Twista

Infobox musical artist
Name = Twista


Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Carl Terrell Mitchell
Alias =
Born =
Origin = Chicago, Illinois
Genre = Hip hop
Gangsta rap
Occupation = Rapper, record producer
Associated_acts = Do or Die, Pitbull, Kanye West, David Banner, Speedknot Mobstaz, R. Kelly, Yung Berg, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Roc-A-Fella
Years_active = 1991–present
Label = Loud, Zoo, BMG, Get Money Gang, Atlantic
URL = [http://www.twista.com/ Twista.com]

Carl Terrell Mitchell , (born Novermber 27, 1973) better known by his stage name Twista, is an American hip-hop emcee who once held the title of fastest emcee in the world, according to the Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 11.2 syllables per second. [ [http://www.mtv.com/bands/t/twista/news_feature_040212/ MTVNews.com: Twista: Fast Talk, Slow Climb ] ] His 2004 album "Kamikaze" went to number-one on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart after the success of his number-one Billboard Hot 100 single "Slow Jamz."

Early life

Mitchell grew up on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, known as "K-Town", a place he described as rampant with gang-related violence. He was the oldest of four children in a low-income family with a strict mother and drug-addicted stepfather. To support his family, Mitchell began working at an early age. He also found the hip hop culture to be an escape from the violent environment he felt in his neighborhood.

Music career

Twista was among the first artists to sign with Loud Records, which released his debut album "Runnin' Off at Da Mouth" in 1991. At that time, he performed under the name Tung Twista.cite web|title=Twista - Bio|url=http://www.atlanticrecords.com/twista/bio|publisher=Atlantic Records|accessdate=2008-08-18]

In 1996, he teamed with fellow Chicago act Do or Die on the track "Po' Pimp", which became a hit single. This led to a contract with Atlantic Records, which released "Adrenaline Rush" in 1997;cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=Twista > Biography|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:d9fpxqrhldke~T1|publisher=allmusic|date=2007|accessdate=2008-08-18] Twista had by then dropped the "Tung" from his stage name.

This was followed by "Mobstability" 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 and Drag-On on the "Ruff Ryders: Ryde or Die Vol. 2" album, on the track "Twisted Heat."

Beginning in 2002, Twista began recording his album "Kamikaze" with rappers like Jay-Z and Ludacris. "Kamikaze" came out in 2004 and debuted at the top spot of the American Billboard 200 album chart; [cite news|last=D'Angelo|first=Joe|title=Twista Blows Straight To Top Of Billboard Albums Chart|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484808/20040204/twista.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|date=2004-02-04|accessdate=2008-08-18] its first single "Slow Jamz" (also featured on "The College Dropout", the debut album of Kanye West), featured West and Jamie Foxx and became a number-one hit in the US. Other singles included "Overnight Celebrity" and "So Sexy" (featuring R. Kelly); the album sold around two million copies.

The remix of the song "Jook Gal" by Elephant Man featured Twista and the YoungBloodZ. Twista's next album, "The Day After", was released in 2006 and featured the hit singles "Girl Tonite" featuring Trey Songz, "Hit the Floor" featuring Pitbull, and "One and Only" featuring Mariah Carey. His next album, "Adrenaline Rush 2007", came out the following year with the singles "Give it Up" featuring Pharrell and "Creep Fast" featuring T-Pain. This album was poorly received by most of the Twista fans.

Twista also appeared on the single "Hell No (Leave Home)" from Monica's album "The Makings of Me". In 2008, Twista launched a new record label, Get Money Gang. [cite web|last=Ford|first=Tracey|title=Twista Launches Get Money Gang Record Label|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2008/01/15/twista-launches-get-money-gang-record-label/|work=The Boombox|date=2008-01-15|accessdate=2008-08-18]

Discography

Albums

*1994: "Resurrection"
*1997: "Adrenaline Rush"
*1998: "Mobstability"
*2004: "Kamikaze"
*2005: "The Day After"
*2005: "2 For 10"
*2007: "Adrenaline Rush 2007"
*2008: ""

References

External links

* [http://www.twista.com/ Twista official site]
* [http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/red-twista-index,0,6367673.columnist?coll=red-columnists Twista's Column in the Chicago Tribune]