- Charles Hamilton (rapper)
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Charles Hamilton 
Background information Birth name Charles Eddie-Lee Hamilton, Jr. Born November 10, 1987 Cleveland, Ohio, United States Genres Hip hop Occupations Rapper, record producer, composer Years active 2005–present Labels Interscope, NewCo Music Associated acts DJ Skee
MC Lyte
Asher Roth
B.o.B
Kid Cudi
Yung Nate
SHow TuFli
DJ Halo
DJ Green Lantern
BagdadWebsite myspace.com/hamiltonsmusic Charles Eddie-Lee Hamilton, Jr. (born November 10, 1987) is an American musician, rapper and record producer, born in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mainstream popularity came from being featured on the cover of the Freshmen 09' XXL, along with Asher Roth, B.o.B and Wale.[1] Hamilton is notorious for his favoritism with the color pink and his obsession with Sonic the Hedgehog - all part of his "Super Sonic Philosophy". He also is the cousin of famous rapper MC Lyte.[2]
Contents
Life and career
Early life and career beginnings
Raised in Harlem, New York, Charles Hamilton was exposed to music at an early age. "My mother was an entertainment journalist for the Cleveland Call and Post, so she would take me with her to events when I was just a baby." Hamilton stated his mother always made sure he had an instrument around him. His mother put different kinds of instruments in the basement of their Cleveland home, but he naturally gravitated to the keyboard. Hamilton has stated, "At first, I was just playing the rhythm of the songs I would hear... The older I got, the more proficient I got at hearing the notes." For most of his life, Hamilton was self-taught, picking up the lead and bass guitar in his teenage years, as well as the drums and harmonica. Hamilton has stated that listening to other genres of music, being exposed to different cultures and experiencing life helped mold his musical sound. Utilizing a studio built in the Frederick Douglass Academy, Charles Hamilton has spent countless hours in the studio, developing his craft and his own signature sound. Hamilton stated, "The Lab (FDA's studio) means so much to me, because when I literally didn't have anywhere else to go in the world, I can just go into my beloved alma mater and purge myself creatively." The studio in the Frederick Douglass Academy is where most of Charles Hamilton's music is made. Hamilton has also stated, regarding FDA's studio, that "[I] can do my thing in other studios. It's just something about home that makes my music breathe."[3]
2008-2009: Interscope Records & J Dilla controversy
In 2008, Hamilton stated that his debut solo digital album, The Pink Lavalamp, is his way of illustrating his ideas for the future of music.[4] The Pink Lavalamp was later released on December 8, 2008 online as a free download.
Hamilton was to be releasing his first studio album on Interscope, titled This Perfect Life, in 2009. According to Hamilton's blog at the time, the album was to be released digitally on June 23, 2009,[5] and the physical copy in stores on August 25, 2009.[6] The album was supposed to be Hamilton's major label debut and the first album distributed by a major record label for free download on Charles Hamilton's own website. There was also a physical copy of the album that would have to be purchased in stores that included a DVD of animated videos to help the listener get a better feel for the music. Hamilton caused some controversy when the album covers were released and the deceased producer, J Dilla, was named as executive producer.[7] A handful of Dilla’s closest associates through Hip-Hop began speaking out against Hamilton's use of the name and its connection to his music. Hamilton later stated he was wishing to financially help J Dilla's mother who had thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, the same illness that took J Dilla's life. J Dilla's name was later removed from the album artwork due to legal reasons.[8] After months of speculation, the album was never released as a result of Hamilton getting dropped from Interscope on September 19, 2009 for unknown reasons.[9] But it was still released digitally as a leak on various websites.[10]
2010-present: NewCo Music, arrest and trials
On March 25, 2010, Charles Hamilton released his mixtape entitled The Binge Vol. 3 - Charles Hamilton's Last Mixtape.[11] Although he announced that The Binge Vol. 3 would be his last mixtape, Hamilton, along with fellow rapper B.o.B, released a video trailer on March 29, 2010 to promote the song "Paperboy".[12] In the video, B.o.B hinted that the two may possibly be making a mixtape together. The single "Paperboy" ended up being released on May 21, 2010.[13] Also in March, Hamilton dedicated a song called "Choices (A Wave to Alex)" in honor of a friend who died after getting in the car with a drunk driver."[14] Hamilton released a new single called "Gauchos" on May 4, 2010.[15] On July 3, 2010, Hamilton released six mixtapes entitled Well This Isn't Awkward (Winner Takes All), Autumn Harvest, Gynophobia, Atlantis and A..., 10 Things I Hate About Me and The L Word II (INcomplete).[16]
On September 23rd, 2011, just one day after getting released from rehab, Charles Hamilton released two mixtapes, 'Gynophobia 2' & 'C.A.T.S. Can'.
Early in the morning on October 4, 2011, Charles Hamilton released 'What The Hell is Wrong With You?!' on his Facebook. This project was written while he was in rehab and recorded recently after he got released from rehab on September 22, 2011.
Discography
Charles Hamilton discography 250px Releases ↙Studio albums 1 ↙Singles 6 ↙Music videos 4 ↙Mixtapes 42 Albums
Studio albums
Year Title 2009 This Perfect Life - Release date: Shelved
- Label: Interscope Records
Free albums
Year Title 2008 The Pink Lavalamp - Released: 8 December 2008
2009 Normalcy - Released: 28 December 2009
2010 T.A.F.I.E.T.U. (The Album For Interscope Executives To Understand) - Released: 13 August 2010
The Blue Lavalamp: M/A/T/E (Mirrors Are The Enemy) - Released: 16 September 2010
2011 Sober Karaoke - Released: 8 July 2011
Mixtapes
- The Binge Vol. 1 (Staring at the Lavalamp) (2006)
- Crash Landed (2008)
- Outside Looking (2008)
- Death of the Mixtape Rapper (2008)
- And Then They Played Dilla (2008)
- Staff Development (2008)
- It's Charles Hamilton (2008)
- The L Word (2008)
- Sonic the Hamilton (2008)
- Intervention (2008)
- Well Isn't This Awkward... (2009)
- My Brain Is Alive (2009)
- Every Charles Hamilton Ex-Girlfriend's Worst Nightmare (2009)
- TakeMeToYourLeader (2009)
- The Dead Zone (2009)
- At Most I'm Just...(2009)
- Dope2Go (The Halo+The Hamilton Project) (2009)
- Shut Up Already (3 Song Mixtape) (2009)
- This Perfect 3 Song Mixtape (2009)
- The Binge Vol. 3 (Charles Hamilton's Last Mixtape) (2010)
- Well This Isn't Awkward (Winner Takes All) (2010)
- Autumn Harvest (2010)
- Gynophobia (2010)
- Atlantis And A... ('08, '09, '10)(2010)
- 10 Things I Hate About Me (2010)
- The L Word II (INcomplete) (2010)
- Segahamilton.blogspot.com (2010)
- Grow Wing Pains (2010)
- Hamiltonstrumentals (2010)
- Spelling Bee (2010)
- Starchaser Radio (CH/H2) (2010)
- (for your locker) 3-Song High School/Campus EP (2010)
- Sonic the Hamilton 2: HD (2010)
- reIntervention (2010)
- Snap Crackle Pop (2010)
- Mic Check (LWord3) (2010)
- The Hardest Mixtape EVER... Muthafuckas (2010)
- Back To The Future, Back To The Haze (with Corporate) (2010)
- Charles Hamilton's Attempts at "Swag" (2011)
- The Power of Illumination (2011)
- NHF (2011)
- The Up (2011)
- C.A.T.S. Can (2011)
- What The Hell Is Wrong With You?! (2011)
With 'Demevolist Music Group'
- Ayo! These Niggaz Went Hollywood (2008)
- First Order of Business Disc 1: Plan (2009)
Singles
Year Song Chart positions Album U.S. U.S. R&B U.S. Rap UK UK R&B CAN 2008 "Brooklyn Girls" 97 — — — — — Outside Looking 2009 "Loser" — — — — — — The Pink Lavalamp "Babara Walters" — — — — — — "This Perfect Life" 2010 "Gauchos" — — — — — — "Paperboy" feat. B.o.B — — — — — — "All Alone" — — — — — — Music videos
Year Song Album Director 2008 November 10 Outside Looking Matt Alonzo Brooklyn Girls 2009 Word? Aight Loser The Pink Lavalamp References
- ^ Posted 11/3/2008 by IGA (2008-11-03). "Charles Hamilton : Press : Charles Hamilton on the cover of XXL Magazine". Interscope.com. http://www.interscope.com/artist/news/default.aspx?nid=17149&aid=1099. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ "Charles Hamilton Gets 'Closer' With MC Lyte". Soulbounce.Com. http://www.soulbounce.com/soul/2008/06/charles_hamilton_gets_closer_with_mc_lyte.php. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ http://www.newcomusic.com/2010/09/charles-hamilton/
- ^ “” (2008-12-08). "Charles Hamilton Presents The Pink Lavalamp - FULL Interview". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXLjdPQuU1U. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ "Charles Hamilton Gives The Late J Dilla Exec Producer Credits On Debut, Releases Tracklist". XXLmag.com. http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=48665. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ "Unofficial August 2009 Album Releases". Slumz.boxden.com. http://slumz.boxden.com/f87/unofficial-august-2009-album-releases-1268332/. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ Charles Hamilton Addresses J Dilla Love & Detroit Controversy, http://allhiphop.com, Monday, June 08, 2009
- ^ Charles Hamilton Takes J Dilla Credits Off Album, xxlmag.com, June 10, 2009
- ^ "Charles Hamilton Dropped By Interscope | Charles Hamilton". Rap Basement. 2009-09-21. http://www.rapbasement.com/charles-hamilton/092109-charles-hamilton-reportedly-dropped-by-interscope-records.html. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2009/09/20/charles-hamilton-this-perfect-life-unreleased-album/
- ^ "Charles Hamilton – The Binge vol. 3: Charles Hamilton’s Last Mixtape (Mixtape) | 2dopeboyz". 2dopeboyz.okayplayer.com. 2010-03-25. http://2dopeboyz.okayplayer.com/2010/03/25/charles-hamilton-the-binge-vol-3-charles-hamiltons-last-mixtape-mixtape/. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ "Charles Hamilton x B.o.B – Paperboy BTS (Video)". 2dopeboyz. http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2010/03/29/charles-hamilton-x-b-o-b-paperboy-bts-video/. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ "Paperboy (feat. B.o.B) - Single by Charles Hamilton - Download Paperboy (feat. B.o.B) - Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-05-21. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/paperboy-feat-b-o-b-single/id374107667. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ Courtesy of: WordIsBorn. "That's That...: Charles Hamilton - "Choices (A Wave For Alex)"". Thatsthatish.com. http://www.thatsthatish.com/2010/04/charles-hamilton-choices-wave-for-alex.html. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ "Gauchos - Single by Charles Hamilton - Download Gauchos - Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-05-04. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gauchos-single/id371216172. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ July 4, 2010 (2010-07-04). "6 Brand New Charles Hamilton Mixtapes " Knuckles Hamilton". Knuckleshamilton.wordpress.com. http://knuckleshamilton.wordpress.com/2010/07/04/6-brand-new-charles-hamilton-mixtapes/. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
External links
Categories:- 1987 births
- African American rappers
- Interscope Records artists
- Living people
- Musicians from Cleveland, Ohio
- Rappers from New York City
- Rappers from Ohio
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