C-Rayz Walz
C-Rayz Walz | |
---|---|
Birth name | Waleed Shabazz |
Born | The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. | August 3, 1975
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation | Rapper |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels |
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Waleed Shabazz (born August 3, 1975), better known by his stage name C-Rayz Walz, is an American rapper from the Bronx, New York.[1] He has been a member of the collective Stronghold.[2]
Early life
[edit]Waleed Shabazz was born and raised in the Bronx, New York.[3] His father was a drug kingpin.[4] When he was 2 years old, his father was murdered.[5]
He grew up listening to DJ Kool Herc, who is credited with originating hip hop music.[5] In this environment, he developed a love of music and began freestyling with his friends for fun.[5] In school, he had rap battles in the lunch room with his childhood friend Prodigy.[5]
Career
[edit]In 2003, C-Rayz Walz released a studio album, Ravipops (The Substance), on Definitive Jux.[6] In 2005, he released another studio album, Year of the Beast, on the label.[7] In 2007, he released a collaborative studio album with Sharkey, titled Monster Maker, on Babygrande Records.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Waleed Shabazz is currently incarcerated,[9] having accepted a plea bargain for assault and kidnapping on January 30, 2023. Shabazz will serve a 10 year sentence and is not permitted to contact the complaint.[10]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- The Prelude (1999)
- Detonator Records Volume 1 (2001) (with Akrobatik, Breez Evahflowin, and Chan)
- Off the Radar (2003)
- Limelight (The Outroduction) (2003)
- Ravipops (The Substance) (2003)
- Year of the Beast (2005)
- 1975: Return of the Beast (2006)
- The Best of the Beast (2006)
- The Dropping (2006)
- Monster Maker (2007) (with Sharkey)
- Chorus Rhyme (2007) (with Parallel Thought)
- Freestyle vs. Written (2008) (with Kosha Dillz)
- Almighty: Original S.I.N. (2008) (with Killah Priest, M-Eighty, Son One, Bronze Nazareth, and 5-Star, as Almighty)
- Who the F%@k Are You? (2009)
- Naptown: The Broken Comb (2010)
- All Blvck Everything: The Prelude (2011)
- Year of the Beatnikz (2011)
- The Code (2012)
- The Calendar (2012)
- St. Patrick Rayz: The Leper-Con (2013)
- Almighty: The Solar Facts (2013)
- Feel Me (2014) (with Sallam Said)
Compilation albums
[edit]- Singular Plurals (2002)
- Singular Plurals Vol. 2 (2005)
- Free Rayz Walz (2008)
- Beat the System (2010)
- Where the Walz Things Are (2010)
- I Am Numba Four (2011)
EPs
[edit]- We Live: The Black Samurai (2004)
Singles
[edit]- "Pots and Pans" (2001)
- "It's a Wrap" / "Peroxide" (2002)
- "The Essence" (2003)
- "Buck 80" / "Body You" (2003)
- "We Live" / "Protect My Family" (2004)
- "R'Thentic" / "Street Reppin'" (2005)
- "Dead Flowers" (2009)
- "Linsanity" (2012)
Guest appearances
[edit]- Aesop Rock - "Bent Life" from Labor Days (2001)
- Cannibal Ox - "Battle for Asgard" from The Cold Vein (2001)
- El-P - "Blood" from Fantastic Damage (2002)
- Dutchmassive - "The Hook" from Junk Planet (2004)
- Chase Phoenix - "Say Something" from Cut to the Chase (2004)
- Dub Sonata - "New York" from On the Arm (2007)
- Gumz - "Hip Hop Music" from From Fetus to Genius (2007)
- Socalled - "You Are Never Alone" from Ghettoblaster (2007)
- DJ I-Dee - "Explosion" from Solitude (2008)
- Sadat X - "Gamer" from Brand New Bein' (2009)
- Time - "Paraghnoid" from Naked Dinner (2009)
- MC Paul Barman - "The Moon" from Thought Balloon Mushroom Cloud (2009)
- Access Immortal - "I Love New York" from Birth of a Dream (2010)
- DJ Lord Ron - "Concrete Bars (Echo Park Beat Street N2 Da Future)" and "It'z Da R.C.P." from Environmental Shape Sounds of DJ Lord Ron (2010)
- Irealz - "Starz of the Godz" from The Code of Omerta (2011)
- Verse Essential - "Between the Lines" from Ingenious: Deluxe Edition (2011)
- Intention - "Blvck Pioneer" from American Psycho (2012)
- Bedlam Brethren - "Apocalypto" from Black Feather Messengers (2012)
- Falcon Burns & Melph - "The Cypher" from Back in Effect: The Word Effect Chapter II (2012)
- Apaulo Treed & Knightstalker - "Contraband" from The Last Line of Defence (2013)
- Junclassic - "My Style (Remix)" from Blvd Backdrop (2013)
- Cannibal Ox - "Street Reppin" and "That Moment Before Crazy" from Gotham (2013)
- Plot - "I Feel Dirty" from Towny Fresh (2014)
- Scholars Ent. - "When It Was Real" from Maintenance Vol. 1 (2015)
- Obi Khan - "The Circus" from Grhyme... Thee EP (2018)
- Kyo Itachi & Realio Sparkzwell - "Enemy of the State" from Akira (2018)
References
[edit]- ^ Thomas, Christopher. "C-Rayz Walz: Mind of a Lunatic". AllHipHop. Archived from the original on October 4, 2006. Retrieved December 25, 2006.
- ^ Jeffries, David. "C-Rayz Walz - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- ^ Murphy, Tom (September 16, 2014). "Eleven Famous Musicians Who Recently Moved to Colorado". Westword. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- ^ Jones, Todd E. (2003). "Revolving Around The Sun Cycle Emcee". MVRemix. Archived from the original on June 18, 2004. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Long, Kyle (October 5, 2011). "C-Rayz Walz: Bronx emcee lands in Indy". NUVO. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- ^ Pemberton, Rollie (October 8, 2003). "C-Rayz Walz: Ravipops (The Substance)". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 17, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (May 17, 2005). "C-Rayz Walz: Year of the Beast". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- ^ Sawdey, Evan (September 6, 2007). "C-Rayz Walz & Sharkey: Monster Maker". PopMatters. Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- ^ https://a073-ils-web.nyc.gov/inmatelookup/pages/home/home.jsf [bare URL]
- ^ https://nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov/ [bare URL]
External links
[edit]- Official website (archive)
- C-Rayz Walz discography at Discogs