Twista

Artist Image: Twista
Attribution
Image Credit: Photobra Adam Bielawski (Own work), CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

Carl Mitchell grew up in the K-Town area of the North Lawndale neighborhood of western Chicago, Illinois and began rapping when he was 12. In 1991, Mitchell released his first album called Runnin' Off at da Mouth under the name Tung Twista. His second album, titled Resurrection, was set to be released in 1994, but due to problems with record labels and marketing issues involving fellow Chicago rapper Common's album of the same name, the album was only released in the city of Chicago and thus got little national attention. In 1996 he teamed with Chicago producer The Legendary Traxster and Cwal's Do or Die on the track "Po Pimp" produced by The Legendary Traxster, which became a hit single. This led to a Cwal's label deal with Atlantic Records, which released Adrenaline Rush in 1997. Twista had by then dropped the "Tung" from his stage name. Adrenaline Rush became Twista's first charting album, as it peaked at #77 on the Billboard Hot 200. The album also spawned a Billboard Hot 100 hit in "Get It Wet" produced by The Legendary Traxster, which peaked at #96. In 1998 Twista teamed with other Chicago area rappers to form the Speedknot Mobstaz. They released their first album, Mobstability produced entirely by The Legendary Traxster, in 1998. Twista then formed his own Legit Ballin' label, which released two compilation albums: Legit Ballin' in 1999 and Legit Ballin' Vol. 2: Street Scriptures in 2001. The label later released Respect The Game, Vol. 3 in 2002 and Volume 4: Tha Truth in 2006. In 2000, Twista collaborated with Ruff Ryders and Drag-On on the Ruff Ryders: Ryde or Die Vol. 2 album, on the track "Twisted Heat." Beginning in 2002, Twista began recording his album Kamikaze with rappers like Kanye West and Ludacris. Kamikaze came out in 2004 and debuted at the top spot of the American Billboard 200 album chart. Its first single "Slow Jamz" (also featured on Kanye West's debut album The College Dropout), featured West and Jamie Foxx and became a number-one hit in the US. Other singles included "Overnight Celebrity" and "So Sexy" (featuring R. Kelly); the album sold around two million copies. The remix of the song "Jook Gal" by Elephant Man featured Twista and the YoungBloodZ. The Kamikaze album and its singles gave Twista a new level of success and rose his profile significantly within the rap community. Twista's album The Day After was released in 2005. It featured the hit singles "Girl Tonite" featuring Trey Songz, "Hit the Floor" featuring Pitbull, and "So Lonely" featuring Mariah Carey. His next album, Adrenaline Rush 2007 came out in 2007. Its singles were "Give it Up" featuring Pharrell and "Creep Fast" featuring T-Pain. This album sold poorly compared to Twista's earlier albums. Twista appeared on the single "Hell No (Leave Home)" from Monica's album fall 2006 The Makings of Me. In 2008, Twista launched a new record label called Get Money Gang Entertainment and the album Category F5 with the hit, "Wetter". In 2009, Twista appeared on the single "Legendary" with fellow Chicago rappers AK47 of Do or Die and Saurus and Bones. Twista released his eighth solo album entitled, The Perfect Storm on Nov 9, 2010. The first single from the album, "Make a Movie" produced by The Legendary Traxster, featuring Chris Brown, was released on August 24, 2010. Two buzz singles were released, "I Do" produced by Traxster and "Heat" produced by fellow Chicago producers NO I.D. and The Legendary Traxster. The album features artists such as Waka Flocka Flame, Raekwon, Tia London, Diddy, Ray J, Chief Keef and others. Production on the album is mainly by The Legendary Traxster along with Streetrunner, Twinz, Tight Mike and NO I.D. In an October 31, 2010 interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio, Twista discussed his new documentary, directed by Vlad Yudin and the making of The Perfect Storm, including his belief that artists need to do more than just record songs and that they need to become more involved with the community around them. During the holiday season in 2010, Twista and his GMG team worked together with Chicago Food Bank's Producemobile program to feed hungry people in the community. In 2013 Twista is working on his 9th studio album entitled The Dark Horse. He also currently struck a deal with Kanye West music label GOOD Music. All of his albums will now be distributed by Def Jam marking his return to a major label since leaving Atlantic Records in 2007. His own label Get Money Gang Entertainment will be distributed by Capital Records.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1974
Number of Albums 39
Record Label
Website
Wikipedia Twista on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Hip Hop

Trivia

At what age did Twista start rapping?

12

... KTown area on the west side of Chicago. He started rapping at the age of 12 . Twista was one of the first artists to sign with Loud Records. In 1991, ...
What was the name of Twista's 1991 album Runnin off at da Mouth?

Tung Twista

...ecords. In 1991, he released Runnin off at da Mouth under the name of Tung Twista . Despite this recognition, the album achieved little success. In 199...
Twista was one of the first artists to sign with what label?

Loud Records

...g at the age of 12. Twista was one of the first artists to sign with Loud Records . In 1991, he released Runnin off at da Mouth under the name of Tung ...
What was the name of Twista's label?

Legit Ballin

...ding to a contract with Atlantic Records. Twista then formed his own Legit Ballin label which has released two compilation albums Legit Ballin in 1999...
What year did it take Twista to achieve a platinum, number one record under his own name?

2004

...it Ballin in 1999 and Legit Ballin Vol. However, it would take him until 2004 to achieve a platinum, numberone record under his own name. On his websi...
What section of Chicago's west side did Twista grow up in?

KTown

... numberone Billboard Hot 100 single, 'Slow Jamz'. Born and raised in the KTown section of Chicago's infamous, impoverished west side, Twista grew up a...
What was Silent's real name?

Richard Pena

... the age of 12. He had a best friend named Silent (his real name was Richard Pena ). First he moved his body to hyperactive house tracks of his hometow...
Silent was exposed to what type of grooves?

krush

...o hyperactive house tracks of his hometown. Then, after being exposed to krush grooves by the likes of Kurtis Blow, the Sugarhill Gang and the Fat Boy...
What Guinness record did Twista hold in 1992?

fastest rapping

...rapping and was the onetime holder of the Guinness World Record for fastest rapping in 1992. With a steady rise from the underground in the late '90s,...
What was the name of his fourth album?

Kamikaze

... one single Slow Jamz. The track appeared on his fourth effort, 2004's Kamikaze , which also topped the U.S. albums chart. He remained in the Top 40 in...
What was the name of the platinum single by Do or Die?

Po Pimp

...d many more. Born Carl Terrell Mitchell, he made his recording debut on Po Pimp , a platinum single by his fellow Windy City rappers Do or Die. Followi...
Who were the Windy City rappers that produced Po Pimp?

Do or Die

...g debut on Po Pimp, a platinum single by his fellow Windy City rappers Do or Die . Following Po Pimp, Twista signed with Big BeatAtlantic and released ...
What was the name of Twista's debut album?

Adrenaline Rush

...o Pimp, Twista signed with Big BeatAtlantic and released his debut, Adrenaline Rush , in the summer of 1997. Mobstability followed a year later, and in...
What was Twista signed with in 1997?

Big BeatAtlantic

...indy City rappers Do or Die. Following Po Pimp, Twista signed with Big BeatAtlantic and released his debut, Adrenaline Rush, in the summer of 1997. Mo...
When did he return with the album The Day After?

2005

...board 200, riding the impetus of his number one hit single Slow Jamz. In 2005 , he returned with the album The Day After and the hit single Girl Tonite...
Carl Mitchell grew up on what side of Chicago?

West Side

...Growing up on Chicago's West Side , Carl Mitchell viewed, first hand, what a hard life was really like. Influenced by his surroundings and the great he...
Mitchell's speedy rapping style and ability to rap make him a household name in what city?

Chicago

...Growing up on Chicago 's West Side, Carl Mitchell viewed, first hand, what a hard life was really like. Influenced by his surroundings and the great he...
What was the name of his first album?

Runnin' Off at da Mouth

... himself Tung Twista, he recorded his first album, aptly titled Runnin' Off at da Mouth in 1991. By 1992, the young rapper had developed a rapping sty...
When was Runnin' Off at da Mouth released?

1991

...ta, he recorded his first album, aptly titled Runnin' Off at da Mouth in 1991 . By 1992, the young rapper had developed a rapping style so quick he was...
Who coined the Fastest Rapper in the World?

Guinness Book of World Records

... was actually coined the Fastest Rapper in the World by the Guinness Book of World Records . He picked up his speedy delivery early on after endless ra...
When did he pick up his speedy delivery?

endless rap battles at school

...rld Records. He picked up his speedy delivery early on after endless rap battles at school . I got into hiphop really early on, when I first started wa...
Who was Twista formerly known as?

Tounge Twista

...Twista, formerly known as Tounge Twista , explodes on his Creator's WayBig BeatAtlantic Records debut, Adrenaline Rush. Explaining the title, the artis...
How many years earlier did Twista introduce his swift Chicago flow to the hiphop scene?

Six

...e sense was Adrenaline Rush. Adrenaline Rush represents a true evolution. Six years earlier, Twista introduced his swift Chicago flow to the hiphop sc...
When did they credit Twista as the fastest rapper in the world?

1992

...ecords recognized his flambouyancy as a skill when they creditted him in 1992 as the fastest rapper in the world.) Between the time of the two albums,...
What did Twista add substance and focus to his style by patrolling the gritty landscapes of his Chicago ghetto?

Between the time of the two albums

...reditted him in 1992 as the fastest rapper in the world.) Between the time of the two albums , Twista says he added substance and focus to his style by...
When was Twista born?

November 17, 1973

...Twista, born on November 17, 1973 , got his meteoric rise to fame in 1991 when a local radio DJ, with a reputation for discovering Chicago artists, saw...
Where is the Gold Dome located?

Chicago's West Side

...sts, saw him performing at a talent show held at the Gold Dome on Chicago's West Side . Amazed, the DJ jumped at the onceinalifetime opportunity to bec...
Who was Twista the first rapper out of?

Windy City

...k on the signed to Loud Records, but also the first rapper out of the Windy City to ink a major record deal. His debut album aRunning Off da Mouth was...
What was he dubbed in the Guinness Book of World Records?

world's fastest rapper

...Mouth was released in 1992. In the same year, he was dubbed the world's fastest rapper in the Guinness Book of World Records, unrivaled in his inheren...
How many syllables per second does Twista pronounce?

11.2

...ss Book of World Records, unrivaled in his inherent ability to pronounce 11.2 syllables per second. Unfortunately, his album did not sell well. He was...
What was the name of the indie album that he released?

Resurrection

... company after that. Two years later, Twista released an indie album Resurrection . In 1996, he teamed up with fellow Chicago act Do or Die on the trac...
In what year did he collaborate with Do or Die?

1996

...r that. Two years later, Twista released an indie album Resurrection. In 1996 , he teamed up with fellow Chicago act Do or Die on the track Po Pimp, wh...
How many syllables was Carl Terrell Mitchell able to pronounce in 55 seconds?

598

...orld according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds. Early life edit Carl Terrell Mitchell was born ...
What was Carl Mitchell's birth date?

November 27, 1973

... 1989present Labels Website twista.com Carl Terrell Mitchell (born November 27, 1973 ), better known by his stage name Twista (formerly Tung Twista), i...
Who produced the track Po Pimp?

The Legendary Traxster

... the name Tung Twista. In 1996, he teamed with Chicago producer The Legendary Traxster and Cwal's Do or Die on the track Po Pimp produced by the Legen...
At what number did Adrenaline Rush peaked on the Billboard Hot 200?

77

...me. Adrenaline Rush became Twista's first charting album, as it peaked at 77 on the Billboard Hot 200. The album also spawned a Billboard Hot 100 hit ...
When did Atlantic Records release Adrenalline Rush?

1997

...al's label deal with Atlantic Records, which released Adrenaline Rush in 1997 . Twista had by then dropped the Tung from his stage name. Adrenaline Rus...
Where did Twista grew up?

KTown area on the west side of Chicago

...Twista grew up in the KTown area on the west side of Chicago . He started rapping at the age of 12. However, before starting his professional career, h...
Twista worked at McDonald's, as a security guard, and as what other job?

cutting hair

... shoes, working at McDonald's, working as a security guard, and even cutting hair . Twista was one of the first artists to sign with Loud Records. In 1...
Twista formed his own label which has released two compilation albums in what year?

1999

...Ballin' label which has released two compilation albums Legit Ballin' in 1999 and Legit Ballin' Vol. However, it would take him until 2004 to achieve ...