Antwon

Antwon
Antwon performing live.
Background information
Birth name	Antonio Williams
Born	October 25, 1986 Key West, Florida
Origin	San Jose, California
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Ormolycka, Suicide Squeeze, Bella Union, Greedhead, UNIF, Nature World, Anticon
Associated acts	Lil Ugly Mane, Pictureplane, Ratking
Website	antwon.bandcamp.com

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

Life and career

Born in Key West, Florida,^[5] Antwon grew up in Sunnyvale, California.^[6] He was a member of the Philadelphia-based hardcore band Leather,^[7] as well as the pop punk bands Sour Patch and How to: Summer.^[8]

Antwon's first mixtape, Fantasy Beds, was released in 2011.^[9] In that year, he also released My Westside Horizon.^[10]

In 2012, Antwon released a mixtape, End of Earth,^[11] which was chosen by SF Weekly as one of their 10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012.^[12] In 2013, he released a mixtape, In Dark Denim,^[13] which was chosen by Spin as their Rap Release of the Week.^[14]

His first official album, Heavy Hearted in Doldrums, was released on UNIF and Nature World in 2014.^[15] In 2016, he released the EP, Double Ecstasy, on Anticon.^[16]

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."^[17] He has often been compared to The Notorious B.I.G.^[18] He noted Kid Rock as the greatest influence.^[19]

Discography

Studio albums

• Heavy Hearted in Doldrums (2014)

Remix albums

• Heavy Hearted in the Function: Depressed Teenager Remixes (2014)

Compilation albums

• Collection: 2005-2007 (2011)

Mixtapes

• Fantasy Beds (2011)
• My Westside Horizon (2011)
• End of Earth (2012)
• In Dark Denim (2013)

EPs

• Double Ecstasy (2016)

Singles

• "Big Girls" (2011)
• "Living Every Dream" (2012)
• "Underwater Tank" (2012) (with Lil Ugly Mane)
• "Helicopter" (2013)
• "Automatic" (2013)
• "Dying in the P****" (2013)

Guest appearances

• Isaiah Toothtaker - "Waterbed Wave" from Sea Punk Funk (2012)
• Shadowrunners - "Smooth" from Cyberdine (2012)
• Kitty - "Scout Finch Bitch" from D.A.I.S.Y. Rage (2013)
• Hot Sugar - "No Joke" from Midi Murder (2013)
• Hot Sugar - "Mama, I'm a Man" and "56k" from Made Man (2013)
• Lil Ugly Mane - "Underwater Tank" from The Weeping Worm (2014)
• Pictureplane - "Total Confusion" (2015)
• Crookers - "Strokin'" from Sixteen Chapel (2015)
• Shy Girls - "Xhampagne" from 4WZ (2015)
• Wiki - "Whole Half" and "Patience" from Lil Me (2015)

References

1. Port, Ian S. (May 7, 2014). "At the Zoo With Antwon". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
2. Cohen, Ian (March 6, 2013). "Antwon: In Dark Denim". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
3. Drake, David; Baker, Ernest (March 16, 2013). "15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW - Antwon". Complex. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
4. Mench, Chris (August 2, 2014). "25 New Rappers to Watch Out For In 2014 - Antwon". Complex. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
5. Mlynar, Phillip (March 6, 2013). "Antwon's Twisted Vision: Sex Rap, Punk Vibes, and Kid Rock". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
6. Weinstock, Tish (March 17, 2014). "A First Date With... Antwon". Vice. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
7. Schmitt, Eli (June 27, 2013). "Antwon: genre benders". Paper. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
8. Way, Mish (August 16, 2013). "Getting to Know You: White Lung's Mish Way x Antwon". Vice. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
9. Phaneuf, Whitney (March 13, 2013). "Antwon on the Fringe". East Bay Express. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
10. Savage, Emily (September 11, 2012). "Dream of the '90s (1/2)". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
11. Breihan, Tom (August 2, 2012). "Download Antwon End Of Earth Mixtape". Stereogum. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
12. Swan, Rachel (December 21, 2012). "The 10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
13. Cooper, Duncan (February 14, 2013). "Download Antwon's In Dark Denim Mixtape". The Fader. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
14. Soderberg, Brandon (February 20, 2013). "Rap Release of the Week: Antwon’s ‘In Dark Denim’". Spin. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
15. Plaugic, Lizzie (May 13, 2014). "Antwon - Heavy Hearted In Doldrums". CMJ. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
16. Gwee, Karen (February 20, 2016). "Top 10 Songs of the Week (2/19): 01. Antwon – "Luv"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
17. Soderberg, Brandon (July 31, 2012). "First Spin: Antwon Slow Jams The Apocalypse On New Album, ‘End Of Earth’". Spin. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
18. Port, Ian S. (March 14, 2013). "San Jose Rapper Antwon Breaks Through a Hellish Set at SXSW". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
19. Way, Mish (January 18, 2014). "Q&A: California rapper Antwon does things the punk way". Aux. Retrieved June 26, 2015.

External links

• Antwon on Twitter
• Antwon discography at Discogs