AVERAGE - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Average is an American lyricist who is known for his artistic attempts to combine the "socially conscious" genre of Hip-Hop, Southern-styled Crunk, and World Music influences.Ave was born Joseph Clinton Collins in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 1st, 1986 to Clinton Clarence Collins, Jr. and Beverly Jean Collins. Collins is multi-racial with roots tracing to American slavery in Mississippi, a small English town a little north of Somerset while also Choctaw and Lakota tribal records.Collins, although born in Michigan, moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in early 1989 at the age of two though due to a tumultuous home, Collins lived in many different homes in the TC. The Downtown, Northeast & North areas of Minneapolis and the southern suburb of Richfield were all at one time called home. However, Collins' family always owned a home in South Minneapolis where he was predominantly raised.Collins began rapping with Barton friends Karl Peterson (rapper K. Pilla), Shawn Williamson (rapper and producer Shawnice) and Kyle Williamson (rapper Krazy K), in 2000 at the age of 13. Eventually, the group started an amateur gangsta rap label, The Jungle Inc., with rapper Timi Tayo.During Collins' involvement with The Jungle Inc., he also was a member of Sacred Society, a freestyle battle board. Collins' record during his time there was 17-8 (To view record as OtomoSho, visit http://p069.ezboard.com/fsacredsociety66120frm7). As a result of his wins against certain Legends of Sacred and its mother-site New Jeru, Collins was the first battler to have an audio interview through Sacred.Several events impeded the success of The Jungle Inc.. Such as the financial and emotional stresses of the Williamson family, especially around the time of the shooting death of Fred Williamson (Shawn and Kyle's brother). Another factor was the incarceration of various members of The Jungle, Inc.. By 2004, The Jungle Inc. was a shadow of the promise it once showed with artists jumping to other labels, incarcerated, relocated or completely concentrating on other endeavors. Until 2005, Collins continued to record mixtapes with Kyle "Krazy K" Williamson as side projects.In 2005, Joseph Collins and Allen Chocolate met at a party of Toussaint Morrison, the vocalist of the Minneapolis jam/hip-hop band, The Blend. After a lengthy freestyle session and subsequent discussions, the two artists felt that their artistic messages and lyrical delivery worked perfectly for eachother and became partners in a group that came to be called The NU, a name with multiple meanings.In March 2007, Allen Chocolate moved to North Carolina which put a hold on The 2nd NU project. However, Ave is currently working on a solo project "Full Circa" due out in late '07. Ave's mixtape "Substance" is now available (send a message).In addition to his burgeoning music career, Ave is also a published writer and essay contest winner.
The NU Presents The In Between is available now in select stores.

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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/17/2006
Band Members: AVE
Influences: All the artists, DJs, fam, friends, girlfriends and ex-girlfriends I love. (Hahaha...)Dem Jungle Boyz--- Where it all started...Have shared stages with Leroy Smokes, Dessa (of Doomtree), Muja Messiah, Slim (of G.O.B), Big Shiz, The Blend, Omaur Bliss, Yoni, G8, The Rusty Ps, Coolzey, Hustle Fam, Chico Fino, etc.---
Sounds Like: Music. "That baritone + spitting is my forte, but if you're a musician of any type, I'll funks witcha."For fans of: Dungeon Family, Goodie Mob, Outkast, Devin The Dude, Erykah Badu, Slum Village, Loer Velocity, Ludacris, T.I., Blackalicious, Blackstar, Kanye West, The Fugees, Common, Lupe Fiasco and the like---FOR BOOKING + OTHER BUSINESS AFFAIRS E-MAIL [email protected].
Type of Label: None

My Blog

If you ain't got shit to do Sunday night---

Come kick it at the Vinyl Lounge at the Varsity Theatre on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month. Only 3 bucks with a college ID, 5 bucks without, it's 18 +, there's dance music, an open bar, hi...
Posted by AVERAGE on Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:52:00 PST

MIXTAPE TRAX

Check these out, message me if you would like a copy of the mixtape.
Posted by AVERAGE on Fri, 13 Apr 2007 10:07:00 PST

Name Changes and Troop Roster

So, I know many of you are finna be like--- "Wha...? This dude changed his name again. WTF is goin on??"Well, after some soul-searching and a bowl of Choconilla Rice Krispies... I ca...
Posted by AVERAGE on Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:33:00 PST

The NU breaks up---

Allen Chocolate is moving to Raleigh, NC for his job and the second album is being placed on hold indefinitely. We'll still be releasing our songs we've done together on our individual solo albums, b...
Posted by AVERAGE on Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:22:00 PST

Do White Americans Call Themselves British? A Response To Enhancing Self-Acceptance.

My grandfather Clinton Clarence Collins, Sr. lived in the almost third-world poverty of Jim Crow Mississippi as a youth. Most of his childhood he didn't own a pair of shoes and he didn't know his fir...
Posted by AVERAGE on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 03:24:00 PST

The In Between now available at Electric Fetus & Fifth Element!

So you should come on down and show some luv if you haven't already copped an album! 1.
Posted by AVERAGE on Wed, 23 Aug 2006 09:42:00 PST

September 21st show pushed back to October 26th

Yes, the September 21st show has been pushed back to October 26th due to negotations between G8 and The Varsity Theatre. Frankly, it sucks but however... We are currently attempt...
Posted by AVERAGE on Tue, 22 Aug 2006 10:58:00 PST

The In Between now available at Vital Vinyl on 15th and Nicollet!

Please come in and show your boyz some support. Thanks and as always, support local hip-hop. 1.
Posted by AVERAGE on Tue, 22 Aug 2006 06:13:00 PST

Uh Little Time

Hey! The "Uh Little Time" is a skeleton (pre-planning) of a song that will be on the next The NU project, currently untitled, due in the Fall of '07! Please if you have feedback feel to free to give m...
Posted by AVERAGE on Sun, 20 Aug 2006 03:21:00 PST

The NU's Myspace Page...

... Is up! Some singles off of the album will be leaked through that site 3 days before the release. Web Address: http://www.myspace.com/thenu612 As always, SUPPORT LOCAL HIP-HOP! 1....
Posted by AVERAGE on Mon, 24 Jul 2006 03:34:00 PST