Antwon
Antwon performing in 2014
Antwon performing in 2014
Background information
Birth nameAntonio Williams
Born (1986-10-25) October 25, 1986 (age 37)[1]
Key West, Florida, U.S.
OriginSan Jose, California, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active2011–present
Labels
Websiteantwon.bandcamp.com

Antonio Williams[3] (born October 25, 1986),[1] better known by his stage name Antwon, is an American rapper based in San Jose, California.[4] In 2013, he was included on Complex's "15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW" list.[5] He was also included on Complex's "25 New Rappers to Watch Out For in 2014" list.[6]

Biography

Born in Key West, Florida,[7] to an African-American father and a Filipino mother,[3] Antwon grew up in Sunnyvale, California.[8] He was a member of the Philadelphia-based hardcore band Leather,[9] as well as the pop punk bands Sour Patch and How to: Summer.[10]

Antwon's first mixtape, Fantasy Beds, was released in 2011.[11] In that year, he also released My Westside Horizon.[12]

In 2012, Antwon released a mixtape, End of Earth.[13] SF Weekly included it on the "10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012" list.[14] In 2013, he released a mixtape, In Dark Denim.[15] It was listed as Spin's "Rap Release of the Week".[16]

His first official studio album, Heavy Hearted in Doldrums, was released on UNIF and Nature World in 2014.[17] In 2016, he released an EP, Double Ecstasy, on Anticon.[18] In 2017, he released a mixtape, Sunnyvale Gardens.[19] Red Bull placed it at number 20 on the "20 Best Hip-Hop Mixtapes of 2017" list.[20]

Style and influences

Spin described Antwon as "an affable guy who might have one of rap's biggest, best-sounding voices, which he usually focuses on goofy jokes and surprisingly sweet bedroom raps."[21] He has often been compared to The Notorious B.I.G.[22] He noted Kid Rock as his greatest influence.[23]

Controversy

In 2016, Antwon formed Secret Circle along with Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane.[24] Since then, the group released several tracks and played live performances across North America.[25] In 2018, Lil Ugly Mane announced the breakup of the group, not initially indicating a specific reason for the breakup.[26] Antwon posted a statement on Twitter, alluding to unnamed allegations.[27] Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane subsequently indicated that the allegations mentioned in Antwon's statement, including abusive treatment of women, were the impetus for the breakup.[27]

Discography

Studio albums

Remix albums

Compilation albums

Mixtapes

EPs

Singles

Guest appearances

References

  1. ^ a b "Antwon". BBC Music. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  2. ^ Johnson, James (June 9, 2016). "Secret Circle (Lil Ugly Mane, Wiki, Antwon) "Keep It Low"". Mass Appeal. Archived from the original on December 29, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Port, Ian S. (May 7, 2014). "At the Zoo With Antwon". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  4. ^ Cohen, Ian (March 6, 2013). "Antwon: In Dark Denim". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  5. ^ Drake, David; Baker, Ernest (March 16, 2013). "15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW - Antwon". Complex. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  6. ^ Mench, Chris (August 2, 2014). "25 New Rappers to Watch Out For In 2014 - Antwon". Complex. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  7. ^ Mlynar, Phillip (March 6, 2013). "Antwon's Twisted Vision: Sex Rap, Punk Vibes, and Kid Rock". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  8. ^ Weinstock, Tish (March 17, 2014). "A First Date With... Antwon". Vice. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  9. ^ Schmitt, Eli (June 27, 2013). "Antwon: genre benders". Paper. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  10. ^ Way, Mish (August 16, 2013). "Getting to Know You: White Lung's Mish Way x Antwon". Vice. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  11. ^ Phaneuf, Whitney (March 13, 2013). "Antwon on the Fringe". East Bay Express. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  12. ^ Savage, Emily (September 11, 2012). "Dream of the '90s (1/2)". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  13. ^ Breihan, Tom (August 2, 2012). "Download Antwon End Of Earth Mixtape". Stereogum. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  14. ^ Swan, Rachel (December 21, 2012). "The 10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  15. ^ Cooper, Duncan (February 14, 2013). "Download Antwon's In Dark Denim Mixtape". The Fader. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  16. ^ Soderberg, Brandon (February 20, 2013). "Rap Release of the Week: Antwon's 'In Dark Denim'". Spin. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  17. ^ Plaugic, Lizzie (May 13, 2014). "Antwon - Heavy Hearted In Doldrums". CMJ. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  18. ^ Gwee, Karen (February 20, 2016). "Top 10 Songs of the Week (2/19): 01. Antwon – "Luv"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  19. ^ Hughes, Josiah (October 6, 2017). "Antwon 'Sunnyvale Gardens' (mixtape)". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  20. ^ Lin, Yu-Cheng (December 15, 2017). "20 Best Hip-Hop Mixtapes of 2017". Red Bull. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  21. ^ Soderberg, Brandon (July 31, 2012). "First Spin: Antwon Slow Jams The Apocalypse On New Album, 'End Of Earth'". Spin. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  22. ^ Port, Ian S. (March 14, 2013). "San Jose Rapper Antwon Breaks Through a Hellish Set at SXSW". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  23. ^ Way, Mish (January 18, 2014). "Q&A: California rapper Antwon does things the punk way". Aux. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  24. ^ Strauss, Matthew; Yoo, Noah (May 18, 2018). "Secret Circle (Wiki, Antwon, and Lil Ugly Mane) Break Up". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  25. ^ Darville, Jordan (May 18, 2018). "Lil Ugly Mane: "Secret Circle is a wrap"". The Fader. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  26. ^ Breihan, Tom (May 22, 2018). "Antwon, Wiki, And Lil Ugly Mane Release Statements After Secret Circle Break Up". Stereogum. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  27. ^ a b Strauss, Matthew (May 21, 2018). "Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane Indicate Secret Circle Broke Up Over Antwon's Treatment of Women". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 7, 2019.

External links

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