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Canibus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Cannabis (drug) or Cannabis.
For his debut album, see Can-I-Bus.
Canibus
Canibus performing 2007
Canibus performing 2007
Background information
Birth nameGermaine Williams
Born (1974-12-09) December 9, 1974 (age 50)
Kingston, Jamaica
OriginThe Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • actor
DiscographyCanibus discography
Years active1996–present[1]
Labels
Member ofThe Hrsmn, Refugee Camp All-Stars

Germaine Williams (born December 9, 1974), better known by his stage name Canibus, is a Jamaican-American rapper. First having gained recognition for his freestyling abilities, he signed with Universal Records to release his debut studio album, Can-I-Bus (1998). He has since released 13 solo studio albums, and several collaborative projects with other rappers as a member of the Four Horsemen, Refugee Camp All-Stars, Sharpshooterz, Cloak N Dagga, the Undergods and one-half of T.H.E.M.

About.com placed him at number 32 on their list of the "Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)",[2] while in 2012 The Source placed him number 44 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.[3]

Early life

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Williams was born on December 9, 1974, in Kingston, Jamaica. He is of Jamaican descent.[4][5] His father, Basil Williams, was a Jamaican and West Indian cricketer.[6] The family moved frequently, living in The Bronx; Newark, New Jersey; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Miami; Buffalo; and London[7] due to his mother's career requiring constant relocation.[4] Canibus stated that he was an introverted child growing up.[8]

After completing high school in 1992, he spent a year working for AT&T Corporation and another year as a data analyst for the U.S. Department of Justice.[8] He studied computer science at DeKalb College in Atlanta.[7][9]

Career

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Debut album (1997–1998)

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Canibus' debut album Can-I-Bus was released on September 8, 1998. The song "Second Round K.O.", produced by Wyclef Jean, was a success, with the video featuring Wyclef and a cameo appearance by boxer Mike Tyson. This song formed part of Canibus' famous beef with LL Cool J.

The album contained a lot of socially-conscious material, such as corruption within the U.S. government, AIDS, and violence in modern America.[10]

Canibus had a feud with LL Cool J over a verse that Canibus gave on LL's track "4,3,2,1" from his album Phenomenon. The track featured Canibus, Method Man, Redman, and DMX. Canibus's verse began with the line "Yo LL, is that a mic on your arm? Let me borrow that," referring to the microphone tattoo on LL Cool J's arm which LL Cool J interpreted as Canibus insulting him. When the final cut of the song came out it featured LL Cool J's verse after Canibus's, mocking an unspecified person believed to be Canibus.[11][12]

For Whom the Beat Tolls (2007)

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Canibus performing in 2007

When the record was originally announced in March, there was only one confirmed track – the third installment in Canibus' "Poet Laureate" series, "Poet Laureate Infinity". The track has 1,000 bars, in the form of five 200 bar verses, and is layered in such a way that "when you mix it and spread it throughout five channels, [you have the ability] to mix the track differently every time".[13]

Melatonin Magik (2010)

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In December 2009, it was announced that Canibus was in the process of releasing his 9th studio album Melatonin Magik.[14]

C of Tranquility (2010)

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C of Tranquility was released on October 5, 2010. Producers include DJ Premier, Jake One, Scram Jones, Tha Bizness and J-Zone.[15]

Canibus vs Dizaster (2012)

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Canibus completed his first rap battle for King of the Dot on June 9, 2012. Canibus participated in the first two rounds before pulling out a notepad to read his bars during the third round, after admitting defeat and wishing to recite what he said were "30 pages of rhymes" that he had failed to memorize.[16][17][18][19][20][21] The battle was part of King of the Dot's Fresh Coast division in L.A.[19][22][23]

A fake open letter, attributed to Canibus appeared on Tumblr,[24][25][26] though it was later debunked by his manager.[27] Canibus later released an official statement on his Facebook page. About the battle itself, Canibus commented that "Sometimes people need laughter and entertainment at the expense of others embarrassment but hip hop means so much to me I don't care."[28][29]

Army service

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In 2002, Canibus signed up for the United States Army. In a 2005 interview, Canibus stated "I enlisted because I wanted to get away from the music... I wanted to do something that gave me a separate definition from what I had done all through my teens and twenties. I was 28 when I enlisted." In 2004, he was caught smoking cannabis and was subsequently discharged.[30]

Discography

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Main article: Canibus discography

Albums

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Solo

Collaborations

EPs

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  • Canibus & Keith Murray Are The Undergods (2009) (with Keith Murray, as The Undergods)
  • Historic EP (2014) (with Killah Priest, Kurupt & Ras Kass, as HRSMN)
  • Full Spectrum Dominance (2018)
  • Full Spectrum Dominance 2 (2018)
  • Matrix Theory I (2018) (with Marty McKay)
  • Full Spectrum Dominance 3 (2019)
  • Matrix Theory II (2019) (with Marty McKay)
  • Full Spectrum Dominance: Repolarization (2019)
  • Matrix Theory III (2019) (with Marty McKay)
  • Matrix Theory IV (2020) (with Marty McKay)
  • Matrix Theory V (2021) (with Marty McKay)
  • C (2022) (with Pete Rock)[31]

Filmography

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  • Eyes on Hip Hop (1995) – self
  • Bamboozled (2000) – Mo Blak
  • Beef II (2004) – self
  • The MC: Why We Do It (2005) – self

References

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  1. ^ "Lost Boyz, Tha Dogg Pound & Canibus Had Heads High On The Music (Video)". Ambrosia For Heads. September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  2. ^ "Top 50 MCs of Our Time: 1987–2007 – 50 Greatest Emcees of Our Time". Rap.about.com. September 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 23, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  3. ^ "The Source's Top 50 Lyricists Of All Time". thisis50.com. July 7, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  4. ^ a b allmusic ((( Canibus > Biography ))). Allmusic. Accessed February 22, 2008.
  5. ^ Parker, Lyndsey (August 7, 2000). Exclusive LAUNCH Artist Chat. Yahoo! Music. Accessed February 22, 2008. [dead link]
  6. ^ Canibus : Rap, Hip-Hop Interview Archived May 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Riot Sound. Accessed February 22, 2008.
  7. ^ a b Millner, Denene (September 18, 1998). The Canndy Canibus Rapper's No Dope, As Rep Goes From Bad To Verser With Release of his First Solo Album Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. The Daily News. Accessed February 22, 2008.
  8. ^ a b Johnson Jr, Billy (February 16, 1999). A World Wide Phenomenon[permanent dead link]. Yahoo! Music. Accessed February 22, 2008.
  9. ^ Strauss, Neil (May 10, 1998). POP/JAZZ; A Rising Rap Star Puts Content Ahead of Style. The New York Times. Accessed February 22, 2008.
  10. ^ "Canibus : Rap, Hip-Hop Interview". Riotsound.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  11. ^ "Canibus Clarifies Questionable Lyric in LL Cool J Diss Record, "2nd Round KO"". February 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "LL Cool J Takes Blame for Canibus Beef: "I Wasn't There Yet Mentally"". May 11, 2023.
  13. ^ Heinzelman, Bill (March 19, 2007). Canibus My Life Archived March 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. XXL magazine. Accessed March 24, 2008.
  14. ^ "Canibus Set To Return With New Album, Melatonin Magik". BallerStatus.com. January 5, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  15. ^ McDevitt, Michelle (August 25, 2008). "Canibus To Release "C Of Tranquility" LP On October 5th » Canibus, Tranquility, Billboard, Can-I-Bus, Lauryn, Blak". HipHopSite.Com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  16. ^ "Canibus Uses A Notepad During Rap Battle". Rapfix.mtv.com. June 12, 2012. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  17. ^ "CANNIBUS' Line Of Twitter Disses". Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  18. ^ "Cannibus' Line Of Twitter Disses From SAIGON, ALCHEMIST, FREDDIE GIBBS, & More". Musikreform.com. June 11, 2012. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  19. ^ a b Horowitz, Steven J. (June 10, 2012). "Canibus Forfeits In Pay-Per-View Rap Battle | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  20. ^ Starbury, Allen (June 11, 2012). "Canibus Forfeits In PPV Rap Battle, Pulls Out Notebook In Final Round". BallerStatus.com. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  21. ^ [1] Archived August 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Starbury, Allen (May 10, 2012). "Canibus To Headline Upcoming Los Angeles Rap Battle, 'Vendetta: Battle Royale'". BallerStatus.com. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  23. ^ Sydney Lace (May 10, 2012). "Hip-Hop Rumors: Canibus Is Coming to Pay-Per-View". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  24. ^ "Canibus Issues Apology After Notebook Freestyle". Rapfix.mtv.com. June 13, 2012. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  25. ^ Sydney Lace (June 13, 2012). "Hip-Hop Rumors: Canibus Apologizes For Rap Battle "Dizaster"". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  26. ^ "Ripper Apology : Canibus' Apology … from The Ripper". Ripperapology.tumblr.com. June 12, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  27. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (June 13, 2012). "Canibus' Manager Debunks His Tumblr Apology For Notepad Freestyle | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  28. ^ "Canibus Music". Facebook. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  29. ^ "Canibus Issues An Apology For Battle With Dizaster". Xclusives Zone. June 14, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  30. ^ "Canibus Biography". Rapartists.com. September 11, 2001. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  31. ^ "Canibus & Pete Rock – C". Apple Music. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
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