Paul Wall | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Paul Wall in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Paul Michael Slayton |
| Born | (1981-03-11)March 11, 1981 (age 44) Georgetown, Texas, U.S. |
| Origin | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of |
|
| Children | 2 |
| Website | www |
Paul Michael Slayton (born March 11, 1981),[1] better known by his stage namePaul Wall, is an American rapper and DJ. He has spent much of his career affiliated withSwishahouse, and has released several albums under the label and collaborated with numerous other rappers signed to the label. He began his career performing alongside fellow HoustonianChamillionaire, with whom he released several albums, including 2002's independently releasedGet Ya Mind Correct. By 2005, he was signed toAtlantic Records and became successful with his major label debutThe Peoples Champ, which was followed up byGet Money, Stay True released in 2007.[2] He has been nominated for oneGrammy Award forBest Rap Performance as a Duo or Group for the song "Grillz", his collaboration with rapperNelly.
Wall attendedJersey Village High School and studiedmass communications at theUniversity of Houston for three years.[3][4] Wall's first music exposure came as a street team member on the Northwest side ofHouston, promoting southern labels likeCash Money andNo Limit Records.
After proposing to do promotions for Michael "5000" Watts' companySwishahouse, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to 97.9 the Box (KBXX), Watts' radio station.[5] Paul and Chamillionaire convinced Watts to let them rap on his radio show and put the verses on one of his mixtapes. That mixtape was titledChoppin Em Up Part 2, which was released in mid-1999. The freestyle became so popular locally that Chamillionaire and Paul Wall became regular staples on Houston's mixtape circuit, appeared on several of Watts' mixtapes and became permanent members of Swishahouse.
After fellow memberSlim Thug left the label, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall followed suit and the two started their own group known as The Color Changin' Click (named after Chamillionaire'schameleon persona). Each successive mixtape released by The Color Changin' Click led to more business opportunities; the most notable of which was a contract to do a full album for Paid in Full Records. A one-album contract was negotiated between the Color Changin' Click and Paid in Full's label head, DJ Madd Hatta from 97.9 The Box, and the CCC's first album,Get Ya Mind Correct, would go on to sell over 200,000 copies.[citation needed]
Wall is also an accomplished and proficient mixtape and party DJ, known for producing mixtapes in the now well-knownchopped and screwed style, which was invented byDJ Screw.[6]
In 2004, Wall returned to Swishahouse and appeared onMike Jones' first commercially distributed single, "Still Tippin'".[7]
In 2005, Paul Wall released his first album,The Peoples Champ, which debuted at number one on theBillboard 200.[8] The first single was "Sittin' Sidewayz" featuringBig Pokey, which peaked at no. 34 on theBillboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart and no. 93 on theBillboard Hot 100.[9][1][10] The second single, "They Don't Know", featuredBun B ofUGK, and the video version also featuredMike Jones. The third single, "Girl", became the most successful single offThe Peoples Champ, peaking at no. 35 on the Hot 100.[10]
In November 2005, Paul Wall was featured onNelly'sGrillz, which reached number one on theBillboard Hot 100.[citation needed]
In 2007, Wall released his second albumGet Money, Stay True, which debuted in the number one spot on theBillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album spawned the singles "Break 'Em Off" featuringLil Keke, and "I'm Throwed" featuring and produced byJermaine Dupri. "Break 'Em Off" peaked at no. 72 on the Hot 100 and no. 58 on the R&B charts, and "I'm Throwed" peaked at no. 87 on the Hot 100 and no. 47 on R&B.[10][9]
Paul Wall was a member of the rap groupExpensive Taste, with his friendsTravis Barker andSkinhead Rob (Transplants).[11]
In 2007, Paul Wall appeared alongside other celebrities in the music video for "Rockstar" byNickelback. He appeared on reggae artistCollie Buddz's self-titled debut album.[12]
In the spring of 2008, Paul Wall joinedStrange Music recording artistTech N9ne on a nationwide tour, which featured rapperIll Bill.
Paul Wall appears as fictional rapper Grillionaire in the movieI Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, released on September 25, 2009. He, along with screenwriters Nils Parker andTucker Max, co-wrote tracks for the movie.
In 2010, Paul Wall featured on the albumPrzyjaźń, Duma, Godność, (English:Friendship, Pride, Dignity) by Polish rap artistKaczor. He also collaborated withLimp Bizkit on the song "Middle Finger", which appeared on the band's 2011 albumGold Cobra.[13][14]
In October 2011, Paul Wall collaborated with Silicon Valley–based social and mobile game companyJump Shot Media to create the world's first mobilebattle rap game,Battle Rap Stars. Paul is featured as the "main event" and is the rapper to beat in order to win the game.[15] On March 7, 2012, Paul Wall released a mixtape entitledNo Sleep Til Houston.[16] Paul Wall released a collaboration mixtape withSlim Thug for the2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston.[17]
On December 10, 2013, Paul Wall released his seventh studio album, an 11-track offering, titledCheckSeason, which featured contributions from Stunna Bam, Killa Kyleon, Slim Thug, Lil Keke,Kid Ink andYoung Dolph. The record was released independently via his Paul Wall Music imprint.[18]
Paul Wall followed upCheck Season on December 2, 2014, with the release of his eighth studio album, titledThe Po-Up Poet which was produced by June "The Jenius" James. According to aVibe magazine article in November 2014, "The almost circus-like production reestablishes the idea that as long as Wall's been in the game, he's been a beloved Texas rap legend".[19][20]
On September 25, 2015, Paul Wall followed upThe Po-Up Poet with his ninth studio album, titledSlabGod which contains the single "Swangin' In The Rain". On March 11, 2016, Wall released a remix of "Swangin' In The Rain" which features Slim Thug, Lil' Keke, J-Dawg, Z-Ro, and Chamillionaire. On October 21, 2016, he followed upSlabGod with his ninth album, titledHouston Oiler, released in October 2016. In February 2017, he released the mixtapeDiamond Boyz with rapper C Stone. His tenth albumBounce Back Over Setbacks was released on January 19, 2018. His eleventh album,Mind Over Matter followed in March 2020. On June 5, 2020, Wall released a mixtape withLil Keke, titledSlab Talk.
During his break from rapping, Paul Wall appeared inFurnace withJa Rule. He appeared in the 2009 filmI Hope They Serve Beer in Hell along withJesse Bradford andMatt Czuchry. He was in the 2010 science fiction filmXtinction: Predator X.[21] In 2014 he starred in Isaac Yowman's independently released theatrical film "The Holy Spoof" which sold out in all of its theater showings before its digital stream release online.[22]
AllMusic critic Andy Kellman described Wall's rapping style as having a "thick but swift Southern drawl" whose lyrics had "countless local slang terms (slabs, swangas, candy paint, tippin') that necessitate a glossary for many listeners."[23]
Wall married his wife, Crystal, in 2005 and has two children.[24][25] In 2010, he went on an extreme diet and hadgastric sleeve surgery,[26] resulting in an over 100 lb. weight loss.[27]
During the2008 United States presidential election, Wall supported Democratic candidateBarack Obama.[28] He is a devoted fan of theHouston Texans,Houston Rockets, and theHouston Astros.[29][30]
On November 19, 2004, Wall and his entourage allegedly attackedChamillionaire's younger brother, Rasaq Seriki, at a nightclub. Chamillionaire expressed his disappointment in Paul Wall, arguing that they all used to be family and that these events should not have happened. Before the entire incident between Paul Wall and Rasaq they were all part of the group called "The Color Changin' Click" which now has become fragmented. Chamillionaire released a diss track with Rasaq titled "Go Head".[31]
The dispute ended in 2010, when the pair reunited for a full tour. Wall stated "It took a long time and us growing. You know, we started off as a group and a lot of times when you go your separates ways, a lot of people say, "Oh you can't do it without him" and so you wanna prove them wrong. I know for me, I wanted to prove everyone wrong and prove that I could make it on my own." Chamillionaire replied; "We had been bumping into each other a lot. It's kinda been died down for a little bit now but we just kinda needed that stamp of approval. I think the tour kinda just solidifies it for other people. It's not like today we just stopped beefing, we stop beefing a long time ago, but nobody believed us."
Studio albums
Collaborative albums
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | |
| 2006 | Furnace | Joey Robbins | |
| 2009 | I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell | Grillionaire | |
| 2010 | Ghetto Stories | Prison Inmate | |
| Alligator X | Froggy | ||
| 2011 | Cash or Crash | ||
| 2014 | The Holy Spot | ||
| 2017 | 2 Aces and a Dirty Heart | ||
| 2022 | The Pull Up Tour Mo | ||
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Paul Wall | Taste Maker (Style and Trendsetter) | Won |
| "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)"(Remix) | Best Rap/R&B Collaboration | Won | |
| "Holla at Me" | Best Rap Collaboration | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Grillz" | Best Rap Performance as a Duo or Group | Nominated |
