Stat Quo
| Stat Quo | |
|---|---|
 Stanley "Stat Quo" Benton |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Stanley Benton |
| Born | July 24, 1978 |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, gangsta rap |
| Occupations | Rapper |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Aftermath Entertainment (as songwriter), Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope Records, EMI Music (former)Dream Big Ventures, DD172, BluRoc Records, Rolex Records (current) |
| Associated acts | BlackHood, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Game, Talib Kweli, Bobby Creekwater, Chamillionaire, Ski Beatz |
| Website | www.statquo.com |
Stanley Benton, better known as Stat Quo, is an American rapper.[1] Benton worked his way to college and attended University of Florida, where he majored in economics and international business in 2000.[1] Benton was contemplating law school, until veteran Southern rapper Scarface encouraged him to rap professionally. After 50 Cent, Stat Quo was the second artist signed to both Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment and became Dr. Dre and Eminem's newest protégé.[2] Stat Quo was supposed to release his debut album, Statlanta, with Shady/Aftermath but, despite being made three different times, the album was never released by the labels.[3] Statlanta was finally released on July 13, 2010 by Sha Money XL's label Dream Big Ventures.
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Biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
Stanley Benton was born in Thomasville Heights, a neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, at Grady Memorial Hospital. In his early life, he lived with his mother and grandmother. Benton started freestyle rapping at around the age of 12. Later, his mother bought him a radio, and he would record himself rapping. In 1997, Benton started taking rap seriously, but continued with his education.[4]
Career[edit]
2003-2007: Aftermath Entertainment[edit]
Stat Quo was discovered towards the end of 2003. Dr. Dre and Eminem individually came to know of the Atlanta-based rapper via his Underground Atlanta mixtapes. After Eminem heard his music, he gained interest and passed it on to Dr. Dre, and a joint deal was reached, resulting in Stat Quo becoming signed.[5]
His debut album Statlanta was originally slated to be released in 2003, but was repeatedly pushed back until finally being released in 2010 but it is not the original Statlanta recorded on Shady/Aftermath.[6][7] Stat Quo is also featured on Young Buck's Straight Outta Cashville, Eminem's compilation album Eminem Presents the Re-Up (on tracks "By My Side", Tryin' Ta Win", "Get Low", and on the bonus track "Billion Bucks"), and on the track "Spend Some Time" on Eminem's Encore. Stat has also appeared on tracks with artists such as Jermaine Dupri, The Alchemist, The Game, Disturbing tha Peace, and Chamillionaire. Stat Quo has said that his "number one goal is to bring a respect, and bring a voice to this whole southern movement around the world."[8]
In 2005, Stat Quo shot a video for his single "Like Dat". The song was made to be a buzz single, in order to help the artist become more exposed. The video was shot in Atlanta's Zone 3 near the Thomasville Heights projects where Stat Quo was raised and explained his reason for choosing the location in an interview, stating "It's the beginning of my career, so I wanted to start where I began life, […] Plus, [the city of Atlanta] is supposed to be tearing the projects down, so I wanted to showcase the area I grew up in and capture it before it was gone forever."[9]
He was featured on the summer 2005 Anger Management Tour, which also included Eminem, 50 Cent, G-Unit, Obie Trice, D12, and others.[10] On July 13, 2005, a tour bus carrying Eminem's entourage for the summer's Anger Management tour swerved off the road and turned over. Stat Quo was taken to Independence Regional Health Center in Independence, Missouri, where he was treated and released.[11]
2008-present: Statlanta[edit]
In October 2008, he left Shady Records / Aftermath Entertainment, unhappy with the release status of Statlanta. On April 21, 2009, Stat Quo independently released Smokin Mirrors, a street album, through EMI. Stat Quo hoped to release the album in 2009, and promoted the album by releasing multiple mixtapes for free download in 2009, including Quo City, Checks & Balance,[12] and The Invisible Man.[13] It ended up being released on July 13, 2010.[14] He has already started working on an untitled second album.
In 2009, with distribution from The Orchard, producer Sha Money XL founded a new record label, Dream Big Ventures. Quickly upon its creation, Stat Quo was signed to the label. Statlanta was released on the label.[15][16][17]
In March 2010, Stat Quo appeared in a HP commercial alongside Dr. Dre promoting HP Beats Audio Laptops. In 2011 Stat Quo was cited at Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment website as a songwriter on Aftermath Entertainment. In late 2012, Stat started a new record label with fellow rapper Game known as Rolex Records. Both artists will use the label to release new music and sign other artists.[18] He also executive produced and appeared on a skit on Jesus Piece, The Game's fifth studio album, and last under the label Interscope Records.
Discography[edit]
References[edit]
External links[edit]
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