TWISTA

'Twista' (formerly 'Tung Twista') (born 'Carl Terrell Mitchell' on November 27, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American rapper known for one time holding the title of fastest rapper in the world. 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".

Contents

Music career

Discography

Albums

Singles

Featured singles

Trivia

External links

Music career

Twista grew up in the K-Town area on the West Side of Chicago where he started rapping at the age of 12 and is also a member of the Vice Lords. Before starting his professional career, however, he had several other jobs, including working at a factory, selling shoes, telemarketing, working at McDonald's, working as a security guard, and cutting hair. He also worked at Burger King before shooting to fame as a rapper.
Twista was one of the fastest artists to sign with Loud Records. In 1991, he released Runnin' Off at Da Mouth under the name of Tung Twista. Due to his rapid-fire pace of delivery, he was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's fastest rapper. His record was then broken a year later; he asked to defend his entry, and made a new record, though that one would also eventually be broken. He was also a devoted Muslim but it is unclear why he has changed his faith. In his first album there are various praises of Islam and indications of his passion for the religion.
Despite this recognition, the album achieved little success. Twista dropped the "Tung" off of his name for his second album, ''Resurrection'', which was never released outside of some parts of Chicago. On the album he disses Treach of Naughty By Nature, who had stated that Twista's style was all show and no content. Twista's local notoriety grew in the underground mixtape circuit, as he was featured on several Chicago rap mixtapes, notably Chibangin, alongside unsigned artists like Psychodrama, Triple Darkness and DA Smart.
In 1996, he teamed with fellow Chicago act Do or Die on the track "Po' Pimp;" the track became a hit single, leading to a contract with Atlantic Records. He released Adrenaline Rush on 1997, where the album was a huge success with little mainstream help. Around this time, he and Do or Die began a bout of diss tracks against Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, who accused Chicago acts of stealing their fast-rapping style.
This was followed by ''Mobstability'' in 1998. Twista then formed his own Legit Ballin' label, which has 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 colaborated with Ruff Ryders and Drag-On on the album on the track, "Twisted Heat".
Twista's reputation in rap circles led to work with some other midwestern acts, such as Royce da 5'9" and Da Brat, and southern acts like Timbaland and Ludacris as well as an appearance on P. Diddy's albums No Way Out & ''Forever'' and ties to Roc-A-Fella Records. His long awaited 2004 album, ''Kamikaze'', went platinum on the strength of two singles produced by the Roc's Kanye West.
The first single, "Slow Jamz" (featured on both ''Kamikaze'' and Kanye's debut ''College Dropout''), featured Kanye West and Jamie Foxx.
Twista also recorded a song for the Coach Carter film with Faith Evans called "Hope"
After this success, Dame Dash made clear a desire to sign Twista to Roc-A-Fella. Though Atlantic would not release him from his contract, Dame tried to negotiate a joint venture and made Twista an honorary member of the Roc-A-Fella roster. One of Summer 2004's biggest hits "Jook Gal" by Elephant Man featured Twista & The YoungBloodZ. Twista's next album, ''The Day After'', was not as commercially or critically successful and showed a notable lack of Kanye West production. He recently reunited with Kanye for the ''Mission Impossible III'' soundtrack, and plans to release his next album (titled ''Adrenaline Rush 2007'') in August of 2007.
Adrenaline Rush 2007 will feature production from the likes of Tight Mike, Toxic, The Neptunes, Kanye West, and Jazze Pha. Features include the likes of Lil Wayne, R Kelly, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
In 2006, Twista was featured on the song, "Hell No (Leave Home)" from Monica's new album, ''The Makings of Me''.
Twista is rumored to leave Atlantic Records after his new album for a deal with Def Jam or Roc-A-Fella. He has recently formed his own label, Get Money Gang, where he and his group, the Speedknot Mobstaz, are signed, and he also plans to sign more Chicagoland and Midwest artists in the near future.
In May 2007 it was announced in an interview with Layzie Bone, that Twista and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony will be recording an album together.
August 7th, 2007, Twista was scheduled for Mcdonald's Nationwide Tour, but was released in July because of his offensive lyrics according to Mcdonald's.

Discography

Albums

★ 1991: ''Runnin' Off at Da Mouth'' (as Tung Twista)

★ 1994: ''Resurrection''

★ 1997: ''Adrenaline Rush''

★ 1998: ''Mobstability''

★ 2004: ''Kamikaze

★ 2005: ''The Day After''

★ 2007: ''Adrenaline Rush 2007''

Singles

★ 2004: "Slow Jamz" (featuring Jamie Foxx & Kanye West)

★ 2004: "Overnight Celebrity"

★ 2004: "Like a 24" (Featuring T.I. & Liffy Stokes)

★ 2004: "Sunshine" (featuring Anthony Hamilton)

★ 2004: "So Sexy" (featuring R. Kelly)

★ 2005: "Hope" (featuring Faith Evans)

★ 2005: "Girl Tonite" (featuring Trey Songz)

★ 2005: "Hit the Floor" (featuring Pitbull)

★ 2006: "So Lonely" (featuring Mariah Carey)

★ 2007: "Give It Up" (Twista featuring Pharrell)

Featured singles

★ 2004: "Let's Go" (Trick Daddy featuring Lil Jon & Twista)

★ 2004: "Jook Gal" (Elephant Man featuring Twista, Kiprich, and YoungBloodZ)

★ 2005: "Gotta Make It" (Trey Songz featuring Twista)

★ 2005: "DJ Play a Love Song" (Jamie Foxx featuring Twista)

★ 2005: "Midwest Invasion" (Layzie Bone featuring Twista))

★ 2006: "Spit Your Game" (Notorious B.I.G. featuring Twista & Krayzie Bone))

★ 2007: "Hell No (Leave Home)" (Monica featuring Twista))

★ 2007: "Money" (Bizzy Bone featuring Twista))

★ 2007: "Diddy Rock" (P.Diddy featuring Timbaland, Shawnna & Twista)

Trivia

★ Rumored to be a member of the Vice Lords if not affiliated.

★ In 2005 the game was released and three of Twista's songs appeared on it these were "Sunshine", which featured Anthony Hamilton; "Like A 24", which featured T.I. & Liffy Stokes; and "Overnight Celebrity", which features and was produced by Kanye West.

★ "Hope" was originally on Twista's album ''Kamikaze'', but was never released as a single until it appeared on the soundtrack to the film ''Coach Carter''. The ''Kamikaze'' version featured Cee-Lo, while the ''Coach Carter'' version had Faith Evans.

★ Twista has worked with a number of UK artists including the Kray Twinz, Lethal Bizzle and he was featured on The Prodigy's ''Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned'' (2004).

★ Twista has contributed to three Making The Video episodes to date: "Hope" feat. Faith Evans, "Hit The Floor" feat. Pitbull, and The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Spit Your Game (Remix)" video

★ Started a Detroit vs. Chicago Beef over Do Or Die's "Po Pimp" (1996) and Esham's Natas group "We Almost Lost Detroit" (1995) (due to the same beat that faded out around the late 90's.)

★ Japanese pro wrestler KENTA (who is also a big hip-hop fan) uses a remix of "Art & Life" as his theme song.

★ Collaborated with fellow Midwest Rapper, Tech N9ne, on a song entitled "Welcome To The Midwest." Twista though, didn't have his verse done and finalized in time for it to make the release of Tech N9ne's album ''Everready: The Religion'', and Tech was forced to put an alternate version on, featuring fellow labelmate Big Krizz Kaliko. In the end, Tech did receive Twista's verse for the song, and in fact, the version with Twista is being heavily considered to be the second single for the album.

★ Is slated to appear on a solo album by a fellow Midwest MC named Prozak (formerly of Project: Deadman, a duo comprised of Prozak and producer Mike E. Clark who are signed to Tech N9ne's Strange Music record label). The album is due during Summer '07 and is titled Tales From Da Sicc.

★ Has his own column in the weekly Chicago Tribune publication, RedEye, called "Twista's Turn" where he shares his thoughts and answers readers' questions. [1]

★ He also made a track with Rapper
★ Mr. Capone-E with the single "Don't Get it Twisted" produced by Fingazz

★ Appeared on the remix to Sting's Stolen Car(Take Me Dancing)

★ Appeared on ''Dancing With the Stars''

★ Twista is left-handed.

★ In the Playstation Portable game Rush he has the song "Get Me" from ''Kamikaze''

★ Twista got the idea for the song "Gangstas' Don't Dance" from the underground artist/producer DJ DOOM who made a beat with the almost the same sampled phrase. You can listen to it on [2].

★ In the video for Sunshine at 1:37-1:38 there is a shot of Kermit the Frog dancing in the background.

External links

★ Twista Official Site

★ Twista VH1 artist page

★ Twista Interview

★ Twista's Column in the Chicago Tribune