Tha Realest

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 150
Name = Tha Realest
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Jevon Jones
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin = flagicon|Texas Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Instrument =
Genre = Hip hop
Occupation = Rapper
Age =
Years_active = 1996 – present
Label = Death Row Records
(1996–2002)
Omerta Entertainment
(2002–2006)
Tommy Boy Records
(2002–2006)
Tru 'Dat' Entertainment
(2006–2007)
Team Dime Entertainment
(2007–present)
Associated_acts = The Regime
URL = [http://www.tharealest.com/ www.tharealest.com]
Current_members =
Past_members =

Jevon Jones (born in Dallas, Texas) is an American rapper better known by his stage name Tha Realest, and formerly Tenkamenin The Vigilante (or simply Tenkamenin). Tha Realest is also a member of The Regime.

Early life

Jevon Jones was born in Dallas, Texas, and was raised there by his grandmother. His father worked as a preacher. [http://www.undergroundwestcoastrap.com/tharealest.htm Tha Realest] UndergroundWestcoastRap.com] As an Oak Cliff native, Jones started rapping in the early 1980s at the age of 10 and competed in rap battles on the local circuit. In the early 1990s, Jones and former Dallas Cowboys player, Kevin Smith, formed their first record label. [http://www.wwsmag.com/archive/interviews/tharealest.htm Tha Realest Interview] by BIG WILL, "Worldwide Westside Magazine" Issue #3, March, 2004]

Career

Death Row Records

Jones signed to Death Row Records in 1996. He made his musical debut on the "Gang Related" soundtrack, appearing in two songs with rapper J-Flexx under the pseudonym Tenkamenin, sharing his name with a 11th century African Emperor of the Ghana Empire. In 1999 he performed several tracks on the Death Row collaboration "" alongside fellow Death Row artists Swoop G and Lil' C-Style. He would again collaborate with them on yet another Death Row compilation titled "Too Gangsta for Radio", appearing on the tracks "Fuck Dre" and "Fuck Hollywood". "Fuck Dre", seemingly a response to the Dr. Dre single "Forgot About Dre", insults many former Death Row artists and their affiliates, primarily Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, N.W.A and Eminem, who is an artist on Aftermath Records.

On October 17, 1999, [ [http://www.angelfire.com/wa/DefRow/timeline.html The Big-Ass Timeline] (see "1999" at the bottom)] while working on "Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000", Tha Realest sustained relatively serious injuries to the foot, having been shot in a drive-by shooting after leaving the studio in which he had just finished recording a song with Tha Dogg Pound (Kurupt and Daz Dillinger). [http://www.undergroundwestcoastrap.com/tharealest.htm Tha Realest] UndergroundWestcoastRap.com] Dwayne "Draws" Dupree, a security officer working in the area, was also shot, but died shorty after. [http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur19640.cfm Off Tha Row and on With Tha Real] "EURweb.com", March 30, 2005]

After Death Row Records

Tha Realest left Death Row Records in 2002 to form his own record label, 2 Real Entertainment (later Omerta Entertainment). In 2004, he recorded a mixtape at Can-Am Studios with Mob Life Records artist 730 entitled "From East 2 West", and was released in early 2007. It featured musical performances by Mopreme Shakur, Assassin, Havikk of South Central Cartel and New Child of Outlawz. [ [http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2004/03/0047/ Indie Label Mob Life Records Drops First Release] by Jay Casteel, BallerStatus, March 17, 2004]

Tha Realest was signed to Tru 'Dat' Entertainment in 2006, a company founded by Hysear Randell to seek and recruit talented individuals in film, music, fashion and sports. The music video for his debut single, "Eurry Now and Then" was released shortly thereafter. It features cameo appearances by C-Bo, Yukmouth, Nutt-So, Young Hogg, Big C-Style and Ray J. [ [http://www.westcoastrydaz.com/news/30791/ Witness Tha Realest: “Eurry Now & Then” Video Premiere!] by BIGWILL, West Coast Rydaz, March 9, 2007] In 2007, Hysear was accused of embezzling millions of dollars worth of tax payers money through fraudulent money transfers. Tru 'Dat' Entertainment was subsequently forced to discontinue the label. [ [http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5514303,00.html Suspect's Web site makes lavish claims] by John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News, May 1, 2007]

Tha Realest is now trying to release his highly anticipated album "Witness Tha Realest", which has been delayed substantially due to the demise of Tru 'Dat' Entertainment. It will feature guest appearances from other rappers, among them, Yukmouth, Fat Joe, Dru Down, C-Bo, WC, E.D.I., Napoleon, Devin The Dude, Swoop G and others. Tha Realest plans on compliing close to 18 tracks for the album, telling interviewers:

"Witness Tha Realest Mix Tape", which was released in November of 2006 was originally meant to be the "Witness Tha Realest" studio album scheduled for release on July 15, 2004. This, however, changed due to the absence of a distribution company. [http://www.wwsmag.com/archive/interviews/tharealest.htm Tha Realest Interview] by BIG WILL, "Worldwide Westside Magazine" Issue #3, March, 2004] In late 2007, Tha Realest signed with Team Dime Entertainment, a newly created record label which will host his debut album. Following the label's developments, the album is expected to be released sometime in 2008.

Films

Tha Realest, like many other rappers such as G-Unit and Ice-T, has appeared in several hip-hop themed pornographic productions including a few alongside other rappers such as Snoop Dogg who, himself, has produced several pornographic films. His main productions are titled "Tha Realest #1" and "#2" and feature original music by Tha Realest [ [http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2004/11/0441/ Former Death Row Artist Tha Realest Filming Adult DVD] BallerStatus, November 11, 2004] and many popular pornographic actresses such as Mika Tan, Lyla Lei and Brooke Haven. The films were produced by Antiqua Pictures and Fatt Entertainment. The Realest also appeared in a low-budget film titled "Slumber Party" which was released in 2005 and also featured several former-Death Row Records performers such as Daz Dillinger and Crooked I.

Discography

Albums

*"Witness Tha Realest" (2009)

Compilations

*"" (1999)
*"Too Gangsta for Radio" (2000)

Filmography

Pornographic movies

References

External links

* [http://www.tharealest.com/ Tha Realest Official website]
*MySpace|tharealest|Tha Realest
*amg|label=Tha Realest|id=11:fbfixq9kldke
*imdb name|2033290|Tha Realest
*Discogs artist|artist=Tha+Realest