Zaire Tyree Small (born May 21st 1985), better known for his stage name ZA, is an American rapper/Hip-Hop artist/Actor. Originally from Richard Allen housing projects in North Philadelphia. ZA was born during the peak years of the 1980’s during the crack epidemic, where both of his parents battle with drugs addictions. At a very young age ZA witness a lot of drug usage and death from people that was close to him. While growing up in Philadelphia’s deadliest housing project ZA started writing poetry at the tender age of 11. That would eventually spark his interest in hip-hop. As a youngin in the hood, ZA came up admiring great rappers such as Tupac Shakur, Nas, Rakim, The Notorious B.I.G.(Biggie Smalls), Jay-z, Eminem, DMX, AZ, Bone Thugz-n-Harmony and local rappers such as RAM Squad, Beanie Segal, Cassidy, and Major Figgas. Also, while growing up ZA would find interest in acting and star in his first stage play when he was just in the 4th grade at the age of 8. In his early teen years ZA his mom Darlene, and his brother Mike aka Balla went from project 2 project, moving from Richard Allen to a project in West Philly. After a few years out west, he would eventually move back to North Philly, a few blocks from Blumberg projects where he would attend Benjamin Franklin High School. Around that time ZA lost a little interest in rapping and acting. After his freshman year at Franklin, ZA would move to the Frankford section of Philadelphia across the street from White Hall projects, where he would attend Frankford High School. While at Frankford for money ZA started selling t-shirts out his locker during school hours. He also won 2 championships with Frankford football team. After high school, ZA found some way to get himself into Lincoln University. In his freshmen year at Lincoln his beautiful daughter Zairah was born, and that made things a little more difficult, so he decided to get his Kanye West on and dropout during his sophomore year. A little while after that ZA started working and dealing drugs to feed his family. In his early twenties ZA passion for hip-hop and acting returned and been trying to make good music and movies ever since.
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