Twista Biography

Twista Biography

Carl Terrell Mitchell, (born on November 27, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois) better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper that held the title of fastest rapper in the world according to the Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to rap 11.2 syllables per second. His 2004 album Kamikaze went to number-one on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart after the success of his number-one Billboard Hot 100 single, "Slow Jamz". Twista grew up in K-Town area on the west side of Chicago where he started rapping at the age of 12. Before starting his professional career, however, he had several other jobs, including working at a factory, selling shoes, telemarketing, working at McDonald's, working as a security guard, and as a hairdresser. Twista was one of the fastest artists to sign with Loud Records. In 1991, he released Runnin' Off at Da Mouth under the name of Tung Twista. Despite this recognition, the album achieved little success. Twista dropped the "Tung" off of his name for his second album, Resurrection, which was never released outside of some parts of Chicago. On the album he disses Treach of Naughty By Nature, who had stated that Twista's style was all show and no content. Twista's local notoriety grew in the underground mixtape circuit, as he was featured on several Chicago rap mixtapes, notably Chibangin, alongside unsigned artists like Psychodrama, Triple Darkness and DA Smart.

In 1996, he teamed with fellow Chicago act Do or Die on the track "Po' Pimp" the track became a hit single, leading to a contract with Atlantic Records. He released Adrenaline Rush on 1997, where the album was a huge success with little mainstream help. Around this time, he and Do or Die began a bout of diss tracks against Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, who accused Chicago acts of stealing their fast-rapping style. This was followed by Mobstability in 1998. Twista then formed his own Legit Ballin' label, which has 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". Twista's reputation in rap circles led to work with some other midwestern acts, such as Royce da 5'9" and Da Brat, and southern acts like Timbaland and Ludacris as well as an appearance on P. Diddy's albums No Way Out & Forever and ties to Roc-A-Fella Records.

His long awaited 2004 album, Kamikaze, went platinum on the strength of two singles produced by the Roc's Kanye West. The first single, "Slow Jamz" (featured on both Kamikaze and Kanye's debut College Dropout), featured Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. Twista also recorded a song for the Coach Carter film with Faith Evans called "Hope". After this success, Dame Dash made clear a desire to sign Twista to Roc-A-Fella. Though Atlantic would not release him from his contract, Dame tried to negotiate a joint venture and made Twista an honorary member of the Roc-A-Fella roster. One of Summer 2004's biggest hits "Jook Gal" by Elephant Man featured Twista & The YoungBloodZ. Twista's next album, The Day After, was not as commercially or critically successful and showed a notable lack of Kanye West production. He recently reunited with Kanye for the Mission Impossible III soundtrack, and released his next album (titled Adrenaline Rush 2007) in August 2007. Adrenaline Rush 2007 featuring the of Tight Mike aka Cuzzo, Toxic, The Neptunes, Kanye West and Jazze Pha. Features include the likes of Lil Wayne, R Kelly, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. In 2006, He and his 17 year old nephew, Jesse Marvin Parks a.k.a. Jmoney, an upcomming rapper out of Minnesota, made their solo single "Get Doe",Twista was featured on the song, "Hell No (Leave Home)" from Monica's new album, The Makings of Me. Twista has his own column in the weekly Chicago Tribune publication, RedEye, called "Twista's Turn" where he shares his thoughts and answers readers' questions.