Uncle Kracker
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Uncle Kracker |
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Matthew Shafer (born November 9 1974, Mount Clemens, Michigan) better known by his stage name Uncle Kracker, is an American rock, country, and rap-rock musician, most popularly known for his singles Follow Me and Drift Away. His career was more rap rock based at the start of his career, but then he began making a lot of country on his next two albums.
Biography
Early Years
Matt Shafer was raised in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In 1987, with his brother, he visited a nightclub in Clawson, Michigan and a turntables competition was occurring. His older brother was competing against Kid Rock and after the competition, they became friends. Then Shafer spent a lot of time with Kid Rock, and they became "best friends." In those times, he was mainly rapping. He is also known to have gone to the same high school as Eminem, and possibly Kid Rock[1]. In 1994, Kid Rock asked Shafer to play turntables for his band called Twisted Trucker Band. Shafer knew nothing of using turntables, because his brother was the one who used them, but he still agreed. He only performed at live shows at the time, until be began recording for Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp for which he was even featured on for vocals. He began working on a solo album after then, but he continued being part of Kid Rock's act. When the 11x Platinum album, Devil Without a Cause was released, Shafer decided that it was time to release his first solo album, Double Wide.
Double Wide
Double Wide was Uncle Kracker's first solo album. Released on June 30, 2001, it peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 on it's second week of release, and is so far Shafer's most successful and highest-selling album. The first single taken off the album was Follow Me, which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 09, 2001, and stayed at the top for three weeks. Shafer spent the next ten months on the Billboard 200, and Hot 100 with Double Wide and Follow Me respectably. His second single, Yeah Yeah Yeah never saw the Billboards. Double Wide was certified 2x Platinum on November 29, 2001. [2] After his success he began to work on his second solo album.
No Stranger to Shame
He released No Stranger to Shame.
Discography
Other Appearances
- Uncle Kracker appeared on the Osmosis Jones soundtrack with the song "Break U Off".
- Uncle Kracker also appeared on Kenny Chesneys hit "When The Sun Goes Down".
- The song "Yeah Yeah Yeah" appeared at the end of Shanghai Noon.
- Uncle Kracker also appeared on the Scooby Doo soundtrack with the song "Freaks Come Out at Night".
- Uncle Kracker also appeared on the Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit sountrack with "Keep it Comin"
References
- ^ "Uncle Kracker On Eminem/ICP Gun Incident". YAHOO!. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
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