Shawty Lo
Encyclopedia
Carlos Walker better known by his stage name Shawty Lo, is an American rapper, founder of D4L Records, and member of hip hop group D4L
. His first solo album, Units in the City
, was released on February 26, 2008. On June 8, 2011 he signed his label D4L Records to 50 Cent
's, G-Unit Records
.
, Atlanta. When he was a teenager, he sold drugs and mugged people. By the age of 17, Carlos had fathered his first child, and his grandmother died. He now has a total of ten children: eight daughters and two sons.
, with other rappers Fabo
, Stuntman
and Mook B. His associates are each from different Bankhead
housing projects; Bankhead Courts
, Hollywood Courts and Perry Homes respectively. The group's debut single "Betcha Can't Do It Like Me
" became a local hit in 2004. Lo was convicted of assault and selling cocaine
and served a year in prison until July 27, 2005. In January 2006, D4L's single "Laffy Taffy
" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
was released. The album peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200
and at #2 on the Top Rap Albums chart, selling over 160,000 copies to date. The debut single from the album, Dey Know
, charted at #3 on the Hot Rap Tracks
chart. The other two single releases from the album were Dunn Dunn
and Foolish
.
The album features famous guest appearances from major label artists. All featured artists, such as Gucci Mane
, hail from the Atlanta area. Aside from the album-singles, several other tracks have received heavy underground play, most notably 'Got Em 4 The LO' and 'Lets Get It'. One of the most notable lyrics include Shawty Lo musing "Einee menee, mineee, L-O." Got Em 4 The Lo, featuring Gucci Mane
and Stuntman
is the only non-single track to have had a music video
made for it.
The songs Dey Know
and Foolish
have both been officially remixed including many famous guest appearances. These include Ludacris
, Young Jeezy
, Plies
, Lil' Wayne, DJ Khaled
, Birdman, Rick Ross
and Jim Jones
. The Foolish video also included cameo appearances from Pitbull
, Jadakiss
and Ace Hood
.
, T-Pain
, Lil Kim, Bun B
, Nate Butler
, Lyfe Jennings
, T.I.
, Lil Wayne
, and Gucci Mane
. Shawty Lo confirmed that Atlanta, GA, which features Gucci Mane
, Ludacris
and The-Dream
, will be the first single released from the album. The album is also notable for Roll the Dice, a song which marks the end of the beef between himself and rapper T.I.
after it was reported they were in talks. Shawty Lo said, "My new situation with G-Unit was just solidified and I got off the phone with 50 yesterday, I just signed a really large deal,” when talking to allhiphop.com. As well as, “Its like a new beginning and all I needed was someone behind me. 50 Cent
is a marketing genius and I got my new thing D4L and G-Unit
and we going to be working the south and the rest of the world if need be". It was later clarified by Shawty Lo that he had not signed as an artist but instead he had signed his label.
The feud was characterized by Shawty Lo's track "Dunn Dunn
", and T.I.'s reply "What Up, What's Haapnin". The song "Dunn Dunn" appears to question T.I.'s roots in Bankhead. The music video for "What Up, What's Haapnin" was shot in Bowen Homes. In an interview, T.I. insisted that his song "No Matter What
" was only partially aimed at Shawty Lo.
The feud reached its climax at the November 2008 Dirty Awards where the entourages of both artists clashed during the ceremony, forcing it to be shut down. Two incidents forced police to use pepper-spray and evacuate the audience.
The feud was publicly squashed on March 7, 2009, when Shawty Lo and T.I. appeared on-stage together at Club Crucial in Bankhead
, for T.I.'s farewell concert. After this performance, T.I. gave an interview to MTV
, in which he stated that the feud with Shawty Lo was exaggerated by the media, and was not a 'beef'. Shawty Lo also made a song Roll the Dice, a song which marks the end of the beef between himself and T.I.
D4L
D4L is an American rap group. They were composed of Fabo, Mook-B, Stoney and Shawty Lo. They are best known for their hit song "Laffy Taffy," which reached number-one in the U.S. in 2006.-Biography:...
. His first solo album, Units in the City
Units in the City
Units in the City is the debut album by rapper Shawty Lo. It was released on February 26, 2008. The first single was "Dey Know". There is also a remix to "Dey Know"...
, was released on February 26, 2008. On June 8, 2011 he signed his label D4L Records to 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
's, G-Unit Records
G-Unit Records
G-Unit Records is an American record label, specializing in hip hop music, founded in 2003 by rapper 50 Cent and his manager Sha Money XL. Upon its inception, it operated as a subsidiary of, and was distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records...
.
Early life
Walker was raised in the Bowen Homes housing project, located in BankheadBankhead (Atlanta)
Bankhead is an Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood located west of downtown Atlanta. It's surrounded by Grove Park to the west, Washington Park and Hunter Hills to the South, Midtown West to the East and Northeast . It is also flanked by Rockdale to the Northwest. At its center is MARTA's Bankhead...
, Atlanta. When he was a teenager, he sold drugs and mugged people. By the age of 17, Carlos had fathered his first child, and his grandmother died. He now has a total of ten children: eight daughters and two sons.
Career with D4L
After a decade of unlawful activities, Walker decided to turn his attention to music and began performing as Shawty Lo. In 2003, Shawty Lo founded D4L RecordsD4L
D4L is an American rap group. They were composed of Fabo, Mook-B, Stoney and Shawty Lo. They are best known for their hit song "Laffy Taffy," which reached number-one in the U.S. in 2006.-Biography:...
, with other rappers Fabo
Fabo
Lefabian Williams better known by his stage name Fabo is an American rapper, producer and the frontman of the snap music group D4L...
, Stuntman
Stuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
and Mook B. His associates are each from different Bankhead
Bankhead (Atlanta)
Bankhead is an Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood located west of downtown Atlanta. It's surrounded by Grove Park to the west, Washington Park and Hunter Hills to the South, Midtown West to the East and Northeast . It is also flanked by Rockdale to the Northwest. At its center is MARTA's Bankhead...
housing projects; Bankhead Courts
Bankhead Courts
Bankhead Courts was a government housing complex located in northwest Atlanta, Ga. Bankhead courts was the location of the famous Atlanta child murders of the 1970s. In 2010, Bankhead Courts was demolished....
, Hollywood Courts and Perry Homes respectively. The group's debut single "Betcha Can't Do It Like Me
Betcha Can't Do It Like Me
"Betcha Can't Do It Like Me" is a song by Atlanta-based hip-hop group D4L from their debut album Down for Life. It is their second and last single before disbanding in 2006. It was produced by Teriyakie Smith.-Chart positions:...
" became a local hit in 2004. Lo was convicted of assault and selling cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and served a year in prison until July 27, 2005. In January 2006, D4L's single "Laffy Taffy
Laffy Taffy (song)
"Laffy Taffy" is a song by Atlanta-based hip-hop group D4L which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2006. The song's success on the charts was largely due to its enormous online sales. Produced by Cory Way p/k/a "Born Immaculate, Broderick Thompson Smith and Richard Sims p/k/a...
" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2008: Units in the City
On February 26, 2008, Shawty Lo's debut album Units in the CityUnits in the City
Units in the City is the debut album by rapper Shawty Lo. It was released on February 26, 2008. The first single was "Dey Know". There is also a remix to "Dey Know"...
was released. The album peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and at #2 on the Top Rap Albums chart, selling over 160,000 copies to date. The debut single from the album, Dey Know
Dey Know
"Dey Know" is the first single from Shawty Lo's debut solo album, Units in the City. It samples "Mandrill's "Children of the Sun". -Remixes:...
, charted at #3 on the Hot Rap Tracks
Hot Rap Tracks
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
chart. The other two single releases from the album were Dunn Dunn
Dunn Dunn
"Dunn Dunn" produced by Sunny Beatz is the second single from Shawty Lo's debut solo album, Units in the City.Part of Shawty Lo's third single, "Foolish," is played at the end. However, at the end of the video "to be continued" is seen on the screen....
and Foolish
Foolish (Shawty Lo song)
"Foolish" is the third single from Shawty Lo's debut album Units in the City. The song was officially released and added on iTunes on June 17, 2008.-Music video:...
.
The album features famous guest appearances from major label artists. All featured artists, such as Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane
Radric Davis , better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. He debuted in 2005 with Trap House and followed with albums such as Hard to Kill in 2006, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House in 2007. In 2009, his second studio album The State vs. Radric Davis was released...
, hail from the Atlanta area. Aside from the album-singles, several other tracks have received heavy underground play, most notably 'Got Em 4 The LO' and 'Lets Get It'. One of the most notable lyrics include Shawty Lo musing "Einee menee, mineee, L-O." Got Em 4 The Lo, featuring Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane
Radric Davis , better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. He debuted in 2005 with Trap House and followed with albums such as Hard to Kill in 2006, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House in 2007. In 2009, his second studio album The State vs. Radric Davis was released...
and Stuntman
Stuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
is the only non-single track to have had a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
made for it.
The songs Dey Know
Dey Know
"Dey Know" is the first single from Shawty Lo's debut solo album, Units in the City. It samples "Mandrill's "Children of the Sun". -Remixes:...
and Foolish
Foolish (Shawty Lo song)
"Foolish" is the third single from Shawty Lo's debut album Units in the City. The song was officially released and added on iTunes on June 17, 2008.-Music video:...
have both been officially remixed including many famous guest appearances. These include Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
, Young Jeezy
Young Jeezy
Jay Wayne Jenkins , better known by his stage name Young Jeezy, is an American rapper. He is the member of the hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America and a former member of BMF...
, Plies
Plies (rapper)
Algernod Lanier Washington , better known by his stage name Plies, is an American rapper and founder of Big Gates Records. Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Washington was a wide receiver on the football team of Miami University in Ohio in 1996 and 1997 before he became a rapper. After dropping out of...
, Lil' Wayne, DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled
Khaled bin Abdul Khaled , better known by his stage name DJ Khaled, is an American record producer, radio personality, DJ, and record label executive. He is a radio host for the Miami-based urban music radio station WEDR and the DJ for the hip hop group Terror Squad. In 2006, Khaled released his...
, Birdman, Rick Ross
Rick Ross (rapper)
William Leonard Roberts II , better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. He derived his stage name from the drug trafficker "Freeway" Ricky Ross, to whom he has no connection...
and Jim Jones
Jim Jones (rapper)
Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records...
. The Foolish video also included cameo appearances from Pitbull
Pitbull (rapper)
Armando Christian Pérez , better known by his stage name Pitbull, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer. His first recorded performance was from the Lil Jon album Kings of Crunk in 2002, after which he released his debut album in 2004 titled M.I.A.M.I. under TVT Records...
, Jadakiss
Jadakiss
Jason Phillips , better known as Jadakiss, is an American rapper. He is a member of the group The LOX. Jadakiss is one of the three owners of the imprint known as D-Block. In early 2007, Jadakiss signed to Roc-a-Fella Records / Def Jam Records.-Early life:By the age of 16, Jadakiss was a freestyle...
and Ace Hood
Ace Hood
Antoine McColister, better known by his stage name Ace Hood, is an American rapper. He is signed to DJ Khaled's label We the Best Music Group and Def Jam Recordings...
.
2010–present: Bankhead Born & Raised: Carlos
Shawty Lo's second solo album, Bankhead Born & Raised: Carlos is set to be released soon. Artists to be featured include Rick RossRick Ross (rapper)
William Leonard Roberts II , better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. He derived his stage name from the drug trafficker "Freeway" Ricky Ross, to whom he has no connection...
, T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
, Lil Kim, Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
, Nate Butler
Nate Butler
Nate Butler is an established songwriter, music producer, vocal producer and recording artist based in Atlanta, Georgia.He has been a part of 45 million records sold worldwide...
, Lyfe Jennings
Lyfe Jennings
Lyfe Jennings is a platinum-selling American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. He plays the guitar, bass, and piano which he integrates into his music...
, T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, and Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane
Radric Davis , better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. He debuted in 2005 with Trap House and followed with albums such as Hard to Kill in 2006, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House in 2007. In 2009, his second studio album The State vs. Radric Davis was released...
. Shawty Lo confirmed that Atlanta, GA, which features Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane
Radric Davis , better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. He debuted in 2005 with Trap House and followed with albums such as Hard to Kill in 2006, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House in 2007. In 2009, his second studio album The State vs. Radric Davis was released...
, Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
and The-Dream
The-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
, will be the first single released from the album. The album is also notable for Roll the Dice, a song which marks the end of the beef between himself and rapper T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
Signing To G-Unit Records
On June 10, 2011, it was confirmed by both Shawty Lo and Allhiphop.com that he has signed a large deal with G-Unit RecordsG-Unit Records
G-Unit Records is an American record label, specializing in hip hop music, founded in 2003 by rapper 50 Cent and his manager Sha Money XL. Upon its inception, it operated as a subsidiary of, and was distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records...
after it was reported they were in talks. Shawty Lo said, "My new situation with G-Unit was just solidified and I got off the phone with 50 yesterday, I just signed a really large deal,” when talking to allhiphop.com. As well as, “Its like a new beginning and all I needed was someone behind me. 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
is a marketing genius and I got my new thing D4L and G-Unit
G-Unit
G-Unit is an American hip hop group originating from New York City formed by 50 Cents. G-Unit emerged on the New York scene by independently releasing several mix tapes...
and we going to be working the south and the rest of the world if need be". It was later clarified by Shawty Lo that he had not signed as an artist but instead he had signed his label.
T.I.
In 2008, Shawty Lo was involved in a highly publicized feud with another Atlanta rapper, T.I.T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
The feud was characterized by Shawty Lo's track "Dunn Dunn
Dunn Dunn
"Dunn Dunn" produced by Sunny Beatz is the second single from Shawty Lo's debut solo album, Units in the City.Part of Shawty Lo's third single, "Foolish," is played at the end. However, at the end of the video "to be continued" is seen on the screen....
", and T.I.'s reply "What Up, What's Haapnin". The song "Dunn Dunn" appears to question T.I.'s roots in Bankhead. The music video for "What Up, What's Haapnin" was shot in Bowen Homes. In an interview, T.I. insisted that his song "No Matter What
No Matter What (T.I. song)
"No Matter What" is a song by rapper T.I. off his album Paper Trail. It was released as a promotional track for the album on April 29, 2008, with its eventual release onto the iTunes store on May 6. The song was nominated at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video...
" was only partially aimed at Shawty Lo.
The feud reached its climax at the November 2008 Dirty Awards where the entourages of both artists clashed during the ceremony, forcing it to be shut down. Two incidents forced police to use pepper-spray and evacuate the audience.
The feud was publicly squashed on March 7, 2009, when Shawty Lo and T.I. appeared on-stage together at Club Crucial in Bankhead
Bankhead (Atlanta)
Bankhead is an Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood located west of downtown Atlanta. It's surrounded by Grove Park to the west, Washington Park and Hunter Hills to the South, Midtown West to the East and Northeast . It is also flanked by Rockdale to the Northwest. At its center is MARTA's Bankhead...
, for T.I.'s farewell concert. After this performance, T.I. gave an interview to MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, in which he stated that the feud with Shawty Lo was exaggerated by the media, and was not a 'beef'. Shawty Lo also made a song Roll the Dice, a song which marks the end of the beef between himself and T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
Discography
- Units in the CityUnits in the CityUnits in the City is the debut album by rapper Shawty Lo. It was released on February 26, 2008. The first single was "Dey Know". There is also a remix to "Dey Know"...
(2008) - Still Got Units (2011)
Awards
- BET Hip Hop Awards
- 2008, Rookie of the Year [Won]
- 2008, Track of the Year, "Dey KnowDey Know"Dey Know" is the first single from Shawty Lo's debut solo album, Units in the City. It samples "Mandrill's "Children of the Sun". -Remixes:...
" [Won]
- Ozone Awards
- 2008, Best Rap Album, Units in the CityUnits in the CityUnits in the City is the debut album by rapper Shawty Lo. It was released on February 26, 2008. The first single was "Dey Know". There is also a remix to "Dey Know"...
[Nominated] - 2008, Breakthrough Artist [Won]
- 2008, Club banger of the Year, "Dey KnowDey Know"Dey Know" is the first single from Shawty Lo's debut solo album, Units in the City. It samples "Mandrill's "Children of the Sun". -Remixes:...
" [Nominated] - 2008, Best Mixtape/Street Album, "I'm Da Man 2" with DJ Scream [Nominated]
- 2008, Best Rap Album, Units in the City