Antwon

Last updated
Antwon
Antwon performing cropped.jpg
Antwon performing in 2014
Background information
Birth nameAntonio Williams
Born (1986-10-25) October 25, 1986 (age 37) [1]
Key West, Florida, U.S.
Origin San Jose, California, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper
Years active2011–present
Labels
Website antwon.bandcamp.com

Antonio Williams [2] (born October 25, 1986), [1] better known by his stage name Antwon, is an American rapper based in San Jose, California. [3] In 2013, he was included on Complex 's "15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW" list. [4] He was also included on Complex's "25 New Rappers to Watch Out For in 2014" list. [5]

Contents

Biography

Born in Key West, Florida, [6] to an African-American father and a Filipino mother, [2] Antwon grew up in Sunnyvale, California. [7] He was a member of the Philadelphia-based hardcore band Leather, [8] as well as the pop punk bands Sour Patch and How to Summer. [9]

Antwon's first mixtape, Fantasy Beds, was released in 2011. [10] In that year, he also released My Westside Horizon. [11]

In 2012, Antwon released a mixtape, End of Earth. [12] SF Weekly included it on the "10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012" list. [13] In 2013, he released a mixtape, In Dark Denim. [14] It was listed as Spin 's "Rap Release of the Week". [15]

His first official studio album, Heavy Hearted in Doldrums , was released on UNIF and Nature World in 2014. [16] In 2016, he released an EP, Double Ecstasy, on Anticon. [17] In 2017, he released a mixtape, Sunnyvale Gardens. [18] Red Bull placed it at number 20 on the "20 Best Hip-Hop Mixtapes of 2017" list. [19]

Style and influences

Spin described Antwon as "an affable guy who might have one of rap's biggest, best-sounding voices, which he usually focuses on goofy jokes and surprisingly sweet bedroom raps." [20] He has often been compared to The Notorious B.I.G. [21] [22]

Controversy

In 2016, Antwon formed Secret Circle along with Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane. [23] Since then, the group released several tracks and played live performances across North America. [24] In 2018, Lil Ugly Mane announced the breakup of the group, not initially indicating a specific reason for the breakup. [25] Antwon posted a statement on Twitter, alluding to unnamed allegations. [26] Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane subsequently indicated that the allegations mentioned in Antwon's statement, including abusive treatment of women, were the impetus for the breakup. [26]

Discography

Studio albums

Remix albums

Compilation albums

Mixtapes

EPs

Singles

Guest appearances

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gucci Mane</span> American rapper (born 1980)

Radric Delantic Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and record executive. He is credited, along with fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Jeezy, with pioneering the hip hop subgenre trap music for mainstream audiences into the 2000s. His debut studio album, Trap House (2005) was released by the independent label Big Cat Records and entered the Billboard 200; it was followed by Hard to Kill (2006), which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100 entry with its 2007 single, "Freaky Gurl". That same year, he released his third album, Trap-A-Thon before signing with Atlantic Records to release his fourth album, Back to the Trap House (2007).

Otis Williams Jr., better known by his stage name OJ da Juiceman, is an American rapper. He was formerly signed to Gucci Mane's 1017 Records. OJ da Juiceman is also the founder of vanity label 32 Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waka Flocka Flame</span> American rapper (born 1986)

Juaquin James Malphurs, known professionally as Waka Flocka Flame, is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He first became known for his 2009 single "O Let's Do It," which entered the Billboard Hot 100 and led him to sign with Gucci Mane's 1017 Records, an imprint of Warner Records that same year. His 2010 follow-up single, "No Hands" reached number 13 on the chart and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Both songs, along with "Hard in da Paint" and "Grove St. Party", preceded the release of his debut studio album Flockaveli (2010), which peaked at number six on the Billboard 200. His second studio album, Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family (2012) peaked at number ten on the chart and was supported by the singles "Round of Applause", "I Don't Really Care" and "Get Low".

Vanessa Renee Reece, better known by her stage name V-Nasty, is an American rapper from Oakland, California. She is best known for being part of the group White Girl Mob with Kreayshawn and Lil Debbie, and for collaborating with Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane. Reece released her debut studio album with Gucci Mane titled BAYTL in 2011 through 1017 Records and Warner Bros. Records. In 2013, she signed a record deal with independent label Pinnacle Records and started working on her second album, as well as a reality TV show. In 2014, V-Nasty released a Mixtape titled "11Lem" along with a new single titled "Tweekin".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heems</span> Indian American rapper

Himanshu Kumar Suri, better known by his stage name Heems, is an American rapper from Queens in New York City. Best known for being part of the alternative hip hop group Das Racist, Suri is also the founder of Greedhead Music, an independent record label. In 2012, Suri released his first solo mixtape, Nehru Jackets, on his Greedhead imprint and in conjunction with SEVA NY, a community-based organization from Queens of which Suri is a board member. In August 2015, Heems announced that Fox had bought his story rights for a potential sitcom, and that he was working on the pilot. He is currently a member of Swet Shop Boys along with actor and rapper Riz MC and producer Redinho.

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

Markese Money Rolle, known professionally as SpaceGhostPurrp, is an American rapper and producer from Miami, Florida. He is the founder of the now-defunct American hip hop group Raider Klan, as well as co-founder of Black Money Boys.

Michael Len Williams II, known professionally as Mike Will Made It or simply Mike Will, is an American record producer and rapper. He is best known for producing trap beats for several Southern hip hop and pop artists on commercially successful singles. His credits include "Black Beatles" and "Powerglide" by Rae Sremmurd, "Mercy" by Kanye West, "No Lie" by 2 Chainz, "Bandz a Make Her Dance" by Juicy J, "Pour It Up" by Rihanna, "Love Me" by Lil Wayne, "Body Party" by Ciara, "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus, "Formation" by Beyoncé, and "Humble" by Kendrick Lamar. He embarked on a career as a non-performing lead artist in 2013 with his debut single "23", which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2017 follow-up single, "Rake It Up" peaked at number eight on the chart. He has released six mixtapes and one solo studio album, Ransom 2 (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Scooter</span> American rapper (born 1986)

Kenneth Edward Bailey, better known by his stage name Young Scooter, is an American rapper who is affiliated with Freebandz and 1017 Brick Squad Records and CEO of his own label Black Migo Gang. Scooter grew to prominence in 2012 after releasing a number of successful mixtapes and collaborating with notable rappers such as Gucci Mane, Future, Waka Flocka Flame and Chief Keef. His mixtape Street Lottery received positive reviews and was certified gold on popular mixtape site DatPiff. It was placed at number 24 on SPIN's 40 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Migos</span> American hip hop group

Migos were an American hip hop group founded in Lawrenceville, Georgia, in 2008. The group was composed of rapper Quavo, his late nephew Takeoff, and their mutual friend Offset. Quavo is from Athens, Georgia, while Offset and Takeoff were born and raised in nearby Lawrenceville. As a group, they were managed by Coach K, the former manager of Gucci Mane and Jeezy, and frequently collaborated with producers DJ Durel, Murda Beatz, Zaytoven, and Buddah Bless. Recognized for their contribution to trap music in the 2010s, Billboard stated that the group "influenced pop culture and the entire English language by bringing their North Atlanta roots to the mainstream".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Thug</span> American rapper (born 1991)

Jeffery Lamar Williams, known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Known for his eccentric vocal style and fashion, he is considered an influential figure in modern hip hop and trap music, and a pioneer of the mumble rap microgenre. Williams embarked on a musical career in 2011, releasing a series of mixtapes beginning with I Came from Nothing. In 2013, he signed with fellow Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane's 1017 Records and gained further attention and praise for his debut mixtape with the label, 1017 Thug, released in February of that year.

Ratking was an American hip hop group from New York City, which consisted of rappers Wiki and Hak, and producer Sporting Life. A leading force in the underground in the early 2010s, their music has been described as "stridently youthful", and the group themselves have stated they wished to reinvent rap music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cities Aviv</span> American rapper

Wilbert Gavin Mays, better known by his stage name Cities Aviv, is an American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee.

Aleksey Weintraub, better known by his stage name Lakutis, is an American rapper from New York. He has collaborated with Das Racist, Hot Sugar, and Kitty. He has also toured with Le1f and Antwon.

Patrick G. Morales, better known by his stage name Wiki, is an American rapper and record producer from New York City, New York. He was a member of New York City-based hip hop group Ratking with rapper-producer Sporting Life and rapper Hak, which he left in 2015. Morales was also a member of Secret Circle with rapper Antwon and rapper-producer Lil Ugly Mane until 2018. He has since released three solo albums; No Mountains in Manhattan (2017), Oofie (2019), and Half God (2021).

<i>Heavy Hearted in Doldrums</i> 2014 studio album by Antwon

Heavy Hearted in Doldrums is the debut studio album by American rapper Antwon. It was released on May 6, 2014. It features guest appearances from Lil Ugly Mane, Sad Andy, Wiki, Heems, Lakutis, and Andre Martel. Music videos were created for "Don't Care" and "Metro Nome".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lil Durk</span> American rapper (born 1992)

Durk Derrick Banks, known professionally as Lil Durk, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He first garnered a regional following with the release of his Signed to the Streets mixtape series (2013–2014), which led to his signing of a recording contract from Def Jam Recordings. The label released his debut studio album, Remember My Name (2015) and its follow up, Lil Durk 2X (2016) to moderate commercial reception before parting ways with the artist in 2018.

<i>Lil Me</i> 2015 mixtape by Wiki

Lil Me is the debut mixtape by American rapper Wiki. It was released on December 7, 2015, by Letter Racer Records. The mixtape features guest appearances from his Ratking cohorts Hak and Sporting Life, as well as Skepta, Antwon, Micachu, and Nasty Nigel, among others. The mixtape is supported by three singles, "Livin' with My Moms", "Patience", and "3 Stories".

<i>Mista Thug Isolation</i> 2012 studio album by Lil Ugly Mane

Mista Thug Isolation is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil Ugly Mane. It was self-released via Bandcamp on February 11, 2012, with a vinyl release by Hundebiss Records. The album is entirely self-produced as Shawn Kemp, with guest appearances from Supa Sortahuman and Denzel Curry.

<i>Wriggle</i> (EP) 2016 EP by clipping.

Wriggle is an EP by American experimental hip hop group clipping. Released on June 14, 2016 through Sub Pop record label, it features appearances from artists such as Antwon and Cakes da Killa. The EP consists of tracks that were originally recorded for the group's 2014 debut album CLPPNG but could not be finished in time for its release.

Travis Miller, best known professionally as Lil Ugly Mane, is an American rapper, singer and record producer from Richmond, Virginia. He has recorded under multiple aliases in various genres since his first known released project in 2005, including Shawn Kemp, Vudmurk and Bedwetter.

References

  1. 1 2 "Antwon". BBC Music . Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Port, Ian S. (May 7, 2014). "At the Zoo With Antwon". SF Weekly . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  3. Cohen, Ian (March 6, 2013). "Antwon: In Dark Denim". Pitchfork . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  4. Drake, David; Baker, Ernest (March 16, 2013). "15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW - Antwon". Complex . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  5. Mench, Chris (August 2, 2014). "25 New Rappers to Watch Out For In 2014 - Antwon". Complex . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  6. Mlynar, Phillip (March 6, 2013). "Antwon's Twisted Vision: Sex Rap, Punk Vibes, and Kid Rock". SF Weekly . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  7. Weinstock, Tish (March 17, 2014). "A First Date With... Antwon". Vice . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  8. Schmitt, Eli (June 27, 2013). "Antwon: genre benders". Paper . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  9. Way, Mish (August 16, 2013). "Getting to Know You: White Lung's Mish Way x Antwon". Vice . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  10. Phaneuf, Whitney (March 13, 2013). "Antwon on the Fringe". East Bay Express . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  11. Savage, Emily (September 11, 2012). "Dream of the '90s (1/2)". San Francisco Bay Guardian . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  12. Breihan, Tom (August 2, 2012). "Download Antwon End Of Earth Mixtape". Stereogum . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  13. Swan, Rachel (December 21, 2012). "The 10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012". SF Weekly . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  14. Cooper, Duncan (February 14, 2013). "Download Antwon's In Dark Denim Mixtape". The Fader . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  15. Soderberg, Brandon (February 20, 2013). "Rap Release of the Week: Antwon's 'In Dark Denim'". Spin . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  16. Plaugic, Lizzie (May 13, 2014). "Antwon - Heavy Hearted In Doldrums". CMJ . Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  17. Gwee, Karen (February 20, 2016). "Top 10 Songs of the Week (2/19): 01. Antwon – "Luv"". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  18. Hughes, Josiah (October 6, 2017). "Antwon 'Sunnyvale Gardens' (mixtape)". Exclaim! . Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  19. Lin, Yu-Cheng (December 15, 2017). "20 Best Hip-Hop Mixtapes of 2017". Red Bull . Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  20. Soderberg, Brandon (July 31, 2012). "First Spin: Antwon Slow Jams The Apocalypse On New Album, 'End Of Earth'". Spin . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  21. Port, Ian S. (March 14, 2013). "San Jose Rapper Antwon Breaks Through a Hellish Set at SXSW". SF Weekly . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  22. Way, Mish (January 18, 2014). "Q&A: California rapper Antwon does things the punk way". Aux . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  23. Strauss, Matthew; Yoo, Noah (May 18, 2018). "Secret Circle (Wiki, Antwon, and Lil Ugly Mane) Break Up". Pitchfork . Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  24. Darville, Jordan (May 18, 2018). "Lil Ugly Mane: "Secret Circle is a wrap"". The Fader . Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  25. Breihan, Tom (May 22, 2018). "Antwon, Wiki, And Lil Ugly Mane Release Statements After Secret Circle Break Up". Stereogum . Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  26. 1 2 Strauss, Matthew (May 21, 2018). "Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane Indicate Secret Circle Broke Up Over Antwon's Treatment of Women". Pitchfork . Retrieved May 7, 2019.