Thai Ngo

Notability
guideline (e.g. "Biographies")|date=May 2008

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Thai Minh Ngo


Caption =
Background = solo_singer
Born = Birth date and age|1983|9|11
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Origin = Portland, Oregon, United States
Occupation = Musician, songwriter, record producer
Genre = Hip Hop
Years_active = 2000–present
URL = [http://www.thaistreets.com/ www.thaistreets.com]

Thai Minh Ngo (born September 11, 1983) is a Vietnamese American rapper.

Early life

Thai Minh Ngo was born on September 11, 1983, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Nga Huynh. Thai is the middle of three brothers. He was raised by his mother after his father left the family.

Three years passed and Thai and his family moved to San Jose, California where his mother found a job at a restaurant. He lived an innocent childhood while his parents struggled to put food on the table and care for him and his brothers. At the age of seven, he was left with memories that emotionally scarred him. His father kissed him and said goodbye while his family was eating dinner.

In 1993, Thai's mother moved her family to Portland, Oregon to start a better life. Life did not get better, it only got worse. Without a father to help care for the family, his mother worked two to three minimum wage jobs to care for her family. At a young age, Thai would roam the streets trying to find a place to be accepted, spending most of his time around Asian gangs.

After finishing the 6th grade, Thai's mother was offered a restaurant job in a small city located just outside of Portland. She accepted the offer and once again moved her family. Thai was enrolled at a new school, starting the 7th grade. He didn't have many friends nor much to do, so he began getting more into music. He used lyrics from other rap artists such as Bone Thugs & Harmony, 2Pac, Eazy-E and used other artist's instrumentals and rapped the lyrics over them. He began developing his own unique style when he began writing.

At the age of twelve, Thai and his family moved back to Portland, Oregon. He continued to hang out with the same crowd, continuing his old life where he left off. A little after he turned thirteen, he was caught with a much older gang in the involvement of a gang shooting after school in broad daylight. He was arrested and put in jail, facing nine years if convicted. At the time, he was scared and didn't know what would happen, thinking he would be sent off to jail. Since he was young and the shooting was his first offense, he was let off with probation. He felt blessed and thought about changing his ways when he was released. Instead, he went back to his lifestyle with the streets.

Later life

Thai and his gang was involved in countless shootings, their homes being shot up numerous times, getting into fights weekly at all rival gang hangouts, and was always a high profile suspect with the gang task force unit. At such a young age, he dealt with street drama, thinking he would either die or go to jail. Even after seeing many of his friends sent to jail, he never thought about changing his ways.

After many years, Thai is still in the same place of his life. Knowing one day something bad would happen, Thai was at a party when a drive-by hit, letting off over forty rounds into the home. While he was trying to fire back, he was hit, but luckily just once, only shattering his bone. He went to the hospital where soon after he was released with a cast to his left arm. At times he felt as he was stuck, and even being shot at, he felt as he never changed. However, he did become more careful with his life, but he seemed to be the same person. It's part of his life story. Throughout his years growing up he wrote about his life experiences of the things he's been through and seen.

hooting and Stabbing

*While hanging out at a pool hall with a few friends, he was a target of much older rivals that had much hatred towards him. He was attacked and stabbed in the face with pool sticks, leaving him hospitalized.

Career

Thai started out his career online, and around his neighborhood. He recorded the 7 track EP called "Portland Love " which included the hit singles "Vietnamese Gang" and "around my town". After this partner, Khanh Nho (also featured on Vietnamese gang), suggested that they seek an official rap career. Thai traveled to a studio on the Northside of Portland, where he met producer, C.Ant. "Together We Rize", was the first album to be distributed "in CD format" across the United States, however, Thai is currently not signed to a major label. He has 1 EP and 2 full albums released independently to date, with his latest being My Life & Rhymes. All songs on the album were produced by DJ Slim except for one track (Heart & Soul), and features other well known rap artists, Jimmyboi snacky chan and cool nutz, the album also contains a DVD with 3 music videos (rocky your body, my life and rhymes and roll wit uz).

Influences and style

Thai was heavily inspired by famous early R&B musicians such as Michael Jackson, Boyz ll Men, and Stevie B, as well as early rap musicians like 2Pac, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Eazy-E, Twista, and Deathrow. [http://www.jizo-entertainment.com/interviews/Thai_Ngo_Interview.htm] While recording "Portland Love" and "Together We Rize", Thai's style was fast-paced, similar to Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Twista, but now he raps with more a slower laid back flow and is known for his deep lyrics. Many have compared him to the hip hop legend 2pac, calling him an Asian version of 2pac.

Other Notes

*Thai regularly performs at car shows and nightclubs, particularly Hot import Nights.
*Thai is regarded by many as one of the most popular Asian rappers.
*Thai's manager is China (Thai's longtime friend.)
*"Rock Your Body" on My Life & Rhymes was originally called "Azian Persuasion".

Discography

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/thaistreets Thai's myspace page]
* [http://www.aznraps.com/interviews/artists/thai-%11-my-life-and-rhymes-%28complete%29// Aznraps interview]
* [http://www.jizo-entertainment.com/interviews/Thai_Ngo_Interview.htm Jizo entertainment interview]