Smilez and Southstar

Infobox musical artist
Name = Smilez and Southstar



Img_capt =
Origin = Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Background = group_or_band
Genre = Hip hop, Rap
Years_active = 2002—present
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/SmilezandSouthstar http://www.myspace.com/SmilezandSouthstar]

Smilez and Southstar hip-hop duo based in Orlando, Florida. They had a Top 40 hit with the song "Tell Me" in late 2002. [cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1470940/20030402/smilez_southstar.jhtml |title=VH1.com: Smilez and Southstar |publisher=VH1 |accessdate=2007-07-18] Their music has been played on stations nationwide and their videos have appeared on MTV and BET

Beginnings

Getting signed

Smilez met Southstar while rap battling at the Parliament House in Orlando and then decided to start their own rap group. They kept performing and battling and eventually caught the eyes of Reincarnate Music and Smilez & Southstar immediately got a record deal.

Early success 2002-2003

The group's first single was "Who Wants This" featuring Kelis. The song had an underground vibe to it and created a buzz--but still didn't crack the top 40. The group's next single, "Tell Me", hit the Top 40 charts. The duo then followed it up with "Now That You're Gone". Smilez talks about the death of his mother and Southstar speaks about the death of his son, Malik, however, it did poorly on the charts, and the group was considered a one-hit wonder. But, the group still followed on with a tour with reggae artist Beenie Man. They also were considered "different" because they didn't talk about drugs or sex in their musicFact|date=February 2007. However, that has since changed, as heard in their single "Good Look", which was featured on .

The group has been quiet because of their switch in labels due to poor success of their album "Crash The Party". They were signed to Reincarnate, an indie label, but now have created their own independent record label Groundworks Entertainment. The label features reggae artist Viper and rapper Vill.

Controversy

"Tell Me" used a sample from Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross's song Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart). There was controversy when Ja Rule and Ashanti's song "Mesmerized", released around the same time, used the same sample. This made a slight "beef" between Smilez & Southstar and Ja Rule's record label, Murder Inc., which stemmed from Murder Inc turning down the original version of Mesmerized, originally produced by DJ Nasty (of Orlando).

Feature success

Smilez and Southstar are currently working on their next album and should have a release date in 2007. The album features the songs "Found Out", "Been a Long Time", and "Good Look". "Good Look" features Cash Money rapper Gotti. Beenie Man and Killer Mike will be featured on the album. The lead single "U Know" features rappers Treal. Southstar is featured on the mixtape freestyle "Protect Ya Neck" with fellow Asian rappers Jin, LS, Yung Mac, Thai, and Far East Movement.

ingles

* "Who Wants This" feat. Kelis
* "Tell Me"
* "Now That You're Gone"
* "Good Look" feat. Gotti
* "U Know" feat. Treal
* "Stop Handcuffin"
* "U" feat. KC

Videography

* "Who Wants This" feat. Kelis
* "Tell Me"
* "Now That You're Gone"
* "Good Look" feat. Gotti
* "U Know" feat. Treal

Albums

*Crash the Party
*The Re-Introduction (Fall 2007)

Mixtapes

* Mixtape Vol. 1
* F*$% Wit us Now

Links

* [http://www.t-con.com/ Trans Continental Records]
* [http://www.myspace.com/smilezandsouthstar Official MySpace page]
* [http://www.sohood.com/1/content/view/582/43/ Interview with Smilez and Southstar]

Footnotes