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Theodore Unit | |
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Origin | Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Years active | 2001–present |
Labels | Starks Enterprises. |
Members | Ghostface Killah Trife da God Shawn Wigs Sun God Cappadonna |
Past members | Du-Lilz T.W.I.Z. Kryme Life Solomon Childs |
Theodore Unit is a collective of Staten Island rappers associated with Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ghostface Killah. The name "Theodore" is derived from "The Open Door", meaning the group acts as an open door to rappers who can prove themselves. It has also been stated it stands for "The Doers", as in those with initiative and will.
The group's origins begin with Ghostface's 2001 album, Bulletproof Wallets , on the track "Theodore", which featured rappers Trife da God and Twiz, both of whom would become members of Ghost's posse. (Though Twiz was also formerly of Raekwon's crew American Cream Team) Trife, along with Kryme Life, would leave their trio T.M.F. to join the newly named "Theodore Unit", as would Shawn Wigs and Du-Lilz of Othorized F.A.M. The crew was initially supposed to include Raekwon and Polite, but they then chose to form on their own, as Cream Team had been dissolved and they were launching Ice Water. Instead, the line-up held together with Solomon Childs and long-standing Wu-affiliate Cappadonna, as features on Theodore Unit's debut album, 718 (named after the Stapleton, Staten Island area code in which they all reside). [1] [2] However, the album would largely feature Trife da God and - naturally - Ghostface Killah, with only solitary appearances from Kryme Life and Du-Lilz; Twiz was not featured. (Indeed, he was to not be part of neither Cream Team nor Theodore for too long).
Solomon Childs, while having the third-largest presence on the album, left the group for unknown reasons in 2005. The following month, Ghostface Killah and Trife da God's Put It on the Line was released, which featured Kryme Life, Shawn Wigs, and Theodore Unit newcomer Sun God, who is also Ghostface's son. The album also had the notable presence of Trife's former T.M.F. bandmate Tommy Whispers. A mixtape was released the next year, featuring mostly Ghost and Trife called NY's Backbone.
In recent years, the group has made guest appearances on Ghostface's 2006 albums Fishscale , [3] More Fish (the Theodore logo even appears on the cover), The Big Doe Rehab and the album Apollo Kids .
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop musical 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.
Corey Woods, better known by his stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success following the release of their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang , in 1993. Raekwon would subsequently pursue a solo career, releasing his first solo album, entitled Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., in 1995. The album received critical acclaim, and is regarded by many critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, as well as a staple of 1990s rap.
Dennis David Coles, better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success. Ghostface Killah debuted his solo career with Ironman, which was well received by music critics, in 1996. He has enjoyed continued success in the years that have followed, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as Supreme Clientele (2000) and Fishscale (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film The Mystery of Chess Boxing. He is the founder of his own record label, Starks Enterprises.
The Pretty Toney Album is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Ghostface. Originally scheduled for a February 2004 release, the album was released on April 20, 2004, by Def Jam. It is the only album from the artist to be released solely under the moniker "Ghostface", and is the first of his albums not to feature any other members of the Wu-Tang Clan.
Derrick Harris, better known by his stage name True Master, is an American hip-hop record producer and rapper, known for his affiliation with the Wu-Tang Clan.
Fishscale is the fifth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released March 28, 2006, on Def Jam in the United States. The album features guest appearances from every member of the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as Ghostface Killah's Theodore Unit. It also features production from several acclaimed producers, such as MF Doom, Pete Rock, J Dilla, and Just Blaze, among others. The album follows an organized crime theme, and is named after a term for uncut cocaine.
718 is the only studio album by American hip hop group Theodore Unit. It was released on August 3, 2004 through Sure Shot Recordings. Recording sessions took place at Audiovision Studios and Circle House Studios in Miami, and Redline Studios and Sound On Sound Studios in New York from the same sessions for The Pretty Toney Album. Production was handled by K-Def, Emile Haynie, Anthony Acid, Cilvaringz, Dirty Dean, D. Prosper, Milestone, Nexus, Self, the Smith Bros., and DJ Skillspinz, with CL, Ghostface Killah and Mike Caruso serving as executive producers. Composed of Ghostface Killah, Trife Da God, Solomon Childs, Shawn Wigs, Kryme Life, Cappadonna and Du-Lilz, it features guest appearances from Bone Crusher, Kline, Method Man and Streetlife.
More Fish is the sixth studio album by American rapper Ghostface Killah, released on December 12, 2006 through the Def Jam label. The album's name derives from Ghostface's earlier 2006 release, Fishscale. The track "Good", featuring Ghostface's fellow Theodore Unit member Trife Da God and Mr. Maygreen, and produced by Kool-Aid & Peanut, was the first single. It contains one track, "Josephine," which was originally featured on Hi-Tek's Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip, but all other tracks are made of previously unreleased material.
"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.
Put It on the Line is an album by Ghostface Killah & Trife Da God, Recorded in 2004-2005. Tracks number 16 and 18 were recorded in 2001. released on Ghostface's own Starks Enterprises label on November 18, 2005. According to Trife's Myspace profile, the album has sold over 100,000 copies independently. Trife's former T.M.F. bandmates Kryme Life and Tommy Whispers make various guest appearances.
The Big Doe Rehab is the seventh studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released on December 4, 2007 on Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from fellow Wu-Tang members Raekwon, Method Man, U-God, and Masta Killa as well as from Kid Capri, Cappadonna and members of Ghostface's Theodore Unit crew. The album features production from LV & Sean C. among others.
"Apollo Kids" is a song by rapper Ghostface Killah, released as the lead single of his second album Supreme Clientele. The song features fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon and contains a sample of "Cool Breeze" as performed by R&B singer/songwriter Solomon Burke. It was later added to his greatest hits album Shaolin's Finest.
"Be Easy" is the first single by rapper Ghostface Killah from his critically acclaimed fifth solo album Fishscale. Initially released through mixtapes, it features Ghostface's Theodore Unit protégé Trife da God. The song contains a sample of "Stay Away From Me" as performed by The Sylvers. It was later included within the soundtrack to the action-drama film Waist Deep. The album Fishscale included an alternate version of the song with a verse from Ice Cube.
Better Late Than Never is the first solo studio album by New York rapper and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Trife Diesel. It was released on July 21, 2009 under Traffic Entertainment Group record label and features production from UK beatsmith Quincey Tones who also produced for Royce da 5'9", Busta Rhymes, Talib Kweli, eMC, and Ghostface Killah.
Marc Shemer, better known by his stage name Scram Jones, is a producer, DJ and rapper from New Rochelle, New York. He has produced music for Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Styles P, Tragedy Khadafi, Jadakiss, Saigon, Dipset and Troy Ave. He has been featured in The Source magazine's "Unsigned Hype" column. Scram Jones is jewish.
Trife Diesel or Trife Da God is an affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan. He is a protégé and close associate of Ghostface Killah and is part of both of his protégé groups T.M.F. and Theodore Unit.
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.
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.
Supreme Clientele is the second studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released on February 8, 2000, by Epic Records. The album showcases Ghostface's signature up-tempo, stream-of-consciousness rhyme style, and features guest appearances from Cappadonna, GZA, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, Redman, RZA, U-God, and others. It features affiliates of what would become members of Theodore Unit and T.M.F. Supreme Clientele contains a large amount of production from group member RZA, who also re-worked and remixed beats from other producers involved, as a means to create a unified and cohesive sound for the album.