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U-God

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Lamont Jody Hawkins, better known as U-God, is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. He has been with the group since its inception, and has appeared on Clan albums as well as other members' solo albums.

Biography

Lamont Jody Hawkins was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York. However he moved to Staten Island as a youth. He was originally a beatboxer for fellow clan member Cappadonna, as well as being friends with future members Method Man, Inspectah Deck, and Raekwon. Sometime before the members united, U-God was mentored in rap by Cappadonna. He soon became friends with RZA and Ghostface, and he began rhyming under the alias Golden Arms, based on the Kung-Fu movie The Kid with The Golden Arms. Later on he changed his name to U-God.[1]

36 Chambers/Wu-Tang Forever

Being jailed for narcotics possession prevented him from featuring heavily on the group's debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), his input on the seminal LP consisting of only a short bridge on the group's debut single "Protect Ya Neck" and the opening verse of "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'". Nevertheless, after his release he quickly became known for his rugged flow and bass-like voice on Wu tracks such as "Winter Warz", "Knuckleheadz", "Investigative Reports", and "Black Jesus". He was featured heavily on the group's second album Wu-Tang Forever on which he was one of only three of the group to get a solo track - "Black Shampoo" (the others being Inspectah Deck with "The City", and Ol' Dirty Bastard with "Dog Shit"). Around this time his young son was accidentally shot and injured, an ordeal the rapper documented on the Wu-Tang Clan track A Better Tomorrow.

Golden Arms Redemption

U-God was the eighth member of the group to record a solo album, releasing Golden Arms Redemption in 1999 on Priority Records. The album displayed a wide variety of sounds from gritty blaxploitation funk to urgent string sections, and featured guest appearances from several Wu-Tang members and affiliates. It had two singles in "Dat's Gangsta" and "Bizarre".[2] The song "Rumble" was used as the main song for the video game Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style. Bizarre debuted #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, but soon after Priority Records was on the verge of shutting down. Still, the album managed to go Gold in sales. Based off the initial success, Uey was able to open his own label, Suppa Nigga Productions.

RZA Disagreement/Hillside Scramblers

However, U-God blamed Clan leader RZA for not doing enough for his album. RZA only produced 3 tracks. He also believed that RZA was favoring other artists such as GZA, Method Man, and Raekwon instead of him, Inspectah Deck, and Masta Killa who to this day have had to deal with having the least exposure of all the members.[3] Nevertheless in 2002 he released an EP titled "Super Nigga", which was a preview of his 2nd solo album. After another disagreement with RZA in 2004 over royalties, which included a heated phone conversation on live radio, U-God formed a Clan affiliate group called the Hillside Scramblers that featured his team of Inf Black, Desert Eagle, Letha Fase, Black Ice, Kawz, and King Just. Their debut album, U-GODZILLA presents the Hillside Scramblers, was released in 2004 on Synergy Music. Shortly before the album was released, U-God released a DVD entitled Rise Of A Fallen Soldier. In the DVD, U-God talked about what life was like growing up, how he became an MC, his problems with RZA, a behind the scenes outlook on the Clan, and his opinions on the current situation of the rap game. The DVD also included a sampler of U-GODZILLA presents the Hillside Scramblers. Later on U-God and RZA made up and they were soon both together on stage as part of the Clan for their European and American tour during summer 2004.

Mr. Xcitement/Later Career

U-God signed on to Free Agency Recordings, and released his second solo album, titled Mr. Xcitement on September 13, 2005. It featured two singles: "Bump" and "You Don't Want To Dance". It featured guest appearances from Leatha Fase as well as Boo Kapone, Squeak Ru, MC Eiht, and Ebony Burke. The album sold only 5,000 units (even with a large fanbase) and had sample clearance problems.[4] Overall it was considered a failure album, parallel to his debut album. He appeared with all the Clan members during the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors, as well as on tour for the release of their latest album, 8 Diagrams. U-God is currently working on an album titled Dopium, set to be released sometime in spring 2009. A new mixtape titled "Bring Back God" was released online in november 2008, as a preview to Dopium.[5]

Aliases

  • Golden Arms (from the movie The Kid With The Golden Arms)
  • Ugodz-illa
  • 4-Bar Killer
  • Uey
  • Baby Uey
  • Universal God of Law
  • Lucky Hands (Wu-Gambino name)
  • Goldie
  • Stonefingers (in the "Gravel Pit" music video)
  • Mr. Xcitement
  • The Grouch
  • Super Nigga
  • Huey
  • Baby Huey
  • Jody King
  • Daddy Long Caddy

[6]

Discography

Solo Albums

Year Title Chart positions[7][8] RIAA
certifications[9]
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap
1999 Golden Arms Redemption
  • Released: October 5, 1999
  • Label: Priority Records
 58 15
2005 Mr. Xcitement
  • Released: September 13, 2005
  • Label: Free Agency Recordings
 - - -
2009 Dopium
  • Released: April, 2009
  • Label: tba
 - - -

The Hillside Scramblers

Year Title Chart positions[7][8] RIAA
certifications[9]
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap
2004 U-Godzilla Presents the Hillside Scramblers
  • Released: March 16, 2004
  • Label: Synergy Music

Singles and EPs

  • 1999 "Dat's Gangsta"
  • 1999 "Bizarre"
  • 2002 "Supa Nigga EP"
  • 2003 "Vendetta"
  • 2005 "Bump"
  • 2005 "You Don't Want To Dance"
  • 2007 "Takem Home"
  • 2007 "Freeze"

Appearances

References

  1. ^ http://youtube.com/watch?v=D4GBEARaH30&feature=related
  2. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=U%7CGOD&sql=11:wbftxquhldde~T1
  3. ^ http://youtube.com/watch?v=ySPtyaGWs_s&feature=related
  4. ^ http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=ugod
  5. ^ http://www.ugodz-illa.com
  6. ^ http://www.wutang-corp.com/artists/wu-tang-clan.php
  7. ^ a b Billboard chartings. Accessed October 29, 2007.
  8. ^ a b UK Album chartings. Accessed November 10, 2007.
  9. ^ a b Searchable Database. RIAA. Accessed October 29, 2007.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to U-God.
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