Obie Trice
Obie Trice |
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Obie Trice III (born November 14, 1977) is an African 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 fames himself for having no "rap name", but using his given name for performing.
Biography
As an acquaintance of D12 member Bizarre, Obie was signed after a personal introduction to Eminem allowed him to impress the Detroit rap legend in-person. His original and still current manager is the infamous Samuel J Stewart. The general public was first introduced to Obie on D12's Devil's Night album on a skit. His one-line opener ("Obie Trice: real name, no gimmicks.") on Eminem's lead single, "Without Me", off the critically-acclaimed and commercially successful The Eminem Show increased public awareness of his name and slogan. Obie also appeared in the video for the song, body-slamming a dummy representing Moby. Appearances on DJ Green Lantern's official Shady Records Invasion mixtape series, allowed him to further his public recognition.
In 2002, Trice appeared in 8 Mile as one of the rappers in the Chin Tiki parking lot scene. Trice also has a featured appearance as Big Pimpin' in the Detroit made independent feature film Life Goes On, which premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival in May 2006.
A short while before the first Invasion mixtape was released, he became involved in the Eminem/Benzino beef after being called out by Benzino with the line "Obie Trice/You's a buster" in a diss-track directed at Eminem and Shady Records. In response to Benzino, Obie 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 publicised Ja Rule/50 Cent beef, appearing on DMX's "Go to Sleep" but never received a direct response from Ja Rule.
His 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 songs "Don't Come Down" and "The Set Up". The album consists of 17 tracks with production from Eminem, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Mike Elizondo, Emile, Fredwreck and Kon Artis. Artists featuring on Cheers include Busta Rhymes, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg and D12 among others. The album was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA.
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 police. He was taken to Providence Hospital and released later that day. Doctors are still contemplating whether or not to remove the bullet which entered his head, as it may be too dangerous to operate. That same year he had began work on his second album, entitled Second Round's on Me, which was expected later in that year. Never making the 2005 calendar mark however, the album was finally released on August 15, 2006.
Shortly after his cousin and 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, having nearly been fatally shot himself, made a speech at Proof's funeral, addressing the problem of black-on-black violence:
I want to talk to the black men in here that's coming up in the 'hood, coming up in the struggle. We're killing each other, dog. And it's about nothing. Nothing. Nothing. We're all dying... over nothing.
However, despite this passionate statement, his second album returns to machismo and themes of violent posturing. In the single "Cry Now" from his second album, Trice addresses his shooting and label-mate Eminem's retirement: "Rock City is my voice / The white boy has stepped down / So I will accept the crown." The third single off the album is "Jamaican Girl", a video for which was shot and released.
Following the release of Second Round's on Me, Obie Trice released a mixtape called Bar Shots with G-Unit's DJ Whoo Kid.
Appearances in popular media
Obie Trice and Akon recently appeared on the crime-drama CSI, in a party scene performing their single "Snitch". Another Obie Trice single "Wanna Know" was featured on the soundtrack to EA Sports Fight Night Round 3 and Discovery Network's Science Channel winter promos. "Wanna Know" was also featured in the first few seconds of HBO original series Entourage; the track can be heard in the first scene, last scene and closing credits of season 2 episode 7, "The Sundance Kids". HBO reused "Wanna Know" in two teasers for Entourage's third season. The song "Jamaican Girl" can be heard in episode 7 of season 3, "I Wanna Be Sedated", when Turtle and Drama arrive at Saigon's house. He was slated for an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother early in 2007 but this was not true.
Discography
Albums
| Album cover | Album information |
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Cheers
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Second Round's on Me
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Bottom's Up
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Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop | U.S. Rap | UK Singles | Aus. Singles | |||
| 2002 | "Rap Name" | - | - | - | - | - | 8 Mile OST |
| 2003 | "Got Some Teeth" / "Shit Hits the Fan" | #54 | #33 | #12 | #8 | #15 | Cheers |
| 2004 | "The Set Up" (featuring Nate Dogg) | #73 | #39 | #19 | #32 | #52 | Cheers |
| 2004 | "Don't Come Down" | - | - | - | - | - | Cheers |
| 2006 | "Snitch" (featuring Akon) | - | - | - | #44 | #39 | Second Round's on Me |
| 2006 | "Cry Now" | - | - | - | - | - | Second Round's on Me |
| 2006 | "Jamaican Girl" (featuring Brick & Lace) | - | - | - | - | - | Second Round's on Me |
| 2007 | "Get Off The Porch" (featuring 50 Cent and Eminem) | - | - | - | - | - | The Simpsons Movie: Music From The Motion Picture |
Guest appearances
- "Doe Ray Me" D12 and Obie Trice
- "Love Me" Eminem, 50 Cent and Obie Trice
- "Drips" Eminem and Obie Trice
- "Spend Some Time" Eminem, 50 Cent, Stat Quo and Obie Trice
- "Adrenaline Rush" Obie Trice
- "Fok de Macht" The Opposites and Obie Trice
- "Loyalty" D12 and Obie Trice
- "Doctor Doctor" Bizarre and Obie Trice
- "72nd & Central" Proof, J-Hill and Obie Trice
- "Stay Bout It" Obie Trice and Stat Quo
- "Growing Up in the Hood" The Game and Obie Trice
- "Hennessey" 2Pac and Obie Trice
- "Drama Setter" Tony Yayo, Eminem, and Obie Trice
- "War" Trick Trick and Obie Trice
- "Hustler" 50 Cent and Obie Trice
- "Get That Money" 50 Cent, Obie Trice, and Lloyd Banks
- "Get That Money (remix)" 50 Cent, Obie Trice, Lloyd Banks, and Krondon
- "Situations" King Gordy and Obie Trice
- "Go To Sleep" Eminem, Obie Trice, and DMX
- "I'm Gone" Eminem, Obie Trice, and DJ KaySlay
- "Look At Me Now (remix)" Akon and Obie Trice
- "Fire" Ray Ray and Obie Trice
- "They Wanna Kill Me" Obie Trice and Morgan Eastwood
- "It Has Been Said" The Notorious B.I.G., Diddy, Eminem and Obie Trice
- "Gallery" Mario Vazquez ft. Obie Trice
- "Get Off The Porch" Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Eminem