Shawty Lo

Shawty Lo
Birth name Carlos Walker
Born (1976-03-31) March 31, 1976
Moultrie, Georgia, United States
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2003–present
Labels D4L, 300 (current)
Asylum, Warner Bros., G-Unit South (former)
Associated acts D4L, 50 Cent, Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne

Carlos Walker (born March 31, 1976), better known by his stage name Shawty Lo, is an American hip hop recording artist from Moultrie, Georgia. Walker is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group D4L and in 2003, founded D4L Records. He is perhaps best known for his debut single "Dey Know", which was included on his solo debut album Units in the City, released in February 2008. In June 2011, Walker announced he had signed his D4L imprint to fellow American rapper 50 Cent's subsidiary label G-Unit South Records, in a joint venture deal.

Music career

2003-2006: Career beginnings with D4L

In 2003, Shawty Lo formed the hip hop group D4L, with fellow Atlanta-based rappers Fabo, Mook-B and Stoney. Shawty Lo subsequently launched his indie record label D4L Records. Shawty Lo self-funded the group in its early days. He explained that the group's name stands for "Down for Life". The group signed to the indie label Dee Money Entertainment, which released the group's debut in conjunction with Asylum Records.[1] Their debut album, titled Down for Life, was executive produced by Shawty Lo and eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album had spawned the hit singles "Betcha Can't Do It Like Me" and "Laffy Taffy". The latter of which attributed much to the group's success, as it broke records as the most downloaded song in the history of music according to the 2007 Guinness Book of the World Records. It was also a multi-platinum ring tone and scored a prestigious ASCAP award.

The group debuted with "Betcha Can't Do It Like Me", which Billboard claimed to have popularized snap music.[2] In January 2006, D4L's single "Laffy Taffy", reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3] As was another Atlanta-based hip hop group Dem Franchize Boyz, D4L was part of the snap music trend in 2006, which continued when Mississippi-based rapper Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, came out with the No. 1 hit song "Crank That (Soulja Boy)", in 2007.[4]

2007-2008: Solo career and Units in the City

On December 4, 2007, Shawty Lo released "Dey Know",his solo commercial debut single.[5] The single charted in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. On February 26, 2008, his solo debut album Units in the City, was released. The album peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200 and at #2 on the Top Rap Albums chart, selling over 160,000 copies to date. The album spawned two other singles, "Dunn Dunn" and the remix to "Foolish".

The album features guest appearances from Shawty Lo's D4L cohorts and Gucci Mane, among others. Shawty Lo also released a music video for the album cut, "Got Em 4 da LO".[6]

The songs "Dey Know" and "Foolish", were both officially remixed, featuring new verses from several high-profile artists. These include Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Plies, Lil' Wayne, DJ Khaled, Birdman, Rick Ross and Jim Jones. The "Foolish" music video also included cameo appearances from Pitbull, Jadakiss and Ace Hood.

2008–present: Still Got Units

In late 2008 Shawty Lo started working on a new album entitled Carlos; artists that were to be featured on the album included Rick Ross, T-Pain, Lil' Kim, Bun B, Nate Butler, Lyfe Jennings, Mýa, T.I., Lil Wayne, and Gucci Mane. On December 8, 2008 Shawty Lo released a song from the album entitled "Supplier"; it featured appearances from Trey Songz and Lil Wayne.[7]

On March 9, 2009, Shawty Lo released a song from the album entitled "Roll the Dice"; the song is known for marking the end of the beef between him and fellow Atlanta, Georgia, rapper T.I.[8] On March 23, 2009, Shawty Lo announced that he had changed his second album title from Carlos to I Am Carlos and its release date would be June 3, 2009.[9][10]

On April 27, 2010 Shawty Lo would release the first single from the album entitled "Atlanta, GA", which featured appearances Gucci Mane, Ludacris & The-Dream.[11]

On June 10, 2011, during an interview it was confirmed by both Shawty Lo and Allhiphop.com that he had signed a new label deal with G-Unit Records after it was reported they were in talks.[12] Shawty Lo said, "My new situation with G-Unit was just solidified and I got off the phone with 50 yesterday, I just signed a really large deal, as well as, It's like a new beginning and all I needed was someone behind me. 50 Cent is a marketing genius & I got my new thing D4L & G-Unit & we going to be working the south and the rest of the world if need be".[13] It was later clarified by Shawty Lo that he had not signed as an artist but instead he had signed his label D4L Records to G-Unit South a subsidiary record label of G-Unit Records.[14] On July 27, 2011 Shawty Lo would announce that he has change his second album title from I Am Carlos to Still Got Units.[15][16]

On June 10, 2014 it was announced that Shawty Lo is currently working & prepping the release of his new mixtape entitled King Of Bankhead.[17]

On February 3, 2015 Shawty Lo would release King Of Bankhead.[18][19][20] On January 8, 2015 Shawty Lo would announce he had signed a new label deal with 300 Entertainment.[21]

Other ventures

D4L Records

D4L Records
Founded 2003
Founder Carlos "Shawty Lo" Walker (CEO & President)
Status Active
Distributor(s) Grown Money (current)
G-Unit South (former)
Genre Hip hop, southern hip hop
Country of origin United States
Location Atlanta, Georgia (2003-present)

D4L Records, is an Atlanta, Georgia-based record label formed in 2003 by Shawty Lo. On June 22, 2011 it was announced that Shawty Lo had signed the label to a distribution deal with 50 Cent's subsidiary label G-Unit South for a worth of over $10 million.[22][23] On January 15, 2015 during an interview Shawty Lo would announce that he had signed the label to a new label deal with Grown Money Entertainment.[24]

Artists

Controversy

T.I.

In 2008, Shawty Lo was involved in a highly publicized feud with another Atlanta rapper, T.I.. The feud was characterized by Shawty Lo's track "Dunn Dunn", and T.I.'s reply "What Up, What's Haapnin". The song "Dunn Dunn" appears to question T.I.'s roots in Bankhead. The music video for "What Up, What's Haapnin" was shot in Bowen Homes. In an interview, T.I. insisted that his song "No Matter What" was only partially aimed at Shawty Lo.[25] The feud reached its climax at the November 2008 Dirty Awards where the entourages of both artists clashed during the ceremony, forcing it to be shut down. Two incidents forced police to use pepper-spray and evacuate the audience.[26] The feud was publicly ended on March 7, 2009, when Shawty Lo and T.I. appeared on-stage together at Club Crucial in Bankhead, for T.I.'s farewell concert.[27] After this performance, T.I. gave an interview to MTV, in which he stated that the feud with Shawty Lo was exaggerated by the media, and was not a 'beef'.[28] Shawty Lo also made a song "Roll the Dice", a song which samples Coldplay's popular 2008 single "Viva la Vida". "Roll the Dice" marks the end of the feud between Shawty Lo and T.I.[11]

All My Babies' Mamas

Main article: All My Babies' Mamas

His TV series, All My Babies' Mamas was set to air later in 2013 on the Oxygen channel. On January 15, 2013, Oxygen Media cancelled the show, stating in a press release that "as part of our development process, we have reviewed casting and decided not to move forward with the special."[29] However, on February 26, 2013 Shawty Lo announced that there were other television networks that were interested in the reality show.[30]

Personal life

By the age of 17, Carlos had fathered his first child, and his grandmother died.[31][32] On June 16, 2011 Shawty Lo would announce that he had diabetes & would also announce that he has been arrested over twenty-eight times & has had four convictions.[16] Shawty Lo has a total of 11 children: nine daughters and two sons from ten women.[33][34]

Discography

Main article: Shawty Lo discography
Studio albums

Awards

See also

References

  1. ↑ "D4L – Bio". Atlantic Records. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  2. ↑ "Shawty Lo". Billboard. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  3. ↑ "D4L's 'Taffy' Dethrones Mariah on Hot 100". Billboard. 2006-01-05. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  4. ↑ Reid, Shaheem (2005-12-05). "The ATL Sound". My Block: Atlanta (MTV News). Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  5. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Dey Know - Single by Shawty Lo". iTunes. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Got Em 4 Da LO – Music Video". Raw Report DCD. YouTube. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  7. ↑ http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/shawty-lo-ft.-trey-songz-lil-wayne-supplier
  8. ↑ http://realtalkny.uproxx.com/2009/03/topic/topic/videos/music-videos/shawty-lo-roll-the-dice-speaks-on-beef-with-ti/
  9. ↑ http://www.mtv.com/news/1607583/shawty-lo-stays-in-his-atlanta-hood-to-record-sophomore-lp/
  10. ↑ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10206/title.shawty-lo-talks-new-album-says-free-tip
  11. 1 2 Reid, Shaheem (March 23, 2009). "Shawty Lo Stays In His Atlanta 'Hood To Record Sophomore LP". MTV News. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  12. ↑ Daily News – : Exclusive: Shawty Lo Signs to G-Unit, Drops Mixtape 'B.H.F.' with DJ Greg Street. Allhiphop.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-11.
  13. ↑ 50 Cent Signs Shawty Lo To G-Unit Label ?, Shawty Low Releases A New Mixtape, In The Intro 50 Mentions Outlaw Phrase. ThisIs50.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-11.
  14. ↑ Hobbs, Linda (November 27, 2007). "Shawty Lo: I'm Your Idol". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008.
  15. ↑ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16180/title.shawty-lo-explains-g-unit-deal-reveals-collaboration-with-50-cent
  16. 1 2 http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15590/title.shawty-lo-talks-signing-to-g-unit-records-struggle-with-diabetes
  17. ↑ "Shawty Lo "King Of Bankhead" Mixtape Cover Revealed - Rap Dose". Rap Dose. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  18. ↑ http://www.datpiff.com/Shawty-Lo-King-Of-Bankhead-mixtape.662950.html
  19. ↑ http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/shawty-lo-king-of-bankhead-new-mixtape.115555.html
  20. ↑ http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/28605/shawty-lo-king-of-bankhead.html
  21. ↑ http://www.thenicniceshow.com/2015/01/d4l-records-grown-money-entertainment.html
  22. ↑ http://www.mtv.com/news/1666280/50-cent-shawty-lo-g-unit-deal/
  23. ↑ http://www.hip-hopvibe.com/2014/09/02/shawty-lo-president-of-g-unit-south-hits-the-studio-with-rick-ross-video/
  24. ↑ http://hiphopenquirer.com/exclusive-shawty-lo-photo-shoot-support-new-mixtape/
  25. ↑ Reid, Shaheem (May 2, 2008). "T.I. Insists 'No Matter What' Is Only Partly About Shawty Lo, More Introspective Songs To Come On Paper Trail". MTV News. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  26. ↑ Reid, Shaheem (November 25, 2008). "Shawty Lo Talks About Scuffle With T.I.'s Camp At Atlanta's Dirty Awards". MTV News. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  27. ↑ "T.I., Shawty Lo Squash Beef, Team Up Onstage In Atlanta". MTV. mtv.com. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  28. ↑ "T.I. Says Feud With Shawty Lo Wasn't A Beef". MTV. mtv.com. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  29. ↑ Oxygen Network Stops Development of ‘All My Babies’ Mamas’ - ABC News (Released January 16, 2013)
  30. ↑ http://www.sohh.com/2013/02/shawty_lo_says_who_needs_oxygen_we_got_5.html
  31. ↑ Reid, Shaheem (March 26, 2009). "Shawty Lo Recalls Fast-Paced Youth In His Atlanta 'Hood". MTV News. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  32. ↑ "Shawty Lo Biography". Asylum Records. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  33. ↑ http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/981685/shawty-lo-defends-all-my-babies-mamas
  34. ↑ http://www.vibe.com/2013/01/shawty-lo-talks-raising-11-kids-dealing-10-baby-mommas/

External links

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