Twista

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Twista bigraphy, stories - The Inventor of Fastest Rap

Twista : biography

November 27, 1972 –

Carl Terrell Mitchell (born November 27, 1973), better known by his stage name Twista, (formerly known as Tung Twista) is an American rapper. He hails from Chicago, Illinois and is known for his Chopper style of rap and for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds. In 1997, after appearing on Do or Die’s hit "Po Pimp" produced by The Legendary Traxster, Twista signed with Big Beat/Atlantic Records and debuted with that label with Adrenaline Rush and formed the group Speedknot Mobstaz in 1998. His 2004 album Kamikaze went to the top on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart after the success of his Billboard Hot 100 single "Slow Jamz".

Discography

Solo albums
  • 1992: Runnin’ Off at da Mouth
  • 1994: Resurrection
  • 1997: Adrenaline Rush
  • 2004: Kamikaze
  • 2005: The Day After
  • 2007: Adrenaline Rush 2007
  • 2009: Category F5
  • 2010: The Perfect Storm
  • 2013: The Dark Horse
Mixtapes
  • 2012: Reloaded
Albums with Speedknot Mobstaz
  • 1998: Mobstability
  • 2008: Mobstability II: Nation Business
Albums with Legit Ballaz
  • 1999: Legit Ballin Vol 1: The Album
  • 2001: Legit Ballin Vol 2: The New Testament 2K (Street Scriptures Compilation)
  • 2001: Tailwinds
  • 2002: Legit Ballin Vol 3: Respect The Game
  • 2006: TailWinds Vol.2:
Miscellaneous
  • 1997: The Southwest Riders
  • 2000: Adrenaline Rush 2000: Twista’s Greatest Hits
  • 2005: 2 for 10 (EP)
  • 2008: Soft Buck Vol. 1
  • 2013: Midwest Fury (with Tech N9ne)

Early life

Carl Mitchell grew up in the K-Town area of the North Lawndale neighborhood of western Chicago, Illinois and began rapping when he was 12.

Music career

Music beginnings

In 1992, Mitchell released his first album called Runnin’ Off at da Mouth under the name Tung Twista.

1993-94: Name-change, Atlantic Records & Resurrection

His second album, titled Resurrection, was set to be released in 1994, but due to problems with his record label at the time Atlantic Records and marketing issues involving fellow Chicago rapper Common’s album of the same name, the album was only released in the city of Chicago and thus got little national attention.

1996-97: Adrenaline Rush

In 1996 he teamed with Chicago producer The Legendary Traxster and Cwal’s Do or Die on the track "Po Pimp" produced by The Legendary Traxster, which became a hit single. This led to a Cwal’s label deal with Atlantic Records, which released Adrenaline Rush in 1997. Twista had by then dropped the "Tung" from his stage name. Adrenaline Rush became Twista’s first charting album, as it peaked at #77 on the Billboard Hot 200. The album also spawned a Billboard Hot 100 hit in "Get It Wet" produced by The Legendary Traxster, which peaked at #96.

1998: Speedknot Mobstaz

In 1998 Twista teamed with other Chicago area rappers to form the Speedknot Mobstaz. They released their first album, Mobstability produced entirely by The Legendary Traxster, in 1998. Twista then formed his own Legit Ballin’ label, which released two compilation albums: Legit Ballin’ in 1999 and Legit Ballin’ Vol. 2: Street Scriptures in 2001. The label later released Respect The Game, Vol. 3 in 2002 and Volume 4: Tha Truth in 2006. In 2000, Twista collaborated with Ruff Ryders and Drag-On on the Ruff Ryders: Ryde or Die Vol. 2 album, on the track "Twisted Heat."

2002-04: Kamikaze