- Matchstik
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Allen Forrest 
Allen Forrest and Secretary Of State Hillary R. Clinton at The 65 Decade Of A Difference Birthday Party For The 42nd President Bill ClintonBackground information Birth name Allen David Forrest Jr. Born February 4, 1981
Fort Campbell, KY, raised in Dothan, ALGenres Hip Hop, Acoustic, Pop, Rap, R&B Occupations CEO and Founder of M. Republik Music Group - Recording Artist, Actor Instruments Vocals, Acoustic Guitar Years active 2005–present Labels M. Republik Music Group (2005 - Present) Associated acts Black Eye Peas, Derek Bramble, Phonix, Beta Control Website www.TheAllenForrestProject.com Allen David Forrest Jr. (born February 4, 1981) better known by the stage name Matchstik or Match, is an American recording artist, rapper, singer/songwriter, music producer, and actor. He is also the founder and CEO of M. Republik Music Group.
Matchstik has released two studio albums. The Concept album released in Fall of 2009 has over 100,000 digital downloads worldwide. A feature in Billboard magazine[1] and on Yahoo.com's The New Now.[2] Matchstik was the first rapper to make front page headlines in Dothan, AL in the Dothan Eagle newspaper.[3] Matchstik's song Give Back (ft Whitney Phillips) was featured in the Sony movie Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming[4] movie soundtrack. He also was a social media expert on the 2009 SESAC[5] annual Music Boot Camp. His latest single Nothing Is Free is produced by Black Eyed Peas's hit-maker Jean Baptiste. He's recently finished his anticipated acoustic EP titled The Allen Forrest Project which includes That's What I Say featuring Jennifer Åkerman, a singer/model/actress who is the younger sister of the actress Malin Åkerman.
Matchstik recently completed his latest rap album titled The Great Awakening due to be released digitally worldwide on November 11, 2011 (11.11.11), of which he is the executive producer. The first single from the album is titled Written In Da Starz (Back Streetz) featuring Lou Lou Malibu.
Contents
Early life
Matchstik's near death car crash 2003
Matchstik's near death car crash 2003Raised in Dothan, Alabama. At age nine, Matchstik’s parents separated and a few months later his father attempted suicide.
Matchstik’s father, who was formerly a soldier in the United States Army Reserves, abandoned Matchstik’s family, leaving his mother to raise him and his siblings on her own. Without a father figure in his life, Matchstik found a home in the streets. It wasn’t long before Matchstik himself began selling drugs.
Then, after his third arrest at age 16, Matchstik realized he had to turn his life around. Determined not to be a victim of his circumstances, Matchstik left the street life behind, dropped out of high school and obtained his G.E.D. He also went on to attend college, and subsequently joined the Navy at age 20.
During his journey across the country, Matchstik had a near fatal car crash when his best friend tried to kill himself and Matchstik by grabbing the steering wheel and hitting a tractor-trailer as he & Matchstik were traveling to San Diego.
Petty Officer Forrest and Shipmates in Tampa, FL
Allen Forrest with The 42nd President Bill Clinton discussing World Peace And Ending World Hunger at The 65th Decade Of A Difference Birthday Party
Allen Forrest attended boot camp at The Naval Station, Great Lakes, IL, starting in 2001. After completing boot camp, he attended CTR school at Corry Station in Pensacola, FL. Later, he crossed over to an Operation Specialist to be stationed on the USS Pinckney DDG 91.[6] Upon completing four years of service in the Navy and receiving an honorable discharge and several commendations--including a Good Conduct Medal--he decided to leave the Navy and follow his musical aspirations on the West Coast.Musical career
Matchstik - In Billboard Magazine 2009 from the Matchstik, "I'm Famous." Photoshoot with Photographer Brad ChristopherMatchstik started M. Republik Music Group in Los Angeles, California, in 2005. Match has shared the stage with pop reggae artist Sean Paul, Joe Budden, and several other acts. Matchstik has worked with notable music producers such as Jean Baptiste (Black Eyed Peas), Derek Bramble (Faith Hill, Bowie, Whitney, Will Smith, American Idol), and Phonix (The Game). Celebrity photographers such as Hamesh Shahani (Credits: Sir Richard Branson, Beyonc'e' Kanye West, Common) Oleg Kud (Rich Boi, Lupe Fiasco, Wailers, ) Brad Christopher (Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Taryn Southern).
Allen Forrest and The 65th United States Secretary of State General Colin Powell At The 42nd Annual NAACP Images Awards. In Los Angeles, CAPhilanthropy
2009 Points of Light Institute National Conference On Volunteering & Service at the Moscone center San Francisco, CAMatchstik is the founder of The Good Music And A Good Cause movement which has 378 members, and is a social media advocacy mission to create awareness for charities through social networking. 'The Good Music And A Good Cause' movement was mentioned in Billboard Magazine [7]
References
- ^ Billboard Magazine, Mariel Concepcion, N.Y. | July 23, 2009 http://www.billboard.com/column/undergound/matchstik-1003997021.story#/column/undergound/matchstik-1003997021.story
- ^ Yahoo.com Craig Rosen Fri Jun 5, 2009 http://new.music.yahoo.com/programs/the-new-now/980/picturessounds-of-matchstik-manfree-mp3
- ^ The Dothan Eagle, PEGGY USSERY March 13, 2009 http://www2.dothaneagle.com/lifestyles/2009/mar/13/former_resident_pursues_his_dream_in_hip_hop_music-ar-195531/
- ^ Stomp The Yard 2 Homecoming October 12, 2010 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100917133224AAue50u
- ^ SESAC July 7, 2009 http://www.sesac.com/Events/seminars/panelists.aspx
- ^ http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg91/Pages/default.aspx
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/column/undergound/matchstik-1003997021.story#/column/undergound/matchstik-1003997021.story
External links
Categories:- 1981 births
- American musicians
- American rappers
- United States Navy sailors
- Living people
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