Izza Kizza
Encyclopedia
Izza Kizza is an American hip-hop musician
, rapper and MC, currently signed to Timbaland
's Mosley Music Group
label. He is known for creating mixes with an eclectic flow and versatile style, recalling some of hip-hop's most playful moments.
, Terry started performing at the age of twelve in a singing group that consisted of his older brother and his two godbrothers. Later, influenced by appearance of emerging acts such as Kris Kross
, he started his own career as a MC, adopting the stage name of Izza Kizza and gaining a significant local following. This brought him to the attention of the production duo Soul Diggaz
. Following their invite, he relocated to New Jersey
in order to further his music career. There he collaborated with renowned hip-hop artists such as Missy Elliott
(resulting in the song "Walk The Dawg", which samples singer Shirley Ellis
’ “The Clapping Song
”), and ultimately accepted the offer to sign for Timbaland
's record label, Mosley Music/Interscope Records
. He has since left Timbaland's MMG citing that Timbaland was too busy with his solo album, Shock Value II, and didn't want to wait for him to finish with his other obligations. They are still friends.
Izza's first mixtape
, "Kizzaland
", mixed by Nick Catchdubs, was made available as a free download in 2008 via his weblog, sporting mixes by Timbaland
, Soul Diggaz
and Koolade
. One of the songs from the mixtape, "Red Wine", was featured as the opening track of Paste Magazine's June 2008 New-Music Sampler CD. The song "Millionaire" was included in the soundtrack for the Madden NFL 09
video game, as well as his song "They're Everywhere" being included on the NBA 2K10
video game soundtrack.
"They're Everywhere" also appeared on the 5th season of the popular FOX dance competition So You Think You Can Dance
in a hip-hop routine danced by 4th place finisher Kayla Radomski and 7th place finisher Jason Glover, it was chorographed by Shane Sparks
.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, rapper and MC, currently signed to Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
's Mosley Music Group
Mosley Music Group
Mosley Music Group is a record label created by producer Tim "Timbaland" Mosley. It operates as an imprint of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records.-History:...
label. He is known for creating mixes with an eclectic flow and versatile style, recalling some of hip-hop's most playful moments.
Biography
Born and raised in Valdosta, GeorgiaValdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588...
, Terry started performing at the age of twelve in a singing group that consisted of his older brother and his two godbrothers. Later, influenced by appearance of emerging acts such as Kris Kross
Kris Kross
Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s comprising Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith. The duo are best known for their hit 1992 song "Jump", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and was certified double platinum as a single...
, he started his own career as a MC, adopting the stage name of Izza Kizza and gaining a significant local following. This brought him to the attention of the production duo Soul Diggaz
Soul Diggaz
Soul Diggaz are a R&B/hip-hop production duo composed of Karriem "K-Mack" Mack, Shaun "Bless" Owens and songwriter Corté "The Author" Ellis. Corté Ellis, who is currently putting the final touches on his debut album, is the younger cousin of Hip-Hop Superstar Missy Elliott. They have recently added...
. Following their invite, he relocated to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in order to further his music career. There he collaborated with renowned hip-hop artists such as Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
(resulting in the song "Walk The Dawg", which samples singer Shirley Ellis
Shirley Ellis
Shirley Ellis is an American soul music singer and songwriter of West Indian origin. She is best known for her novelty hits "The Nitty Gritty" , "The Name Game" and "The Clapping Song"...
’ “The Clapping Song
The Clapping Song
"The Clapping Song" is an American song, written by Lincoln Chase, originally arranged by Charles Callello and recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965. The song was released shortly after Ellis had released "The Name Game"...
”), and ultimately accepted the offer to sign for Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
's record label, Mosley Music/Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. He has since left Timbaland's MMG citing that Timbaland was too busy with his solo album, Shock Value II, and didn't want to wait for him to finish with his other obligations. They are still friends.
Izza's first mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
, "Kizzaland
Kizzaland
Kizzaland is the mixtape by Izza Kizza mixed by Nick Catchdubs. It was released as a free download on his weblog on July 2008. Kizzaland includes mixes by Timbaland, Soul Diggaz and Koolade. One of the songs from the mixtape, "Red Wine", was featured as the opening track of Paste Magazine's June...
", mixed by Nick Catchdubs, was made available as a free download in 2008 via his weblog, sporting mixes by Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, Soul Diggaz
Soul Diggaz
Soul Diggaz are a R&B/hip-hop production duo composed of Karriem "K-Mack" Mack, Shaun "Bless" Owens and songwriter Corté "The Author" Ellis. Corté Ellis, who is currently putting the final touches on his debut album, is the younger cousin of Hip-Hop Superstar Missy Elliott. They have recently added...
and Koolade
Koolade
Koolade is a Croatian hip-hop producer. Born in Zagreb, Jugoslavia in the late 1970s, he began his music career in the mid/late 1990s. Along with other members of the Blackout family he made a strong contribution in making hip-hop an established genre in the Croatian mainstream music scene...
. One of the songs from the mixtape, "Red Wine", was featured as the opening track of Paste Magazine's June 2008 New-Music Sampler CD. The song "Millionaire" was included in the soundtrack for the Madden NFL 09
Madden NFL 09
Madden NFL 09 is an American football video game based on the NFL that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 20th annual installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise. This game is known for its realistic graphics and big hits...
video game, as well as his song "They're Everywhere" being included on the NBA 2K10
NBA 2K10
NBA 2K10 is a basketball video game based on the National Basketball Association developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. It was released on October 6, 2009 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PSP and on October 12, 2009 on PC. It was released on Wii on November 9, 2009 in...
video game soundtrack.
"They're Everywhere" also appeared on the 5th season of the popular FOX dance competition So You Think You Can Dance
So You Think You Can Dance (season 5)
So You Think You Can Dance is a United States television reality program and dance competition airing on the Fox Broadcasting Company network. Season five premiered on May 21, 2009, with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy returning as permanent judges and Cat Deeley returning to host...
in a hip-hop routine danced by 4th place finisher Kayla Radomski and 7th place finisher Jason Glover, it was chorographed by Shane Sparks
Shane Sparks
Shane Sparks is an award-winning hip-hop choreographer best known for his work as a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance and judge on America's Best Dance Crew. He won an American Choreography Award for his work as co-choreographer on 2004 film You Got Served...
.
Albums
- 2008: KizzalandKizzalandKizzaland is the mixtape by Izza Kizza mixed by Nick Catchdubs. It was released as a free download on his weblog on July 2008. Kizzaland includes mixes by Timbaland, Soul Diggaz and Koolade. One of the songs from the mixtape, "Red Wine", was featured as the opening track of Paste Magazine's June...
(mixtape) - 2009: The Wizard of Iz (mixtape)
- 2010: 10:15 (mixtape)
Compilation appearances
- The New Deal, 2008 - presented by 10 Deep, mixed by DJ Benzi; contributed "Back To Miami" (prod. KooladeKooladeKoolade is a Croatian hip-hop producer. Born in Zagreb, Jugoslavia in the late 1970s, he began his music career in the mid/late 1990s. Along with other members of the Blackout family he made a strong contribution in making hip-hop an established genre in the Croatian mainstream music scene...
)
Featuring
- 2009: Worst Day presented by Calvin HarrisCalvin HarrisCalvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
on his album Ready For The Weekend - 2009: What Up Y'all presented by CrookersCrookersCrookers are an Italian DJ/production duo who have worked together since 2003. When the two artists met, both were trying to branch out of their genre and explore dance music. Their first collaboration worked...
on his album Tons of Friends