Saukrates
Encyclopedia
Karl Amani Wailoo better known by his stage name
Saukrates (icon; "Socrates
"), is a Canadian
rapper
, singer, and record producer
of Guyanese
descent. He is the co-founder of Capitol Hill Music
, and lead singer of hip-hop
/R&B
group Big Black Lincoln. He is also a member of Redman's Gilla House collective.
at the 1996 Juno Awards
. He was also nominated for another Juno of the same award in 2000 for "Money or Love". In 2001, Saukrates produced the track "Uh-Huh" for Redman's Malpractice album, and appeared on a track called "Enjoy Da Ride". He also did a track called "Fine Line" for the soundtrack to Method Man
and Redman's How High
movie. In 2002, Saukrates teamed up with fellow Canadian producer Agile
from BrassMunk
to produce the track "Heaven", for Nas
' album God's Son
, which featured Jully Black
.
Canadian hip hop artists have had a hard time getting established south of the border, and Saukrates is no exception. In 1996, he was signed to Warner Bros. Records
. Unfortunately for Saukrates, Warner dropped him in 1998, which was one year before his debut album The Underground Tapes
was released on Capitol Hill. By the year 2000, Saukrates reached another big deal with Def Jam
and Gilla House Records (owned by Redman). Eventually, Saukrates was dropped by Def Jam because he was no longer considered a priority, however he remained with Gilla House. He appears on two tracks of Redman's latest album Red Gone Wild
, released in March 2007.
He completed a second album, Bad Addiction, in 2004, but has faced difficulty securing widespread release on a major label. In the meantime he has produced material for Big Black Lincoln and R&B singer Andreena Mill.
" with Nelly Furtado
at halftime show of the 94th Grey Cup
(the CFL
championship game). Two days later, Saukrates beat-boxed
during her performance of "Say It Right
" at the 2006 American Music Awards in Los Angeles
. On February 23, 2007, he appeared on the daytime drama One Life to Live
with Furtado, performing "Promiscuous".
Saukrates also toured with Furtado on her Get Loose Tour
, as a percussionist, backing vocalist and supporting act.
on the single "A-Yo
", from their album Blackout! 2
.
Saukrates collaborated with k-os
and Nelly Furtado
on the single "I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman", from k-os' album Yes!
. Originally, the track was a collaboration between Saukrates and Nelly Furtado entitled "On The Run".
In 2011, Saukrates will release his much delayed second studio album, Season One. The first single, "Drop It Down" featuring Redman, was released on iTunes July 26. "Megaman" was released as the second single in October.
He makes a special song for a Nike
commercial with PK Subban that's named "Say I".
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Saukrates (icon; "Socrates
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
"), is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, singer, and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
of Guyanese
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
descent. He is the co-founder of Capitol Hill Music
Capitol Hill Music
Capitol Hill Music is a Canadian independent record label, specializing in hip-hop and R&B music.The Toronto-based label was founded in the late 1990s by rapper Saukrates, and his manager Chase Parsons. In 1997, the label released Kardinal Offishall's debut album, Eye & I. Two years later, the...
, and lead singer of hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
/R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
group Big Black Lincoln. He is also a member of Redman's Gilla House collective.
Career
In 1994, his first track was titled "Still Caught Up", which earned a nomination for Best Rap RecordingJuno Award for Rap Recording of the Year
The Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year has been awarded since 1991, and is awarded for the best rap album in Canada. It was awarded under the title Best Rap Recording from 1993 to 2002....
at the 1996 Juno Awards
Juno Awards of 1996
The Juno Awards of 1996, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 10 March 1996 in Hamilton, Ontario at a ceremony in the Copps Coliseum...
. He was also nominated for another Juno of the same award in 2000 for "Money or Love". In 2001, Saukrates produced the track "Uh-Huh" for Redman's Malpractice album, and appeared on a track called "Enjoy Da Ride". He also did a track called "Fine Line" for the soundtrack to Method Man
Method Man
Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
and Redman's How High
How High Soundtrack
How High is a soundtrack album for the film How High, starring hip-hop stars Method Man & Redman. The track "Part II" was released as a single with a music video...
movie. In 2002, Saukrates teamed up with fellow Canadian producer Agile
Agile (producer)
Ajene Griffith, better known as Agile, is a Canadian hip-hop producer and DJ from Toronto, Ontario. He is a member of the hip-hop groups BrassMunk and Big Black Lincoln.-Biography:...
from BrassMunk
BrassMunk
BrassMunk is a Canadian hip hop group from Scarborough, Ontario, located in east Toronto. Formed in 1997, the group consists of emcees S-Roc, Clip, Reign , and DJ/producer Agile...
to produce the track "Heaven", for Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
' album God's Son
God's Son
God's Son is the sixth studio album by American rapper Nas, released December 13, 2002 on Columbia-imprint Ill Will Records. Production for the album took place during 2001 to 2002 and was handled by several hip hop producers, including Salaam Remi, Chucky Thompson, Ron Browz, and The Alchemist...
, which featured Jully Black
Jully Black
Jully Black |Julie]]"; born Jullyann Inderia Gordon; November 8, 1977) is a Canadian R&B singer–songwriter. She has collaborated and written for many artists, including Nas, Missy Elliott, Saukrates, Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Destiny's Child, and Sean Paul.-Life & career:Black was born Jullyann...
.
Canadian hip hop artists have had a hard time getting established south of the border, and Saukrates is no exception. In 1996, he was signed to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. Unfortunately for Saukrates, Warner dropped him in 1998, which was one year before his debut album The Underground Tapes
The Underground Tapes
The Underground Tapes is the debut studio album of Canadian rapper Saukrates, released June 22, 1999 in the United States. It was released independently on Serious Entertainment and Capitol Hill Music. In late summer 1999, the album was re-released in Canada with six additional tracks. Three songs...
was released on Capitol Hill. By the year 2000, Saukrates reached another big deal with Def Jam
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
and Gilla House Records (owned by Redman). Eventually, Saukrates was dropped by Def Jam because he was no longer considered a priority, however he remained with Gilla House. He appears on two tracks of Redman's latest album Red Gone Wild
Red Gone Wild
Red Gone Wild: Thee Album is the sixth studio album by rapper Redman. It was released on March 27, 2007 via Def Jam Recordings.-Background:...
, released in March 2007.
He completed a second album, Bad Addiction, in 2004, but has faced difficulty securing widespread release on a major label. In the meantime he has produced material for Big Black Lincoln and R&B singer Andreena Mill.
Work with Nelly Furtado
On November 19, 2006, he performed "PromiscuousPromiscuous (song)
"Promiscuous" is a dance-pop/R&B song by Canadian recording artist Nelly Furtado, from the album, Loose . It was written by Furtado, Timothy "Attitude" Clayton, Timbaland and Nate "Danja" Hills, with the latter pair handling production of the song...
" with Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
at halftime show of the 94th Grey Cup
94th Grey Cup
The 94th Grey Cup game took place on November 19, 2006, at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba before 44,786 fans. Ticket prices ranged from $141 and $275.The game decided the championship of the 2006 Canadian Football League season...
(the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
championship game). Two days later, Saukrates beat-boxed
Beatboxing
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
during her performance of "Say It Right
Say It Right
"Say It Right" is a song recorded by Canadian recording artist Nelly Furtado, from her third studio album, Loose . Written by Furtado, Tim "Timbaland" Mosley and Nate "Danja" Hills, the song was inspired by, as Furtado described it, the "spooky, keyboard-driven pop sound" of the band Eurythmics,...
" at the 2006 American Music Awards in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. On February 23, 2007, he appeared on the daytime drama One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
with Furtado, performing "Promiscuous".
Saukrates also toured with Furtado on her Get Loose Tour
Get Loose Tour
The Get Loose Tour was Canadian pop singer Nelly Furtado's 2007-2008 concert tour, in support of her 2006 album Loose. Although the tour was her third overall, it was the first time her shows included production on a grand scale...
, as a percussionist, backing vocalist and supporting act.
2009–present: Season One
In 2009, Saukrates collaborated with Method Man & RedmanMethod Man & Redman
Method Man & Redman, also referred to as Red & Meth, Meth & Red, Doc & Meth or Mr. Mef and Funk Doc, are an American hip hop duo, consisting of rap superstars Method Man and Redman ....
on the single "A-Yo
A-Yo
"A-Yo" is the first single by hip hop artists Method Man & Redman from album Blackout! 2. It features rapper Saukrates. The track was leaked on March 5, 2009. A video for the song was released on April 9, 2009. The song contains a sample of "Magic Mona" by Phyllis Hyman.-Charts:...
", from their album Blackout! 2
Blackout! 2
Blackout! 2 is the second studio album by rap duo Method Man & Redman. It was their first album in ten years. The album was released on May 19, 2009 under Def Jam. It debuted at #7 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and at #64 on the French Album Charts...
.
Saukrates collaborated with k-os
K-os
Kevin Brereton , better known by his stage name k-os , is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer...
and Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
on the single "I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman", from k-os' album Yes!
Yes! (k-os album)
Yes! is the fourth album of alternative hip hop artist k-os, released on April 14, 2009 in Canada by Universal Music Canada. The first single, "4 3 2 1", was released to radio in December 2008 and peaked at #98 on the Canadian Hot 100, also the video premiered on February 17, 2009. "Burning...
. Originally, the track was a collaboration between Saukrates and Nelly Furtado entitled "On The Run".
In 2011, Saukrates will release his much delayed second studio album, Season One. The first single, "Drop It Down" featuring Redman, was released on iTunes July 26. "Megaman" was released as the second single in October.
He makes a special song for a Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
commercial with PK Subban that's named "Say I".
See also
- Canadian hip hopCanadian hip hopThe Canadian hip hop scene was first established in the 1980s. Through a variety of factors, it developed much more slowly than Canada's popular rock music scene, and apart from a short-lived burst of mainstream popularity from 1989 to 1991, it remained largely an underground phenomenon until the...
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
External links
- Saukrates at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Saukrates at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...