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C-Rayz Walz

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C-Rayz Walz
Birth nameWaleed Shabazz
Born (1975-08-03) August 3, 1975 (age 49)
The Bronx, New York, United States
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, songwriter, musician
InstrumentVocals
Years active1997–present
LabelsDefinitive Jux, SunCycle Entertainment, Draft Records, Babygrande Records, Kings Link Records, Modular Mood Music, Worker B Records, Detonator Records
Websitewww.crayzwalz.com

Waleed Shabazz (born August 3, 1975), better known by his stage name C-Rayz Walz, is an American Hip hop recording artist from The Bronx borough of New York City. Aside from his solo career he is also a member of the East Coast hip hop syndicate, Stronghold. C-Rayz Walz has been a fixture in the New York hip-hop scene for years. He hosts many hip-hop shows and events, has appeared on over 43 singles and launched his own label, SunCycle Entertainment. C-Rayz has worked with several other artists in underground hip hop, including Aesop Rock, Immortal Technique, Percee P and Messiah J & The Expert.[1]

Early life

Shabazz was born and raised in The Bronx. At the age of two, his father was murdered, likely as a result of his involvement with drug dealing.[citation needed] According to Shabazz, his father was "a Drug Kingpin but a good man & Dedicated Father" and was the inspiration for his song Protect My Family. In an interview, he describes how he was deeply affected by his death, saying, "I was always socially dysfunctional, as far as my fathers Death & Absence were concerned."[2] Shabazz described how he drew wisdom from older community members and ultimately gained inspiration for his music and how he views being a Father himself. In the same interview, he points to his music as compensation for his social dysfunction resulting from not having a Dad growing up.[2]

At the time that Shabazz was growing up, The Bronx was the site of the early hip hop scene.[3] Shabazz recalls listening to DJ Kool Herc, who is credited with originating the genre, in Echo Park where he lived. In this environment, Shabazz developed a love of music and began freestyling with his friends for fun. Both he and his childhood friend and now professional rapper Prodigy describe MC battles in the lunch room in school.[2][4] He recalls how his ambitions to be an MC were sealed when Busy Bee Starski heard him rhyming: "When I was 5 or 6 years old I freestyled for Busy Bee. He gave me $5, said, 'Boy, you're good. Keep rocking son.' I ran with that because he was one of the greatest of all time. I knew I was a freestyle legend when I was 6."[4]

Career

In 2003, C-Rayz Walz released Ravipops (The Substance) on Definitive Jux.[5] In 2005, he released Year of the Beast.[6]

Discography

Studio albums

  • The Prelude (2001)
  • Detonator Records Volume 1 (2001) (with Akrobatik, Breez Evahflowin, and Chan)
  • Off the Radar (2003)
  • Limelight (The Outroduction) (2003)
  • Ravipops (The Substance) (2003)
  • Year of the Beast (2005)
  • 1975: Return of the Beast (2006)
  • The Best of the Beast (2006)
  • The Dropping (2006)
  • Monster Maker (2007) (with Sharkey)
  • Chorus Rhyme (2007) (with Parallel Thought)
  • Freestyle vs. Written (2008) (with Kosha Dillz)
  • Almighty: Original S.I.N. (2008) (with Killah Priest, M-Eighty, Son One, Bronze Nazareth, and 5-Star, as Almighty)
  • Who the F%@k Are You? (2009)
  • Naptown: The Broken Comb (2010)
  • All Blvck Everything: The Prelude (2011)
  • Year of the Beatnikz (2011)
  • The Code (2012)
  • The Calendar (2012)
  • St. Patrick Rayz: The Leper-Con (2013)
  • Almighty: The Solar Facts (2013)
  • Feel Me (2014) (with Sallam Said)

Compilation albums

  • Singular Plurals (2002)
  • Singular Plurals Vol. 2 (2005)
  • Free Rayz Walz (2008)
  • Beat the System (2010)
  • Where the Walz Things Are (2010)
  • I Am Numba Four (2011)

EPs

Singles

  • "Pots and Pans" (2001)
  • "It's a Wrap" b/w "Peroxide" (2002)
  • "The Essence" (2003)
  • "Buck 80" b/w "Body You" (2003)
  • "We Live" b/w "Protect My Family" (2004)
  • "R'Thentic" b/w "Street Reppin'" (2005)
  • "Dead Flowers" (2009)
  • "Linsanity" (2012)

Guest appearances

  • Aesop Rock - "Bent Life" from Labor Days (2001)
  • Cannibal Ox - "Battle for Asgard" from The Cold Vein (2001)
  • El-P - "Blood" from Fantastic Damage (2002)
  • Dutchmassive - "The Hook" from Junk Planet (2004)
  • Chase Phoenix - "Say Something" from Cut to the Chase (2004)
  • Gumz - "Hip Hop Music" from From Fetus to Genius (2007)
  • DJ I-Dee - "Explosion" from Solitude (2008)
  • Sadat X - "Gamer" from Brand New Bein' (2009)
  • Time - "Paraghnoid" from Naked Dinner (2009)
  • MC Paul Barman - "The Moon" from Thought Balloon Mushroom Cloud (2009)
  • Access Immortal - "I Love New York" from Birth of a Dream (2010)
  • DJ Lord Ron - "Concrete Bars (Echo Park Beat Street N2 Da Future)" and "It'z Da R.C.P." from Environmental Shape Sounds of DJ Lord Ron (2010)
  • Intention - "Blvck Pioneer" from American Psycho (2012)
  • Irealz - "Starz of the Godz" from The Code of Omerta (2011)
  • Verse Essential - "Between the Lines" from Ingenious: Deluxe Edition (2011)
  • Bedlam Brethren - "Apocalypto" from Black Feather Messengers (2012)
  • Falcon Burns & Melph - "The Cypher" featuring Nine from Back in Effect: The Word Effect Chapter II (2012)
  • Apaulo Treed & Knightstalker - "Contraband" from The Last Line of Defence (2013)
  • Junclassic - "My Style (Remix)" from Blvd Backdrop (2013)
  • Cannibal Ox - "Street Reppin" and "That Moment Before Crazy" from Gotham (2013)
  • Scholars Ent. - "When it was Real" featuring Tona, AG da Coroner and Show Stephens from Maintenance Vol. 1 (2015)

References

  1. ^ Thomas, Christopher. "C-Rayz Walz: Mind of a Lunatic". Archived from the original on 2006-10-04. Retrieved 2006-12-25.
  2. ^ a b c C-Rayz Walz Interview with MVRemix Urban | US and Canadian Underground Hip Hop coverage including Rap plus Soul - exclusive interviews, reviews, articles
  3. ^ The South Bronx: Where Hip-Hop Was Born - WNYC
  4. ^ a b C-Rayz Walz: Bronx emcee lands in Indy | A Cultural Manifesto
  5. ^ Pemberton, Rollie (October 8, 2003). "C-Rayz Walz: Ravipops (The Substance)". Pitchfork Media.
  6. ^ Panton, Kevin (May 11, 2005). "Album Review: C-Rayz Walz - Year of the Beast". Drowned in Sound.
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