yudin and the making of The Perfect Storm, including his belief that artists need to do more than just record songs and that they need to become more involved with the community around them.

During the holiday season in 2010, Twista and his GMG team worked together with Chicago Food Bank's Producemobile program to feed hungry people in the community.

In other media

A documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...

, titled "Mr. Immorality: The Life and Times of Twista", was directed by Vlad Yudin and released through EMI Label Group on January 11, 2011 and is based on Twista's life and music in Chicago. Many other stars starred in the documentary; such as: Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...

, Big Boi
Big Boi
Antwan André Patton , better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, song-writer, record producer and actor, best known for being a member of American hip hop duo OutKast alongside André 3000. His work in the duo has produced six studio albums. During the duo's hiatus, he and André...

 from Outkast
OutKast
Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...

, Jeremih
Jeremih
Jeremiah Felton who performs under the mononym Jeremih , is an American recording artist and producer signed to Def Jam Recordings. Jeremih's debut single, "Birthday Sex" , peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100...

, Scott Storch
Scott Storch
Scott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...

, Red Cafe
Red Cafe
Jermaine Denny , better known as his stage name Red Café, is an American rapper. He was born to Afro-Guyanese parents and is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik, Diddy's Bad Boy Records and DJ Clue's Desert Storm label.-Biography:...

, and others.

Solo albums

  • 1992: Runnin' Off at da Mouth
    Runnin' Off at Da Mouth
    Runnin' Off at da Mouth is the debut album by emcee Twista, who was known at the time as Tung Twista. Released in 1992, it was Loud Records’ first release and its only release distributed by Zoo Entertainment. This album was released after Twista made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as...

  • 1994: Resurrection
    Resurrection (Twista album)
    Resurrection is the second studio album by Chicago rapper Twista, who had released his first album under the name Tung Twista. Along with the name and label change, the rapper slowed his flow slightly and deepened his voice; he also took to darker, rougher production...

  • 1997: Adrenaline Rush
    Adrenaline Rush (album)
    Adrenaline Rush, released in 1997, is the third studio album by rap artist Twista. It was his second album nationally released, after his previous effort Resurrection was shelved outside of Chicago. The album had guest artists: Johnny P, Liffy Stokes, Miss Kane, Malif, Mayze, and Turtle Banxx...

  • 2004: Kamikaze
    Kamikaze (album)
    Kamikaze is the fourth studio album by Chicago, Illinois, rapper Twista which reached the top of the US Billboard 200 album charts in early 2004 based on the success of the lead single "Slow Jamz". It was released on January 27, 2004. The album has received generally positive reviews from critics...

  • 2005: The Day After
  • 2007: Adrenaline Rush 2007
  • 2009: Category F5
  • 2010: The Perfect Storm
  • 2012: The Dark Horse (album)
    The Dark Horse (album)
    - Personnel :Achilles* Rory van Grol - vocals* Rob Antonucci - guitar, album artwork, design, photography* Josh Dillon - bass* Chris Browne - drumsStudio personnel* Evan Patterson - production, additional guitar* Chris Owens - engineering...


Albums with Speedknot Mobstaz

  • 1998: Mobstability
    Mobstability
    Mobstability is the debut album, released in 1998, by Chicago rap artists Twista, and the Speedknot Mobstaz, who are Liffy Stokes and Mayz. The album featured guest artists, Psycho Drama, Danny Boy, Christopher Williams, and Shock The World. The song In Your World appeared on the Dr...

  • 2008: Mobstability II: Nation Business
    Mobstability II: Nation Business
    Mobstability II: Nation Bizness is the second studio album by Chicago-based rappers Twista and his crew, the Speedknot Mobstaz...


Albums with Legit Ballaz

  • 1999: Legit Ballin Vol 1: The Album
  • 2001: Legit Ballin Vol 2: The New Testament 2K (Street Scriptures Compilation)
  • 2001: Tailwinds
  • 2002: Legit Ballin Vol 3: Respect The Game
  • 2006: TailWinds Vol.2:

MISC.

  • 2000: Adrenaline Rush 2000: Twista's Greatest Hits
  • 2001: Ball til' I Fall
  • 2005: 2 for 10
    2 for 10
    2 for 10 is an EP by American rapper Twista, released in 2005. It is exclusively available at BestBuy and iTunes.-Track listing:...

    (EP)
  • 2008: Soft Buck Vol. 1

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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