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This article is on the rapper Smitty. For the newspaper comic, see Smitty (comic strip) Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Smitty is the title of a comic strip by Walter Berndt. ...

Varick D. Smith, better known as Smitty, is an American rapper and hip-hop ghostwriter from Little Haiti, a neighborhood in Miami, Florida. Little Haiti (Le Petite Haiti) is an unincorporated neighborhood in Miami, Florida. ... This article is about the city in Florida. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_USA.svg‎ REDIRECT File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Elvis Presley Stevie Nicks Jodie Foster Janet Jackson Meryl Streep Jessica Lange Faye Dunaway Madonna (entertainer) Trent Reznor Diana Ross User:Mtiedemann... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... Rapping is one of the elements of hip hop and the distinguishing feature of hip hop music; it is a form of rhyming lyrics spoken rhythmically over musical instruments, with a musical backdrop of sampling, scratching and mixing by DJs. ... An entertainer is someone who is hired to entertain people. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... J Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG, and is distributed through the RCA Records Group. ... Rapping is one of the elements of hip hop and the distinguishing feature of hip hop music; it is a form of rhyming lyrics spoken rhythmically over musical instruments, with a musical backdrop of sampling, scratching and mixing by DJs. ... Hip hop (also spelled hip-hop or hiphop) is both a music genre and a cultural movement developed in urban communities starting in the 1970s, predominantly by African Americans. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Little Haiti (Le Petite Haiti) is an unincorporated neighborhood in Miami, Florida. ... Nickname: Location in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida. ...

Biography

While growing up in Little Haiti, Kevin came home one day to see a friend fatally shot due to involvement in the drug game.[1] The incident made him more aware of his future. In 1997 he decided to enroll at Florida A&M University to major in journalism. However, his aspiration to become a full-fledged artist led him to switch coasts after only two and half years of school. He would eventually, through a friend, get the opportunity to start in the hip-hop industry by flying out to meet with legendary producer Dr. Dre while he was filming The Wash. After many hours waiting around on set, Kevin finally got the chance to rap in front of Dr. Dre. Dr. Dre was impressed and Kevin was asked to work on a few tracks for The Wash soundtrack.[2] Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU (pronounced fam-you), is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, the state capital, and is one of eleven institutions in Floridas State University System. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... The Wash was a film released in 2001 starring Dr. Dre and DJ Pooh and directed by DJ Pooh. ... The Wash is a 2001 soundtrack album followed by the movie The Wash, released on September 25, 2001. ...

In addition to working on the soundtrack, Kevin has also worked on several songs, including two chart hits - 'Shake Ya Tailfeather' by P. Diddy, Nelly & Murphy Lee and 'Bump, Bump, Bump' by B2K. He has collaborated with fellow hip-hop artists such as Trick Daddy, Scarface and Kanye West. P. Diddy Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969 aka P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Puffy Combs) is an African-American record producer, entrepreneur, and rapper. ... Cornell Haynes Jr. ... B2K was an American all-boy R&B music group, founded and managed by music producer Chris Stokes in 2001, and active until 2004. ... Maurice Young (born November 23, 1975 in Miami, Florida), better known as Trick Daddy, is a Atlantic Records recording artist. ... Brad Terrance Jordan, better known by his stage name Scarface (born November 9, 1970 in Houston, Texas) is an American rapper from the South Acres neighborhood of Houston, Texas. ... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kɑn. ...

He obtained his repuation for having no musical talent and a great one time hit song. This hit song, produced by Swizz Beatz, made the charts through the use of a Notorious B.I.G. vocal sample.

Record deal

An opportunity to sign with Aftermath Records, Arista Records, Capitol Records, Def Jam, Elektra Records, and Jive Records were all offered, but were turned down in lieu of creative freedom.[3] Smitty eventually signed with Clive Davis's J Records in 2003. Aftermath Records is a record label, specializing in hip hop music, founded by Dr. Dre in 1996. ... Arista Records is an American record label that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony BMG, and operates under the RCA Records Group // After being fired from CBS Records, Columbia Pictures hired Clive Davis to be a consultant for the company’s record and music operations. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, owned by EMI. // The Capitol Records company was founded by the songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1942, with the financial help of movie producer Buddy DeSylva and the business acumen of Glenn Wallichs, (1910-1971) (owner of Music City, at the... Def Jam Recordings is an American based hip-hop record label that operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Music Group, which is owned by Universal Music Group. ... Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, and today operates under Atlantic Records Group. ... Jive Records is an American record label, owned by Sony BMG, and operates as a quarter of the Zomba Label Group. ... J Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG, and is distributed through the RCA Records Group. ...

Discography

In July of 2005, Smitty released his debut single effort Diamonds On My Neck, a moderate success on the Billboard charts, the video for which was directed by Hype Williams. His album Life of a Troubled Child was supposed to be released in fall 2005 but was shelved for unknown reasons. He released two mixtapes, The Voice of the Ghetto and Heart of the South.[4] He currently has a single featuring Robin Thicke called "Died In Your Arms" produced by Scott Storch. Hype Williams in 2002. ... Life of a Troubled Child is the debut album from Smitty. ... The Voice of the Ghetto is a 2006 hip-hop album by hip-hop artist Smitty. ... Robin Charles Thicke (born March 10, 1977 in Los Angeles, California) is a Grammy Award winning American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and occasional actor. ...

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), lists the most popular songs, calculated weekly by airplay and sales, in traditionally African American venues... See also: 2005 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2005 Record labels established in 2005 other events of 2005 list of years in music 2000s in music January 1 - In most of Europe, copyright expired on a number of classic pop and rock and roll songs recorded in 1954... Life of a Troubled Child is the debut album from Smitty. ...

Trivia

• His nickname was given to him by Dr. Dre.
• Ghostwrote for Will Smith.
• Grew up listening to local Miami hip-hops such as 2 Live Crew and Jam Pony Express, as well as Notorious B.I.G. [5]
• Smitty's mother works in the financial section of Broward General Medical Center hospital.[6]
• His father was in and out from jail while he was a teen. [7]
• Smitty has two younger brothers and sisters. He is currently paying for one of his sisters' college education. [8]
• He says he rarely talks to friends from his childhood.[9]
• Smitty was raised a spiritual person. He was frequently in church as a young child.[10] and two of his good friends are Reverend Jermaine Turner and Nahum St. Preux.[11]
• Even though he is a rapper with a million dollar recording contract, he admits that the women have been few and far between in his life prior to being a rap artist. He hopes to marry his current girlfriend.[12]
• He attended Everglades Middle School in Miramar (Broward County).
• He attended and graduated from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida (Broward County).

This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Christopher Wallace (May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997), also known as Biggie Smalls (after a stylish gangster in the 1975 comedy, Lets Do it Again), but best known as The Notorious B.I.G. (Business Instead of Game). ...

External links

• Official site
• J Records