T da Pimp

align With hip hop reaching its highest point of popularity, but its lowest point of creativity, here arises a pungent artist embracing the pure spirit that inhabits a lifestyle of glamour, struggle, promise, and growth. Being suave and having charisma may entertain many labels for a man of today’s society; however, the true personality of a person may be nothing of the sort. In most cases, books get judged by their covers, but periodically one may exude an inner aura of true depth, perseverance and skill that exceeds the preemptive impressions bringing about assurance that “real” people are not as ancient as it may seem in these timesThe Detroit rapper and entrepreneur has made a name for himself in the city of The Bad Boy’s, American automobiles, Pimps and Hustlers, and the most infamous claim to fame, the Motown era. As a deeply rooted lover of the hip hop craft; famed as T da Pimp, a name created by his Players Convention member -Shizzea, found a bond amongst the artists he grew up admiring, and with their influence fueled his own career. With a name such as T da Pimp, it’s almost impossible to not assume that the love for woman consumes his every thought, but on the contrary, his life is more epochal than the lustful moments shared with the opposite sex.When asked what’s behind the name T da Pimp, the answer is as raw and straightforward as a pimp words slandering the ears of a street walker. “T da Pimp, use to be associated with women, I even though I love the ladies, with growth T da Pimp became more symbolic and a lifestyle trademark. The raw, philosophical introspect, and honesty displayed by a pimp is the same attitude and deliverance that I personal posses and I try to stay true to myself by putting this in my music. It’s like a pimp saying where’s my $, and if u agree with that lifestyle or not isn’t important, but what’s prudent to the statement is the honest emotions, attitude, as well as the result of what was delivered. The ending results suggest integrity and respect, and that’s what captivates people to not only understand, but want to be a part of it, and that’s me – in your face with the raw honesty, and getting it done, by not only by my words, but by my actions.”His fondness of the way hip hop greats, such as, Run, Rakim, and L.L. Cool J, commanded the stage and demanded the ears, ignited the inspiration to have such power for himself and began building rhymes that consumed his inner thoughts.After attending Detroit’s Martin Luther King, Jr. High and Murray Wright High School respectively, his love of hip hop not only consumed all idle time, but it also forced him to create time to mastering the craft. While continuing the pursuit of his rap career, he was also very active in sports and arts/design, not to mention having adoration for the ladies. He was named “Class Flirt” and thus “pimp” was solidified. With his neo hip hop roots embedded, T da Pimp lamps the likes of up and coming artist Snoop, Jay-Z and Biggie, he took on the persona and attitude of a hip hop legend, and did not compose any of his lyrics until three years after he began rapping. “All I did was freestyle; I didn’t even know dudes wrote their raps, until I met my man Shed.”Ceaseless emotions for the love of hip hop also encouraged the Pimp-man to create and run his own situations, with aspirations of being significant in the music industry, an attribute coined by they legend himself, Russell Simmons. Winged by the local music promoter, Mark Hicks, who at the time was the connect man from the industry to Detroit, TdaPimp sought after an unpaid intern position to become more knowledgeable about the guts of the music industry. “My last year of high school we had a couple of labels looking @ us (The Players Convention), but I wasn’t feeling someone else having that much involvement in my life, plus I never felt as if someone from outside of Detroit would see and respect the Detroiter that I am, and present us properly to world satisfactory to the people from the D.” In an ultimately brazen move for the bettering of his career, and life; he established his own marketing and promotions company Penmp Entertainment, simultaneously with his record label Penmp Recordings. His Penmp Recordings label eliminating the need for the search of a monopolizing record label, especially after several insufficient deals were offered from independents and majors. Within 6 months his Penmp Entertainment promotions company attributed its first account with the underground, yet legendary, Nervous Records, simultaneously building the Penmp Recordings label, as well as T da Pimp by opening for major artist that had shows in the market. Within a few years Penmp Entertainment had gained the respect as the up and coming marketing and promotion company, T da Pimp’s, Penmp Entertainment, LLC had inaugurated the careers of Ying Yang Twins, 50 Cent, Master P, Destiny’s Child and Mobb Deep in the Detroit area.Co-existing the artist “T da Pimp”, Penmp Entertainment and Recordings, escalated him the forefront of the Detroit streets and music scene. T da Pimp recorded and released numerous records independently under his Penmp Recordings label. By releasing his music independently, he believed that it would make him not only a better artist, but would give him the availability to further aid in the Detroit Hip Hop movement. The Pimp-man enhanced his lyrical impromptu, giving him an aptitude that left competitors and battles with other rappers at a disadvantage. T da Pimp is also one of the four – fathers of the infamous Maurice Malone “Hip Hop Shop,” T da Pimp found a source of camaraderie in his home as co-host of the legendary Hip Hop Shop, alongside of Eminem’s group member from D12, Proof. THHS became the place to not only showcase your talent, but it was a successful path for many rappers beginning their careers. The forum, which became a launching pad for famed Detroit artists such as Eminem and other members of D12, it was a freestyle rap battle arena for young, eager rappers to gain their first taste of competition with the audience acting as judge and jury, The Pimp-man further enhanced his lyrical impromptu, giving him an aptitude that left competitors and battles with other rappers at a disadvantage..As host and fellow emcee, T da Pimp became a well known respected name in the hip hop community. Realizing quickly that he was meant for solo stardom T da Pimp exhausted the idea of being a part of a group after stints with The Players Convention, commonly known as PC, and The Biochemists, who featured Elzhi of Slum Village and hip hop/r& b/ producer Quentin Harris, known to the crew as Epod. With his popularity on a fast rise the release of his first 12” entitled “Rockin It/Why U Lookin Hard” under Penmp Recordings, critically acclaimed, phenomenon underground producer Jay Dilla of Slum Village, was an underground smash in the U.S. as well as overseas selling over 3,000 copies in a matter of two weeks. “Why U Lookin’ Hard” later became a classic on the underground seen and oversees, and was labeled as one of J. Dilla’s best recordings.T da Pimp later released “Make Mo/Black Trucks”, produced by up and coming producer Epod who’s worked on Shaggy’s most recent album, remixes for Shakira and Pattie Labelle. As the buzz single off of his EP, “Da Best Of…” both records gained heavy mainstream success on the mix show level. Despite all of the attention focused around him, T da Pimp still never had a record added to local radio until he exploded on the music scene with the release of his club banger “All These Girlz” (Shake It Luva), the leading single off of “Da Best Of…” in 2003. A suitable, as well as a realistic overview of the pimp dude’s lifestyle, “All These Girlz” was added to every radio station in the state of Michigan, except one, but the song was still ranked # 48 on that stations chart and averaged 8 spins a week. Additive to the radio play for All These Girlz, the video received a nomination for best new artist from BET, one of the only independent record ever nominated for an award, a video that T da Pimp footed the bill for and even pawned his Rolex watch to gain some of the funds needed to shoot the video. “We had 80 beautiful ladies on set, including Deelishis of Flavor of Love, who came out, not to only build their careers, but to aid us in what were doing. That’s love when people give up a whole day and the payment is gratitude, I’m blessed.”With a great radio picture in Detroit building across the country, and selling 1000 copies throughout metro-Detroit within 4 days, labels and distributors made their way to the doorsteps of Detroit’s Pimp-man.Included on the EP were emotionally heartfelt songs such as; “Everything Is Fine” dedicated to the integrity of young Black males keeping lasting friendships regardless of their lifestyles, personality traits, and differences. “Black Trucks”, a song dedicated to the car history and attitude of Detroit; which possesses a cool, laid back edge, swelled into emotions and a gritty vibe endured by the hustlers. “Da Best of…” held its ground locally and was nominated for Best Song of the Year in “05” for “All These Girlz”, at Detroit Hip Hop Awards.While setting up “Da Best Of….2nd Shift” release, T da Pimp released the mix tape “Bitch Please.” Accumulating over 15,000 mix tapes throughout the US, T da Pimp’s national buzz had grown, putting this new age renaissance man in amongst the greats to lead their own destiny.Now the highly anticipated debut album “Da Best Of…2nd Shift”, Best of … representing the important highlights of T’s life, and 2nd Shift being the second part, equivalent to the Detroit blue collared work history with the auto industry, thus 2nd Shift, features a variety of topics and vividly portrait musical elements that posses the air of the great emcees of the past and present, a young mans confidence, charisma, and overall the collage of T da Pimp, while still emblazoning the world with the Detroit sound of life. Having not only the lyrics, but production that will carve its own path for the Detroit sound and new age hip hop movement, T da Pimp has put the entertainment scene on a well-broadcasted notice that his music is worth an earful.Out to veer the perceptions of Detroit being a city full of thugs, drugs and crime, T da Pimp strives through his music to put a polished reputation of creativity, class and ingenuity on the Motor City/ Da D.