Obie Trice

Obie Trice

Obie Trice III (born November 14 1977) is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He began rapping at the age of 11, and had a number of underground hits such as "Respect", "My Club", "Dope Jobs Homeless", and "The Well Known Asshole" before he signed to Shady Records in 2000. Obie Trice credits himself for having no "rap name", but instead using his birth name/given name for performing, as also mentioned in one of his songs, "Rap Name".

Biography

Obie Trice was raised on Detroit's West Side by his mother, along with three brothers. He was given a karaoke machine by his mother when he was eleven and he used it to rhyme over instrumentals from artists such as N.W.A. By the age of fourteen, he was attending rap battle spots around Detroit, notably including the Hip Hop Shop, on which Obie commented ,

There was a place called the Hip-hop Shop. We'd go up there on Saturday afternoons for the battles. They were hosted by Proof, from D12. I got a response every time I went. That's when I said, 'OK, I wanna get into this music.' "Really, I didn't have a backup plan...

Obie Trice went by the name of Obie 1 during this time, but when he first met Proof, who was about to introduce him at the Hip Hop Shop, Proof asked him, "What's your name? Your real name, no gimmicks." He was then introduced as Obie Trice, and has kept his real name as his rap name. Obie Trice was introduced to Eminem through D12 member Bizarre. Eminem was impressed when Obie freestyled for him in a car park through a window, whilst Eminem was in a car. Later, Obie received a call from his manager informing him that he would be having dinner with Eminem, and later that night they went to a Kid Rock party.

Trice was officially signed in 2000. He first received public attention via a freestyle skit on the Devil's Night album, followed by the deliverance of the opening line "Obie Trice-real name, no gimmicks", off Eminem's The Eminem Show lead single, "Without Me", as well as the song "Drips". Later in 2002, Obie rapped on songs for the 8 Mile soundtrack, and also got a cameo appearance in the film as a rapper in a parking-lot.

Trice's debut album, Cheers, was released on September 23 2003 with its first single "Got Some Teeth" being well received on radio in a number of countries. He also released the singles "The Set Up" and "Don't Come Down". The album consists of 17 tracks with production from Eminem, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Mike Elizondo, Emile, Fredwreck and Mr. Porter. Artists featuring on Cheers include Busta Rhymes, Eminem, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg and D12. The album was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA.

In 2005, he began work on his second album, entitled Second Round's on Me. The album was finally released on August 15 2006. Following the release of Second Round's on Me, he released a mixtape called Bar Shots with G-Unit's DJ Whoo Kid.

In June 2008, Obie Trice departed from Shady Records. A misunderstanding was made where it was believed he was attacking the label and Eminem on a single titled "The Giant" but they were quickly dismissed.

Shooting

On December 31 2005, Trice was shot twice while driving on the Lodge Expressway by Wyoming Avenue in Detroit. One of the bullets entered his head. Trice was able to drive off the expressway, where his girlfriend waved down the police. He was taken to Providence Hospital and released later that day. Doctors are still contemplating whether or not to remove the bullet, as it may be too dangerous to operate.

Shortly after his label-mate Proof was shot to death in a Detroit nightclub, a song emerged on the mixtape circuit called "Ride Wit Me". The song was dedicated to Proof. Trice made a speech at Proof's funeral, addressing the problem of black-on-black violence:

I want to talk to the niggas in here that's coming up in the 'hood, coming up in the struggle. We're killing each other, nigga. And it's about nothing. Nothing. Nothing. We're all dying... over niggas.

In the single "Cry Now" from his second album, Trice addresses his shooting, as well as Eminem's rumored retirement, referenced with the following line, "Rock City is my voice / The white boy has stepped down / So I will accept the crown." Obie Trice has since given insight as to why he feels the shooting occurred, and has labeled it "haterism", as well as a bad mind state by saying, "it’s a lot of do-or-die type individuals. They want to get that plug and there’s really more to the game then they think it is [...] it’s competition on a real vicious level." As of July 2007, the bullet was still lodged in Obie's skull.

Leaving Shady Records

Obie Trice left Shady/Interscope on June 26th, 2008. This news was first put in to circulation by Hip-Hop blog Urban Lookout; a few days after they broke the news, a track leaked confirming the rumor.

Obie Trice is now signed to his own independent label named Worldwide Hustle.

Disputes

A short while before the first Invasion mixtape was released, he became involved in a dispute between Eminem and Benzino; the dispute began with the line "Obie Trice/You's a buster" in a Benzino diss-track directed at Eminem and Shady Records. In response, Trice released the track "Welcome to Detroit City" (a track over the beat from Cam'ron's song "Welcome to New York City") on the first Invasion mixtape. He also joined his label-mates in the highly publicized dispute between Ja Rule and 50 Cent, appearing on DMX's "Go to Sleep" and having a song "Shit Hits The Fan" with Dr. Dre and Eminem, but never received a direct response from Ja Rule.

Discography

Main article: Obie Trice discography

• 2003: Cheers
• 2006: Second Round's on Me
• 2008: Bottom's Up

External links

• Official Obie Trice website
• Official Shady Records website
• Official Obie Trice Blog
• Template:Myspace

Obie Trice interview about Second Round's on Me

• Obie Trice interview with SoundSlam.com
• Interview with XXLMag.com