Emcee N.I.C.E.

Emcee N.I.C.E.

Life of The Party music video photo.
Background information
Birth name Aulsondro Hamilton
Also known as Novelist
Born Los Angeles, California
Origin El Paso, Texas
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Entertainer
Instruments Vocals, drum, drum machine, turntables
Years active 2000-present
Labels Gypsy City Music
Associated acts Stacey Dash, Dennis Bettis, Who Am I?, D.B.I., Jus Blake, KansasCali, The Rocturnals, A Lighter Shade of Brown, Doctor Fink
Website emceenice.com

Aulsondro "Novelist" Hamilton, better known by his stage name Emcee N.I.C.E., is an African American, Puerto Rican rapper. He was born in Los Angeles, California, of Puerto Rican descent, but was raised in El Paso, Texas and Topeka, Kansas.

He has served as a producer, writer and recording artist, working with legendary artists such as 2 Pac, Nas, A Lighter Shade of Brown, Aaron Hall (singer), K-Ci Hailey, Doctor Fink, Al B. Sure, Melissa Molinaro, and MC Lyte.

Since 2002, he has been credited on over 28 different records. This includes an association with the Academy Award-winning film Crash, appearing on its blockbuster soundtrack as a lead vocalist/rapper of KansasCali. Their music video was included on the DVD's special features section, narrated by Paul Haggis.

Emcee N.I.C.E. would also go on to appear on four more soundtracks, along with multiple guest features and theme songs for television shows. He is also a member of one of Los Angeles’s elite rap coalitions, The Massmen, put together by industry veterans Dejon Jack H. Clark, producer DJ Fat Jack and founders Patrick "Minister 2 Bad" Parker & David "Twice D" Tarver. The group is currently led by LA hip-hop legend Abstract Rude, and its members also include Awol One, Mista Grimm, LSD, and Bobby Chevis.

History

Discovered by De’Jon J.H. Clark and DJ Fat Jack, Novelist, aka Emcee N.I.C.E., had early success in 2002 with a co-production of Thugz Mansion that landed him on both the triple platinum album Better Dayz of iconic rapper 2 Pac, and platinum album God's Son of hip hop legend Nas.

N.I.C.E. then co-founded a Las Vegas-based duo called KansasCali, an R&B hip-hop group that would later evolve into a urban pop rock band called The Rocturnals. In 2002 the duo released an independent record called Vegas One (The Beginning) and in 2003 landed the theme song for the NFL all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith’s T.V. show The Emmitt Zone.

It wasn’t until 2004 when the duo converted into an urban pop rock group that they achieved real success, landing on the Oscar-winning film Crash soundtrack and music video for song "If I…" prominently featured in the "Special Features" of the DVD that went on to sell well over 10 million units. The duo’s success didn’t stop there; that same year, they also landed on the international soundtrack of the blockbuster film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The duo was also chosen by Billboard Magazine Executive Tamara Coniff to open and perform at the First Annual Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards.[1]

The success kept rolling, as the duo teamed up with Shay Todd and co-founder Shiro Gutzie of the Superb Group, to release the duo’s EP Hello World in 2005. That same year the duo also made guest appearances on R&B Legend Aaron Hall’s final album Adults Only, featured on the song "Serve That Body".

Also in 2005, Novelist co-founded urban animation company Toon Farm Animation with business partner William "Dolla" Chapman II. This led to the creation of the Urban Family animated music cartoon called Da Jammies, which starred Emcee N.I.C.E. and his business partner along with other notable actors such as Darius McCrary, Kyla Pratt, Kel Mitchell, Tiny Lister, Kim Whitley, James Avery, Alisa Reyes, Kurtis Blow, YoYo, and Lil' JJ.

In 2006 the demand continued to grow for Novelist’s group, as KansasCali was featured on more soundtracks, and ESPN’s movie soundtrack Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos (with their song "U Gotta Fight!" which prominently features Novelist), and Orlando Bloom’s Haven soundtrack (with the song "Uuuh").

That same year the duo made a guest appearance on an album by R&B legend K-Ci Hailey of K-Ci & JoJo, with both production and features on his album entitled My Book with songs "It’s All Love" feat. KansasCali, and production on the song "Soldier". Still having momentum, in 2007 KansasCali produced and featured on another TV special, George Wilborn's TVOne comedy special I Don’t Want to Be No Star in 2008, Jamie Kennedy’s Kicking It Old Skool with song "The Life" as the closing credits Lil JJ’s Almost Grown, and finally in 2009 on Lav Luv's TVOne comedy special I’m Gonna Get In Trouble.

KansasCali then went independent and became an urban rock band, changing their names to The Rocturnals.

From 2008-2012 Emcee N.I.C.E. as Novelist with The Rocturnals would go on to make six more records. He also landed yet another song that debuted on TV, this time teaming up with Mark Cuban on an NBA theme song "This is Where Amazing Happens", debuting at the NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge in Dallas on TNT.

Then came the first responders documentary, Save The Brave, produced by the John Feal (first responder) of the Feal Good Foundation.

They put out an independent LP The Life, an earth song, "Celebrate the Earth", then were featured on Prince & The Revolution co-founder Doctor Fink’s compilation record Doctor Fink Presents a Tribute to Prince with their classic remake of "Pop Life".

In June 2012 Novelist returned to his roots of hip-hop R&B as Emcee N.I.C.E. and released a single entitled "Life of the Party" that featured newcomer Blake "Jus Blake" Smith. The single gained notoriety fast when the "Dance Version" produced by hit maker Ralph "Phantom" Stacy (who also produced Dru Hill, SWV, Johnny Gill, and Houston) was released featuring iconic and controversial actress Stacey Dash and "Jus Blake".

Russell Simmons' Global Grind jumped on it first, followed by Yahoo Music and TooFab. The music video was leaked by TMZ and its subsidiary TooFab, but suffered a blow when Stacey Dash announced her support for presidential candidate Mitt Romney, much to the chagrin of the African American community. Any momentum the record had and or was building came to a screeching halt. Emcee N.I.C.E. tried to pick the momentum back up in December with a Christmas release, "Christmas With U" feat. Who Am I?, donating a portion of the proceeds to anti-bullying and anti-hazing campaigns.

Productions, releases and guest appearances

As a member and lead vocalist/rapper of KansasCali

2002 to 2006

Year Artist Album Label Released Singles Contribution Production
2002 KansasCali[2] Vegas One (The beginning) Familia Records 10/15/02 B4 U Say No Writer & Performer
2002 Tupac Better Dayz Interscope Records 11/26/02 Thugz Mansion ft. Nas[3] Production Co-Producer
2002 Nas God's Son Sony Records 12/22/02 Thugz Mansion ft. Nas[3] Production Co-Producer
2005 Christal Ray N/A Platinum Plug Records 04/05/05 C'Mon ft. KansasCali[4] Writer & Performer none
2005 Aaron Hall Adults Only Bungalo | Universal Music Group 07/26/05 Serve That Body ft. KansasCali[5] Writer & Performer none
2005 KansasCali Hello World (EP)[6] Superb Records 09/20/05 Hello World Writer & Performer none
2006 K-Ci Hailey My Book[7] Bungalo | Universal Music Group 10/03/06 "It's All Love" ft. KansasCali (Track #3) Writer & Performer Co-Producer Track #13

[8]

Music video

A music video for "Thugz Mansion" was shot. The video was nominated at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Rap Video.

Charts

Peak positions

Charts (2002–03) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] #26
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] #7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11] #18
Germany (Official German Charts)[12] #74
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] #73
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] #10
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[15] #24
US Billboard Hot 100[16] #19
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] #10
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[18] #4

Motion picture soundtracks

Year Movie Soundtrack Artist Label Released Singles Contribution Production
2005 Crash: Music from and Inspired by Crash (Soundtrack) KansasCali Superb Records 06/07/05 If I... (Track #1)[19] Writer & Performer none
2005 Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film) (International Soundtrack) KansasCali Warner Bros. Records | Edel Music 07/22/05 If I Never See You Again (Track #1)[20] Writer & Performer none
2006 Once in a Lifetime Original Soundtrack[21] KansasCali Superb Records 07/11/06 "U Gotta Fight" Writer & Performer none
2006 Haven (soundtrack)[22] KansasCali Superb Records 09/19/06 "Uuuh" Writer & Performer none
2006 Kickin' It Old Skool KansasCali Superb Records August 6 "The Life"[23] Writer & Performer none

As a member and lead vocalist/rapper of The Rocturnals

2008 (soundtrack)

Year Movie Soundtrack Artist Label Released Singles Contribution Production
2008 Save The Brave (First Responders Documentary) KansasCali Feal Good Foundation August 8 "In My America" ft. The Rocturnals (Acoustic)[23] Writer & Performer Co-Producer

2009 - 2011

Year Artist Album Label Released Singles Contribution Production
2009 United Students of America "In My America" Tribute LP USOFA 2009 "In My America" ft. The Rocturnals (Track #1)[24] Writer & Performer Co-Producer
2010 The Rocturnals 2010 NBA All-Star Rookie Game Black Casino Music 2010 This Is Where Amazing Happens ft. The Rocturnals Writer & Performer none
2011 The Rocturnals The Life Black Casino Music & Entertainment 04/2011 The Life[25] Writer & Performer none
2011 The Rocturnals N/A Black Casino Music & Entertainment 01/2011 "Celebrate The Earth"[26] Writer & Performer none
2011 Doctor Fink "Doctor Fink presents A Tribute to Prince"[27] Tommy Boy Entertainment 8/2011 "Pop Life" Writer & Performer none

As Emcee N.I.C.E. (Novelist Is Constantly Evolving)

2012

Artist Album Label Released Singles Contribution Production
Emcee N.I.C.E. Way Back Now Gypsy City Music 06/2012 "Life of The Party" ft. Blake Smith[28] Writer & Performer none
Emcee N.I.C.E. Way Back Now Gypsy City Music 06/2012 "King Kong In My Trunk" Writer & Performer none
Emcee N.I.C.E. Way Back Now Gypsy City Music 06/2012 "My Cali Lean" feat. D.B.I. Writer & Performer none
Emcee N.I.C.E. Way Back Now Gypsy City Music 11/2012 "Life of The Party" ft. Stacey Dash & Blake Smith (Dance Remix)[29] Writer & Performer none
Emcee N.I.C.E. N/A Activate | InGrooves 12/2012 "Christmas With U" feat. Who Am I?[30] Writer & Performer none

2013

Artist Album Label Released Singles Contribution Production
Emcee N.I.C.E. Way Back Now (EP)[31] Gypsy City Music January 2013 "Life of The Party" Writer & Performer none

2014

Tonight feat. Suhana Machete peaked at #8 on the US Billboard Hot Single Sales Chart in 2014 (Billboard Albums) [32]

Artist Album Label Released Singles Contribution Production
Emcee N.I.C.E. However U Want It (2015) Gypsy City Music November 2014 "Tonight" feat. Suhana Machete Writer & Performer none

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 (Billboard) #8

TV shows and special songs

Year Show Network Release Song Contribution
2003 Emmitt Smith presents The Emmitt Zone KNXV-TV (Phoenix, AZ) 2003 Emmitt Zone ft. KansasCali Performer & Writer
2007 George Wilborn TVOne Comedy Special "I Don’t Want to Be No Star"[33] TV One (US TV network) October 2007 "I Don't Want To Be A Star" ft. The Rocturnals Performer & Writer
2008 Lil JJ present "Almost Grown" (Comedy Special)[34] CodeBlack Entertainment 2008 "Almost Grown" ft. D.B.I. & The Rocturnals Writer & Performer
2009 Lav Luv TVOne Comedy Special "I’m Gonna Get In Trouble" TV One (US TV network) October 2007 "I'm Gonna Get in Trouble" ft. The Rocturnals Performer & Writer

References

  1. ↑ Digital Entertainment Awards
  2. ↑ "Vegas One The Beginning by Kansascali @ARTISTdirect". ARTISTdirect. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 Thugz Mansion
  4. ↑ "Amazon.com: C'mon Feat. KansasCali: Christal Ray: MP3 Downloads". Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Aaron Hall - Adults Only: The Final Album - Amazon.com Music". Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Kansascali - Hello World - Amazon.com Music". Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  7. ↑ My Book
  8. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/Aulsondro+%22Novelist%22+Hamilton
  9. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – 2 Pac feat. Nas – Thugz Mansion". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. ↑ "Ultratop.be – 2 Pac feat. Nas – Thugz Mansion" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – 2 Pac feat. Nas – Thugz Mansion" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  12. ↑ "Musicline.de – 2 Pac feat. Nas Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  13. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – 2 Pac feat. Nas – Thugz Mansion" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  14. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – 2 Pac feat. Nas – Thugz Mansion". Top 40 Singles.
  15. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2003-02-22" UK Singles Chart.
  16. ↑ "2Pac – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for 2Pac.
  17. ↑ "2Pac – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for 2Pac.
  18. ↑ "2Pac – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rap Songs for 2Pac.
  19. ↑ Crash (2004 film)#Soundtrack
  20. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists". iTunes. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  21. ↑ Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos
  22. ↑ Haven (soundtrack)
  23. 1 2 "Aulsondro Novelist Hamilton". IMDb. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  24. ↑ The Rocturnals
  25. ↑ "iTunes - Music - The Life by The Rocturnals". iTunes. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  26. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Celebrate the Earth - Single by The Rocturnals". iTunes. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  27. ↑ "Amazon.com: Pop Life: The Rocturnals: MP3 Downloads". Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  28. ↑ "Amazon.com: Life of the Party: Emcee N.I.C.E: MP3 Downloads". Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  29. ↑ "Amazon.com: Life of the Party (feat. Blake Smith, Stacey Dash): Emcee N.I.C.E & Blake Smith & Stacey Dash: MP3 Downloads". Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  30. ↑ Amazon.com: Christmas with U (feat. Who Am I?): Emcee N.I.C.E & Who Am I?: MP3 Downloads
  31. ↑ Amazon.com: Way Back Now: Emcee Nice: MP3 Downloads
  32. ↑
  33. ↑ iTunes - TV Shows - George Willborn: I Don't Want to Be No Star
  34. ↑ "Lil JJ's Almost Grown Variety Show". Retrieved 3 September 2015.
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