U-God

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U-God
U-God in Paris, 2013 (cropped).jpg
U-God performing in 2013
Background information
Birth nameLamont Jody Hawkins
Also known asGolden Arms ·Universal-God
Born (1970-11-10) November 10, 1970 (age 53) [1]
New York City. U.S.
Genres Hip-hop
Years active1991–present
Labels Wu Tang  · Babygrande Records
Member of Wu-Tang Clan

Lamont Jody Hawkins (born November 10, 1970), [1] [2] better known by his stage name U-God, meaning Universal-God, is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. [1] [2] He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for his deep voice and rhythmic flow that can alternate between gruff and smooth.

Contents

Early life

Hawkins was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York City. [2] He moved to Staten Island as a youth. [2] He was originally a beatboxer for Cappadonna, and was friends with future members Method Man, Inspectah Deck and childhood friend of Raekwon. Sometime before the members united, U-God was mentored in rap by Cappadonna. He soon became friends with RZA and Ghostface Killah, and he began rhyming under the alias Golden Arms, based on the Kung-Fu movie Kid with the Golden Arm . Later on he changed his name to U-God (which is short for his Five-Percent Nation righteous name "Universal God Allah"). [3] [4]

Career

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) / Wu-Tang Forever

U-God was convicted on the grounds of firearm and drug possession charges on April 17, 1992, and was paroled in January 1993. His incarceration prevented him from attending the group's debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) recording sessions for the most part, his input on the seminal LP consisting of only a short bridge on the group's debut single "Protect Ya Neck" as well as the fan-favorite opening verse of "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'". Nevertheless, after his release, he quickly became known to fans for his rugged flow and bass-like voice on Wu tracks such as "Winter Warz", "Knuckleheadz", "Investigative Reports", and "Black Jesus". He was featured heavily on the group's second album Wu-Tang Forever , on which he was one of only four of the group to get a solo track – "Black Shampoo" (the others being Inspectah Deck with "The City", RZA with "Sunshower" and Ol' Dirty Bastard with "Dog Shit").

Golden Arms Redemption

U-God was the eighth member of the group to record a solo album, releasing Golden Arms Redemption in 1999 on Priority Records, which displayed a wide variety of sounds from gritty blaxploitation funk to urgent string sections, and featured guest appearances from several Wu-Tang members and affiliates. It had two singles in "Dat's Gangsta" and "Bizarre". The song "Rumble" was used as the main song for the video game Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style . Bizarre debuted #7 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles, but soon after Priority Records was on the verge of shutting down. Still, the album managed to go Gold in sales. Based on the initial success, U-God was able to open his own label, Suppa Nigga Productions. He released his second album Mr. Xcitement in 2005.

Dopium and The Keynote Speaker

U-God performing in Atlanta, 2007 U-God performing in Atlanta.jpg
U-God performing in Atlanta, 2007

In 2009 U-God released the album Dopium and had the lead single "Wu-Tang" featuring Method Man. The album featured guest appearances by Sheek Louch, Jim Jones, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, GZA, Cappadonna, Killah Priest and Scotty Wotty with production by Bloody Beat Roots, Felix Cartel and Large Professor. In 2013 U-God announced a new album The Keynote Speaker with production by RZA who also served as the albums executive producer. The album was released on July 23, 2013, by RZA's Soul Temple Records with guest appearances from Styles P, Kool Keith, Method Man, RZA, GZA and Inspectah Deck. [5]

Venom and autobiographical book

On December 13, 2016, U-God released through Babygrande Records' SoundCloud account a song "Venom" and announced that his new album, also called Venom , would be released soon. [6] On September 25, 2017, he added a tweet in which he announced that he had finished his autobiography entitled Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang and it would be released along with his new album in March 2018. [7] On February 2, 2018, he released a free mixtape Bring Back God II through DatPiff platform. [8] Venom was released on March 30, 2018 [9] and debuted at #34 on the U.S. Rap Albums Chart. [10]

Discography

Studio albums

Collaboration albums

Personal life

Around the time of Wu Tang Forever, his two-year-old son Dontae (now a hip-hop artist as iNTeLL) was struck by a stray bullet while on his way to a birthday party, suffering permanent damage to his kidneys and hands, [11] [12] an ordeal U-God documented on the Wu-Tang Clan track "A Better Tomorrow".

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wu-Tang Clan</span> American hip hop collective

Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop collective formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, Ol' Dirty Bastard. Close affiliate Cappadonna later became an official member. They are credited for revitalizing East Coast hip hop and are considered one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inspectah Deck</span> American rapper and producer

Jason Richard Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper and hip hop producer. He is a member of the groups Wu-Tang Clan and Czarface.

Derrick Harris, better known by his stage name True Master, is an American hip-hop record producer and occasional rapper, known for his affiliation with the Wu-Tang Clan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tekitha</span> Musical artist

Tekitha Washington is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated female vocalist. She was the Wu-Tang Clan's in-house singer for the album Wu-Tang Forever, on which she also performed a solo track titled "Second Coming". She also filled in for the unavailable Mary J. Blige in the video for Ghostface Killah's "All That I Got Is You".

Bronze Nazareth is a hip hop music producer and emcee associated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He has a solo career as an emcee and is also a part of the hip-hop group Wisemen along with his brother Kevlaar 7.

<i>Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II</i> 2009 studio album by Raekwon

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II is the fourth studio album by American hip hop recording artist and Wu-Tang Clan-member Raekwon, released September 8, 2009, on Ice H2O/EMI Records in the United States. The album experienced numerous delays to its release due to Raekwon's approach of continual re-writing, as well as distribution issues with his record labels. Serving as the sequel to his critically acclaimed debut album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... (1995), Pt. II maintains many of the themes covered on its predecessor, and features guest appearances from several Wu-Tang members, as well as Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss and Beanie Sigel.

The Wu-Elements are a production team closely affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. A loosely knit group, it consists of five producers who typically support main producer RZA in handling production duties for Wu-Tang group, solo and affiliate releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph (song)</span> 1997 single by Wu-Tang Clan

"Triumph" is a song by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, from their 1997 album Wu-Tang Forever. It was released as the lead single from the album in February 1997. The song does not have a chorus, instead, solely consisting of an intro and interlude by Ol' Dirty Bastard and verses from the other eight Wu-Tang members and associate Cappadonna. It is the only Wu-Tang song featuring all members, though the song "9 Milli Bros." from Ghostface Killah's album Fishscale also features all members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wu-Tang Clan videography</span>

The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York City–based hip-hop musical group, consisting of nine American rappers: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wu-Tang Clan anthology</span>

The Wu-Tang Clan is a New York City–based hip-hop musical group, consisting of ten American rappers: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. This list chronologically displays the albums of each group member including collaboration and side group albums. This list does not include compilation albums, mixtapes, or extended plays.

<i>A Better Tomorrow</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Wu-Tang Clan

A Better Tomorrow is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The album was released on December 2, 2014, by Warner Bros. Records. The album was supported by the singles "Keep Watch", "Ron O'Neal" and "Ruckus in B Minor". A Better Tomorrow received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 24,386 copies in its first week of release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RZA production discography</span>

The following list is a discography of production by American hip hop record producer and recording artist the RZA. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title.

<i>Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...</i> 1995 studio album by Raekwon

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... is the debut studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, released on August 1, 1995, by Loud Records and RCA Records. The album was loosely composed to play like a film with Raekwon as the "star", fellow Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah as the "guest-star", and producer RZA as the "director". It features appearances from every member of the Wu-Tang Clan. The album also features debut appearances from affiliates Cappadonna and Blue Raspberry, and an acclaimed guest appearance from rapper Nas, which marked the first collaboration with a non-affiliated artist on a Wu-Tang related album.

<i>Wu-Tang Forever</i> 1997 studio album by Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Forever is the second studio album by the American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released June 3, 1997, by Loud and RCA Records in the United States. Pressed as a double album, it was released after a long run of successful solo projects from various members of the group, and serves as the follow-up to their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang . Forever features several guest appearances from Wu-Tang affiliates Cappadonna, Streetlife, 4th Disciple, True Master, and Tekitha. The original run of compact discs featured an enhanced CD which allowed users to walk around the "Wu Mansion" and access additional content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cappadonna</span> American rapper from New York

Darryl Hill, better known by his stage name Cappadonna, is an American rapper. He is a member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan and is a member of the hip hop group Theodore Unit together with Ghostface Killah.

This is the discography of American rapper Inspectah Deck.

"Wu Tang Forever" is a song by American rapper Logic, featured as the sixth track on his 2018 album YSIV. The song is a homage to the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and features all living members of the group: Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, RZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, U-God, Masta Killa and GZA, as well as Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Jackpot Scotty Wotty; deceased member Ol' Dirty Bastard received a writing credit. The song shares the same title as the group's second studio album.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Huey, Steve (May 20, 2008). "U-God > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hsu, Hua (March 28, 2018). "The Unexpectedly Moving Story of U-God, the Least-Loved Member of the Wu-Tang Clan". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Rise of a Fallen Soldier – The story of U-God (part1)". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  4. ↑ "PodOmatic | Best Free Podcasts he is u god". Conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  5. ↑ "The Keynote Speaker | Soul Temple Music". Soultemplemusic.bandcamp.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  6. ↑ "U-God Releases Fiery New Track 'Venom,' Announces New Album: Exclusive". Billboard. December 13, 2016. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ "U-God Announces New Memoir 'RAW: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang'". Okayplayer. September 25, 2017. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  8. ↑ "U-God Delivers New Mixtape 'Bring Back God II' – XXL". XXL Mag. February 2, 2018. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  9. ↑ "U-God Shares Release Date and Tracklist for 'Venom' Album – XXL". XXL Mag. March 6, 2018. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Rap Music: Top Rap Albums Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  11. ↑ Hsu, Hua (March 28, 2018). "The Unexpectedly Moving Story of U-God, the Least-Loved Member of the Wu-Tang Clan". New Yorker. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  12. ↑ Bono, Sal (May 16, 2020). "Shot at 2 Years Old and Feared Paralyzed Forever, Son of Wu Tang Clan Rapper Now Walking in Dad's Footsteps". Inside Edition . Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
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