| Paul Wall | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Paul Gideon Manry |
| Also known as | Wallpaper, P. Willigan, The People's Champ, Iceman |
| Origin | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Genre(s) | Rap/Hip-Hop Crunk Dirty South Chopped & Screwed |
| Occupation(s) | DJ Jeweler |
| Years active | 1998 – present |
| Label(s) | Swishahouse Asylum Atlantic |
| Associated acts |
The Sleepwalkers The Color Changin' Click Expensive Taste Chamillionaire Brooke Hogan |
| Website | djpaulwall.com |
Paul Slayton (born Paul Manry but changed to Slayton before he was 10 years old) on March 11, 1980[1]) better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is a rapper, DJ, promoter and jeweller, originally part of Houston hip-hop group The Color Changin' Click.[1]. Wall is a graduate of Jersey Village High School and studied mass communications at The University of Houston for three years.[2] He is affiliated with Swishahouse Records, having released several albums under the label as well as collaborating with other rappers signed to the label.
Contents |
Career
At a young age Paul Wall, along with fellow rap music artist and childhood friend Chamillionaire, decided to make music his career. One day while promoting themselves at a Texas event, he and Chamillionaire ran into Michael "5000" Watts, a popular mixtape DJ from northern Houston. After proposing to do promotions for Watts' company, Swishahouse, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to Watts' studio and convinced Watts to allow them freestyle on an intro to Watts' radio show on Houston hip-hop station KBXX.[3] Watts, who was convinced to rap on the record, enjoyed the freestyle so much that he put the verses on one of his mixtapes. The freestyle became so popular in the streets that Chamillionaire and Paul Wall became regular staples on Houston's mixtape circuit, appeared on several of Watts' mixtapes, and became permanent members of Swishahouse. [4] After fellow member Slim Thug left the label, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall followed and started their own group known as The Color Changin' Click. Each successive mixtape released by The Color Changin' Click led to more business opportunities; the most notable of which being a contract to do a full album for Paid in Full Records. A one album contract was then negotiated between the Color Changin' Click and Paid in Full's label head, DJ Madd Hatta from 97.9 The Box, and the CCC's first album, Get Ya Mind Correct, would go on to sell over 100,000 copies. Wall's first music industry exposure came as a street team member on the Northwest side of Houston, promoting southern artists such as T.I. and labels like Cash Money and The New No Limit Records. He is also an accomplished and proficient mixtape and party DJ, known for producing mixtapes in the now well-known screwed & chopped style, which was invented by the late DJ Screw.[5] Paul Wall and Chamillionaire were originally affiliated with Swishahouse Records, but left for Paid in Full Records a short time later. After several mixtape and independent releases, including Get Ya Mind Correct, the two parted ways on bad terms. Chamillionaire continued to release independent records, while Paul Wall returned to the Swishahouse fold. This move allowed him to appear on Mike Jones' first commercially distributed single, "Still Tippin'", from his first major label album Who Is Mike Jones?. In 2005, Paul Wall released his debut release, The People's Champ, the first single "Sittin' Sidewayz" featuring Big Pokey. The second single, "They Don't Know", featured Bun B of UGK, and the video version also featured Mike Jones. The third single is "Girl", receiving radio airplay and peaking at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] In 2007, Paul Wall released his second album Get Money, Stay True, spawning the singles "Break 'Em Off" featuring Lil Keke and "I'm Throwed" featuring and produced by Jermaine Dupri. Paul Wall is currently a member of the rap group EXPENSIVE TASTE with his good friends Travis Barker and Skinhead Rob. The trio also collectively own a clothing line together with the same name EXPENSIVE TASTE which can be found at www.expensivetastemerch.com
Jewelry
Paul Wall is the part owner and proprietor of TV Jewelry with Johnny Dang in Houston.[7] He was also featured in the VH1 documentary Bling'd: Blood, Diamonds, and Hip-Hop, while visiting Sierra Leone, cautioning jewelers to check their source for diamonds.[8][9] The store specializes in the production of grills, silver, gold, or platinum caps and diamond inlays (usually princess-cut diamonds). Grills have become a growing trend in rap culture and have even influenced its own song. "Grillz", by Nelly featuring Wall along with Gipp & Ali artists, where at one point Paul raps "Call me George Foreman 'cause I'm sellin' everybody grillz."
Guest appearances
In 2007, Paul Wall appeared alongside other celebrities and regular people in the music video for Rockstar by Nickelback. Paul Wall is also featured on one episode of TAI...TV (episode 14: Aust In Translation) He also appears on Bermuda based reggae artist Collie Budz' debut album on the tracks "What a feeling" and the bonus track "Come Around (remix)"
Official Screwed and Chopped Projects
| Album Title | Artist | Year of Release |
|---|---|---|
| Down in tha Dirty | Various | 2003 |
| U Gotta Feel Me | Lil Flip | 2004 |
| Let the Truth Be Told | Z-Ro | 2005 |
| Ghetto Bill Vol. 1 | Master P | 2005 |
| The Truest Shit I Ever Said | C-Murder | 2005 |
| Urban Legend | T.I. | 2005 |
| The Day After | Twista | 2005 |
| Haunted Cities | The Transplants | 2005 |
| Monkey Business | Black Eyed Peas | 2005 |
| I'm Still Livin' | Z-Ro | 2006 |
| The Truth | Belo (of Do or Die) | 2006 |
| Gangsta Grillz XI: Generation Now | DJ Drama, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Killer Mike, Stat Quo, & Big Kuntry | 2006 |
| Dedication: Gangsta Grillz | DJ Drama & Lil’ Wayne | 2006 |
| Gangsta Grillz: Trap or Die | DJ Drama & Young Jeezy | 2006 |
| The Legend Series: Gangsta Grillz | DJ Drama, Bun B & Middlefingaz | 2006 |
| GYMC: The Remix Album | Paul Wall & Chamillionaire | 2006 |
Discography
Solo Albums
- 2004: Chick Magnet (independent label)
- 2005: The Peoples Champ
- 2007: Get Money, Stay True
- 2008: The Fast Life
Solo Singles
- 2005: "Sittin' Sidewayz" (featuring Big Pokey)
- 2005: "They Don't Know" (featuring Mike Jones & Bun B)
- 2006: "Girl"
- 2007: "Break 'Em Off" (featuring Lil Keke)
- 2007: "I'm Throwed" (featuring Jermaine Dupri)
Featured Singles
- 2005: "Still Tippin'" (Mike Jones featuring Slim Thug & Paul Wall)
- 2005: "What You Been Drankin' On?" (Jim Jones featuring P. Diddy, Paul Wall, & Jha Jha)
- 2005: "I Got Dat Drank" (Frayser Boy featuring Mike Jones & Paul Wall)
- 2005: "Draped Up [Remix]" (Bun B featuring Lil Keke, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Aztek, Lil Flip, & Z-Ro)
- 2005: "Grillz" (Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp)
- 2005: "Still on It" (Ashanti featuring Paul Wall & Method Man)
- 2005: "I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper) [Remix]" (T-Pain featuring Twista, Pimp C, Paul Wall, R. Kelly, MJG, & Too Short)
- 2006: "Holla at Me" (DJ Khaled featuring Lil Wayne, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, & Pitbull)
- 2006: "Drive Slow [Remix]" (Kanye West featuring Paul Wall, GLC, & T.I.)
- 2006: "Way I Be Leanin'" (Juvenile featuring Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Skip, & Wacko)
- 2006: "About Us" (Brooke Hogan featuring Paul Wall)
- 2006: "Chunk up tha Deuce" (Lil Keke featuring Paul Wall & UGK)
- 2007: "26's" (Lil James featuring Paul Wall & Bun B)
- 2007: "Won't Let You Down (Texas Takeover Remix)" (Chamillionaire featuring Slim Thug, Lil Keke, Mike Jones, Trae, Paul Wall, UGK, Z-Ro, K-Ci)
- 2008: "Swack You Out" (Strong Arm Steady featuring Paul Wall)
Awards/Nominations
- 2006: Ozone Awards
- Won in the categories of Taste Maker (style and trendsetter); Best Rap/R&B Collaboration (for "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper) (Remix)" by T-Pain featuring Twista, Pimp C, Paul Wall, R. Kelly, MJG, and Too $hort); Best Rap Collaboration ("Holla At Me" by DJ Khaled featuring Lil' Wayne, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, and Pitbull)[10]
- 2007: Grammy Award
- Nominated for Best Rap Performance as a Duo or Group (for "Grillz" by Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp)[11]
References
- ^ a b Kellman, Andy. Paul Wall biography at All Music Guide
- ^ Paul Wall interview on AskMen.com
- ^ http://www.paulwallworld.com/info/interview2.php
- ^ http://www.musicremedy.com/c/Chamillionaire/album/The_Sound_of_Revenge-1802.html
- ^ http://www.rapindustry.com/paul-wall.htm
- ^ "The People's Champ" Charts & Awards - Singles. All Music Guide: 2006
- ^ http://www.tvjewelry.net/
- ^ http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/vh1_rock_docs/115835/episode_about.jhtml
- ^ Chalifoux, Johnny. Paul Wall. Format Magazine: June 24, 2007
- ^ Kennedy, Keith. A Date with Destiny. TJsDJs.com.
- ^ 49th Annual Grammy Awards Winners List - Field 7 (Rap)
