Carl Terrell Mitchell (born November 27, 1973) better known by his stage name
Twista and the former
Tung Twista, is an American rapper 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.
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."
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.
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;
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;
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 2005 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 in 2007 with the singles "Give it Up" featuring Pharrell and "Creep Fast" featuring T-Pain. This album sold poorly compared to Twista's earlier albums.
Twista also appeared on the single "Hell No " from Monica's album
The Makings of Me. In 2008, Twista launched a new record label, Get Money Gang Entertainment.
Twista is finishing production on his sixth solo album called
Category F5. First single "Wetter" has been released on iTunes and the video will debut in March. Two other songs have leaked thus far, Billionaire featuring Busta Rhymes and On Top featuring Akon. Rumored second single will be the clubbanger "She Got It" featuring Bobby Valentino. According to Twista's myspace he is working with producers such as The Legendary Traxster and Jim Jonsin, and artists such as Tech N9ne, Busta Rhymes, and Young Jeezy.
Discography
Solo albums
- 1992: Runnin' Off at da Mouth
- 1994: Resurrection
- 1997: Adrenaline Rush
- 2004: Kamikaze
- 2005: The Day After
- 2007: Adrenaline Rush 2007
- 2009: Category F5
Albums with Speedknot Mobstaz
- 1998: Mobstability
- 2008: Nation Business
References
External links
1973 birthsAfrican American rappersFreestyle rappersMusicians from Chicago, IllinoisLiving peopleAtlantic Records artistsThe Nation of Gods and Earths peopleMidwest rappers
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