Paul Wall

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Infobox musical artist Paul Michael Slayton (born March 11, 1981),<ref name="allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is an American rapper and DJ. He was an early signee of the Houston-based record label Swishahouse in the late 1990s, through which he met labelmate Chamillionaire and released several albums, including the collaborative Get Ya Mind Correct (2002). By 2005, he signed with Atlantic Records to release his second album and major label debut, The Peoples Champ (2005), which debuted atop the Billboard 200. His third album, Get Money, Stay True (2007), peaked within the chart's top ten.<ref name="atlantic">Template:Cite web</ref> His guest appearance on Nelly's 2005 single, "Grillz", yielded his furthest commercial success, as it peaked the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Rap Performance as a Duo or Group at the 2007 Grammy Awards.

Career

Swishahouse (1998–2005)

Wall attended Jersey Village High School and studied mass communications at the University of Houston for three years.<ref name="Chron">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="AskMen">Template:Cite web</ref> Wall's first music exposure came as a street team member on the Northwest side of Houston, promoting southern labels like Cash Money and No Limit Records.

After proposing to do promotions for Michael "5000" Watts' company Swishahouse, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to 97.9 The Box (KBXX), Watts' radio station.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Paul and Chamillionaire convinced Watts to let them rap on his radio show and put the verses on one of his mixtapes. That mixtape was titled Choppin Em Up Part 2, which was released in mid-1999. The freestyle became so popular locally 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.

After fellow member Slim Thug left the label, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall followed suit and the two started their own group known as The Color Changin' Click (named after Chamillionaire's chameleon persona). Each successive mixtape released by The Color Changin' Click led to more business opportunities; the most notable of which was a contract to do a full album for Paid in Full Records. A one-album contract was 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 200,000 copies.Template:Cn

On November 19, 2004, Wall and his entourage allegedly attacked Chamillionaire's younger brother, Rasaq Seriki, at a nightclub. Chamillionaire expressed his disappointment in Paul Wall, arguing that they all used to be family and that these events should not have happened. Before the entire incident between Paul Wall and Rasaq they were all part of the group called "The Color Changin' Click" which now has become fragmented. Chamillionaire released a diss track with Rasaq titled "Go Head".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The dispute with Chamillionaire ended by 2010, when the pair reunited for a full tour.

Wall is also an accomplished and proficient mixtape and party DJ, known for producing mixtapes in the now well-known chopped and screwed style, which was invented by DJ Screw.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2004, Wall returned to Swishahouse and appeared on Mike Jones' first commercially distributed single, "Still Tippin'".<ref name="Houston Hip-Hop">Template:Cite web</ref>

Solo success (2005–2007)

"Paul Wall, wearing grills, poses for a picture with a smiling soldier, also clad in grills."
Paul Wall shows off his grills with a smiling soldier in Baghdad, 2007

In 2005, Paul Wall released his first album, The Peoples Champ, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first single was "Sittin' Sidewayz" featuring Big Pokey, which peaked at no. 34 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart and no. 93 on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="R&B">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="allmusic" /><ref name="Hot 100">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The second single, "They Don't Know", featured Bun B of UGK, and the video version also featured Mike Jones. The third single, "Girl", became the most successful single off The Peoples Champ, peaking at no. 35 on the Hot 100.<ref name="Hot 100" />

In November 2005, Paul Wall was featured on Nelly's Grillz, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.Template:Cn

In 2007, Wall released his second album Get Money, Stay True, which debuted in the number one spot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album spawned the singles "Break 'Em Off" featuring Lil Keke, and "I'm Throwed" featuring and produced by Jermaine Dupri. "Break 'Em Off" peaked at no. 72 on the Hot 100 and no. 58 on the R&B charts, and "I'm Throwed" peaked at no. 87 on the Hot 100 and no. 47 on R&B.<ref name="Hot 100" /><ref name="R&B" />

Paul Wall was a member of the rap group Expensive Taste, with his friends Travis Barker and Skinhead Rob (Transplants).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2007, Paul Wall appeared alongside other celebrities in the music video for "Rockstar" by Nickelback. He appeared on reggae artist Collie Buddz's self-titled debut album.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Other projects and newer releases (Since 2008)

File:Paul Wall in Baghdad 3.jpg
Paul Wall performing in Baghdad, 2007

In the spring of 2008, Paul Wall joined Strange Music recording artist Tech N9ne on a nationwide tour, which featured rapper Ill Bill.

Paul Wall appears as fictional rapper Grillionaire in the movie I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, released on September 25, 2009. He, along with screenwriters Nils Parker and Tucker Max, co-wrote tracks for the movie.

In 2010, Paul Wall featured on the album Przyjaźń, Duma, Godność, (English: Friendship, Pride, Dignity) by Polish rap artist Kaczor. He also collaborated with Limp Bizkit on the song "Middle Finger", which appeared on the band's 2011 album Gold Cobra.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In October 2011, Paul Wall collaborated with Silicon Valley–based social and mobile game company Jump Shot Media to create the world's first mobile battle rap game, Battle Rap Stars. Paul is featured as the "main event" and is the rapper to beat in order to win the game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On March 7, 2012, Paul Wall released a mixtape entitled No Sleep Til Houston.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> Paul Wall released a collaboration mixtape with Slim Thug for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On December 10, 2013, Paul Wall released his seventh studio album, an 11-track offering, titled CheckSeason, which featured contributions from Stunna Bam, Killa Kyleon, Slim Thug, Lil Keke, Kid Ink and Young Dolph. The record was released independently via his Paul Wall Music imprint.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Paul Wall followed up Check Season on December 2, 2014, with the release of his eighth studio album, titled The Po-Up Poet which was produced by June "The Jenius" James. According to a Vibe magazine article in November 2014, "The almost circus-like production reestablishes the idea that as long as Wall's been in the game, he's been a beloved Texas rap legend".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On September 25, 2015, Paul Wall followed up The Po-Up Poet with his ninth studio album, titled SlabGod which contains the single "Swangin' In The Rain". On March 11, 2016, Wall released a remix of "Swangin' In The Rain" which features Slim Thug, Lil' Keke, J-Dawg, Z-Ro, and Chamillionaire. On October 21, 2016, he followed up SlabGod with his ninth album, titled Houston Oiler, released in October 2016. In February 2017, he released the mixtape Diamond Boyz with rapper C Stone. His tenth album Bounce Back Over Setbacks was released on January 19, 2018. His eleventh album, Mind Over Matter followed in March 2020. On June 5, 2020, Wall released a mixtape with Lil Keke, titled Slab Talk.

Acting career

During his break from rapping, Paul Wall appeared in Furnace with Ja Rule. He appeared in the 2009 film I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell along with Jesse Bradford and Matt Czuchry. He was in the 2010 science fiction film Xtinction: Predator X.<ref>Xtinction (2010), IMDB.com</ref> In 2014 he starred in Isaac Yowman's independently released theatrical film "The Holy Spoof" which sold out in all of its theater showings before its digital stream release online.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Musical style and image

AllMusic critic Andy Kellman described Wall's rapping style as having a "thick but swift Southern drawl" whose lyrics had "countless local slang terms (slabs, swangas, candy paint, tippin') that necessitate a glossary for many listeners."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Wall married his wife, Crystal, in 2005 and has two children.<ref name="Revolt 2020">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2010, he went on an extreme diet and had gastric sleeve surgery,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> resulting in an over 100 lb. weight loss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 2008 United States presidential election, Wall supported Democratic candidate Barack Obama.<ref name="DX 2014">Template:Cite web</ref> He is a devoted fan of the Houston Texans, Houston Rockets, and the Houston Astros.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

Template:Main Studio albums

Collaborative albums

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role
2006 Furnace Joey Robbins
2009 I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell Grillionaire
2010 Ghetto Stories Prison Inmate
Alligator X Froggy
2011 Cash or Crash
2014 The Holy Spot
2017 2 Aces and a Dirty Heart
2022 The Pull Up Tour Mo

Video games

Awards and nominations

Ozone Awards Template:Awards table |- |rowspan="3"|2006 |Paul Wall |Taste Maker (Style and Trendsetter) |Template:Won |- |"I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)" (Remix) |Best Rap/R&B Collaboration |Template:Won |- |"Holla at Me" |Best Rap Collaboration |Template:Won |}

Grammy Awards Template:Awards table |- ||2007 |"Grillz" |Best Rap Performance as a Duo or Group |Template:Nom |}

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Commons category 

 | name/{{#if:{{#invoke:ustring|match|1=2090972|2=^nm}}
   | Template:Trim/
   | nm2090972/
   }}
 | {{#if: {{#property:P345}}
   | name/Template:First word/
   | find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+%0A++++++%7C+%7B%7B%7Bname%7D%7D%7D%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm
   }}
 }}{{#if:  2090972 {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch: 
 | award | awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for
 }}}} {{#if: 
 | {{{name}}}
 | Template:PAGENAMEBASE
 }}] at IMDb{{#if: 2090972{{#property:P345}}
 | Template:EditAtWikidata
 | Template:Main other

}}{{#switch:{{#invoke:string2|matchAny|^nm.........|^nm.......|nm|.........|source=2090972|plain=false}} 

 | 1 | 3 =  Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning
 | 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning

}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb name with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | id | name | section }}

Template:Paul Wall

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Paul_Wall&oldid=589734"