WordSpit The ILLest

WordSpit The ILLest
Background information
Birth name Christopher Dupree
Born East New York, Brooklyn, New York, US
Origin East New York, Brooklyn, New York, US
Genres Rap, Hip hop, Rap Rock, Stadium Rap
Occupation(s) Rapper
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2008-present
Labels unsigned
Associated acts The ILLest
Website www.wetheillest.com

Christopher Dupree, better known by his stage name WordSpit The ILLest, is an American rapper born in East New York, Brooklyn, New York, US. WordSpit debuted in New York City's music scene in 2009 through open mics, solo shows, and freestyle sessions. In 2010, he won the Underground Music Award (UMA) for Most Dynamic Solo Artist, before releasing his debut mixtape, The Coolest B-Boi Stance, in 2011. By developing his style and strength in performances, he developed his band The ILLest. Wordspit and the ILLest were winners of the 2011 The Bamboozle, and semi-finalists/fan-favorites of America's Got Talent Season 7. They continue to gain recognition from major platforms such as BET,[1] Mc Donald's[2] and Rocawear[3]

WordSpit is currently working on two new projects for 2015: a follow-up solo album and an EP with The ILLest.

Early life

WordSpit was born and raised in East New York of Brooklyn, New York City. In his early teen years, WordSpit began to take on his identity as an artist, floating through different names and styles. "When I was doing a whole bunch of stuff in the street, I took on ‘Word from the Street' because [it] felt like I was not only dictating my life, but the lives of the people I was interacting with. As that progressed, I just started taking a more lyrical approach and just getting more in depth with the rhymes . And my brother came in one day was like ‘yo, Word— you spit!’ And from then on I was like ‘yeah i like that’— WordSpit"[4]

Musical career

2009-2010

WordSpit gained recognition in 2009 in the New York underground music circuit through open mics, solo shows, and random freestyle sessions.[5] In August 2009, WordSpit released his first mixtape/EP, The Coolest BBoi Stance. Also in 2009, Wordspit starred in a McDonald's commercial for their breakfast campaign.[2]

2011-2012: 'The Bamboozle', America's Got Talent

In April 2011, WordSpit and The Illest won the Crazy Donkey regional finals for The Break Contest — a contest that rewards the winners with a slot to perform on the main stage of The Bamboozle music festival.[6] Later that month, they took 2nd place in the finals and ended up performing on the Spitter’s Stage in Giant’s Stadium alongside Pusha T, Big Sean, Freddie Gibbs, and Lil B.[7]

Also in 2011, Wordspit and The ILLest were invited to perform in the "That’s Rocawear" campaign, a relaunch of The Rocawear Brand in 2011 alongside Kendrick Lamar and Affion Crockett.[8]

On September 26, 2011, WordSpit and The Illest held a concert for a cause titled "Rise of the Illest," in pursuit of raising money and awareness for the continued prevention of HIV/AIDS worldwide. With sponsorship from Rocawear and in partnership with MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation, it was held at NYC’s SOBs [9] In November, WordSpit and the ILLest were featured on BET's annual Music Matters campaign for 2011. Soon after he was featured artist on 106 & Park’s Follow Friday segment.[10]

In May 2012, WordSpit and The ILLest! auditioned for NBC’s Season 7 of America’s Got Talent reality television competition. WordSpit and the ILLest introduced themselves as a " fusion" of genres, creating "backpack pop-culture arena rap."[11] WordSpit and the ILLest!'s audition in Episode 703 consisted of performing Wordspit's "Poet's Haiku" mixed with Phil Collins' "In The Air." Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel all voted "Yes," sending the act to the Vegas Round. WordSpit and the ILLest! was one of the Standby Acts in the Vegas Round. It was sorted into the "Bands" category. Its performance in Episode consisted of performing its own version of "New York, New York". Its audition was strong enough for the judges to send it to the Quarterfinals along with The All Ways and The Distinguished Men of Brass. WordSpit and the ILLest!'s Quarterfinals performance in Episode 718 finished them in either fourth or fifth place in America's Vote. In the Judges' Choice, although Howard Stern voted for them, Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel objected, eliminating the band from the competition in Episode 719. The song impressed the crowd, but the judges were not sure it was the right strategy to perform their original song, "Lights, Cameras, Flashing" as a band. "You made the most disastrous choice by doing an original song," Mandel explained. Osbourne concurred. Stern, however, vehemently disagreed. "I loved it!" he said. "The musicianship is off the charts!"[12]

2013

In May 2013, WordSpit released a single "Tough Luck".[13] In 2013, Wordspit performed the jingle for Reese’s Puffs commercial advertisement alongside Nickelodeon’s Ryan Potter of Supah Ninjas.[14]

2016

In February 2016, Wordspit was featured as a backup dancer/model/groupie at the unveiling of Kanye West's The Life of Pablo album.

References

  1. ↑ "Wordspit | Music Matters | Videos". BET. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  2. 1 2 "McDonald's New Breakfast Dollar Menu". Smnr.akamediainc.com. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  3. ↑ "That's Rocawear: WordSpit The ILLest". YouTube. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  4. ↑ "TI50: Wordspit Talks About His Mcdonald's Commercial, Where His Name Came From & His Sound". ThisIs50.com. 2011-12-03. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  5. ↑ "Independent Artist Sptlight: WordSpit". Theblastbydigiwaxx.com. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  6. ↑ "Bamboozle2011- WordSpit Vlog | We The Illest!". Wetheillest.wordpress.com. 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  7. ↑ "WordSpit Live @ Bamboozle (Video)". YNotMyDream.Net. 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  8. ↑ "hiphoppress.com". hiphoppress.com. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  9. ↑ "Video: Wordspit’s Rise Of The Illest Event Recap". YouHeardThatNew. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  10. ↑ "Follow Friday - Wordspit | 106 & Park | Videos". BET. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ Hyman, Dan (2012-07-18). "'America's Got Talent' Recap: Untouchables?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  13. ↑ "WordSpit The ILLest! – Tough Luck Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  14. ↑ "Wordspit Lends His Voice To New Reese's Puffs Cereal Commercial | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHopDX. 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2015-04-04.

External links

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