C-Rayz Walz

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C-Rayz Walz bigraphy, stories - American rapper

C-Rayz Walz : biography

August 3, 1979 –

Waleed Shabazz (born 1979), better known by his stage name C-Rayz Walz, is an MC from The Bronx, New York. He is currently a member of the legendary NY hip hop syndicate Stronghold. C-Rayz Walz has been a fixture in the New York hip-hop scene for years. He hosts many hip-hop shows and events, has appeared on over 43 singles that consistently make Billboard charts & College Radio. Walz has had a video in rotation on BET and started his own label, SunCycle Ent. C-Rayz has appeared on many other rappers’ records, including Aesop Rock and Immortal Technique, and has done work with such artists as Percee P and Messiah J & The Expert. Immortal Technique is reputed to be the only MC who can hold his ground against Walz in a freestyle battle.

Discography

Detonator Records

  • Detonator Records Vol I (2001)

Sun Cycle Entertainment

  • The Prelude (2001)
  • Singular Plurals (2002)
  • Limelight (The Outroduction) (2003)
  • Off the Radar (2003)
  • Singular Plurals Vol II (2005)
  • Best of the Beast (2006)
  • The Dropping (2006) (with Urchin Records)
  • Chorus Rhyme (2007) (with Urchin Records)
  • FreeRayzWalz (2008)
  • NAPTOWN: The Broken Comb (2010)
  • All Blvck Everything (The Prelude) w/ Dub MD (2011)

Def Jux

  • Ravipops (The Substance) (2003)
  • We Live: The Black Samurai (2004)
  • Year Of The Beast (2005)

Draft Records

  • 1975: Return of the Beast (2006)

Kings Link Records

  • Who the Fuck Are You? (2009)

Babygrande Records

  • Monster Maker (with Sharkey) (2007)
  • Almighty: Original S.I.N. (2008)

Biography

Shabazz was born and raised in The Bronx. At the age of two, his father was murdered, likely as a result of his involvement with drug dealing. According to Shabazz, his father was "a drug dealer but a good man" and was the inspiration for his song Protect My Family. In an interview, he describes how he was deeply affected by his death, saying, "I was always socially dysfunctional, as far as not being able to deal with other kids having fathers." Shabazz described how he drew wisdom from older community members and ultimately gained inspiration for his music and how he views being a father himself. In the same interview, he points to his music as compensation for his social dysfunction resulting from not having a dad growing up.

At the time that Shabazz was growing up, The Bronx was the site of the early hip hop scene. Shabazz recalls listening to DJ Cool Herc, who is credited with originating the genre, in Echo Park where he lived. In this environment, Shabazz developed a love of music and began freestyling with his friends for fun. Both he and his childhood friend and now professional rapper Prodigy describe MC battles in the lunch room in school. He recalls how his ambitions to be an MC were sealed when Busy Bee Starski heard him rhyming: "When I was 5 or 6 years old I freestyled for Busy Bee. He gave me $5, said, ‘Boy, you’re good. Keep rocking son.’ I ran with that because he was one of the greatest of all time. I knew I was a freestyle legend when I was 6."