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{{Short description|American rapper (born 1970)}}
{{Infobox musical artist 2
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
|Name = U-God
{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}
|Img =U_godjuj.jpg
{{Infobox musical artist
|Background = solo_singer
| name = U-God
|Birth_name = Lamont Hawkins
| image = U-God in Paris, 2013 (cropped).jpg
|Born = {{birth date and age|1970|10|11}}
| image_upright =
|Origin = [[Staten Island]], [[New York City]], [[New York]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| caption = U-God performing in 2013
|Genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| birth_name = Lamont Jody Hawkins
|Years_active = [[1993 in music|1993]]–present
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|11|10}}
|Label = [[Loud Records]]<br>[[Synergy Music]]<br>[[Free Agency Recordings]]
| birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], U.S.
| origin = [[Staten Island]], New York City, U.S.
| alias = Golden Arms{{middot}}Universal-God
| genre = [[East Coast hip hop]]
| years_active = 1991–present
| label = [[Wu-Tang Records|Wu Tang]]{{middot}}[[Babygrande Records|Babygrande]]
| current_member_of = [[Wu-Tang Clan]]
}}
}}


'''Lamont Jody Hawkins''' (born November 10, 1970),<ref name="Allmusic" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|last=Hsu|first=Hua|title=The Unexpectedly Moving Story of U-God, the Least-Loved Member of the Wu-Tang Clan|url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-unexpectedly-moving-story-of-u-god-the-least-loved-member-of-the-wu-tang-clan|access-date=November 18, 2020|magazine=The New Yorker|date=March 28, 2018|language=en-us|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109030744/https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-unexpectedly-moving-story-of-u-god-the-least-loved-member-of-the-wu-tang-clan|url-status=live}}</ref> better known by his stage name '''U-God''', meaning Universal-God, is an American [[hip hop music|rapper]] and member of the [[hip hop culture|hip hop]] collective [[Wu-Tang Clan]].<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |last=Huey |first=Steve |title=U-God > Biography |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p278759/biography|pure_url=yes}}|work=Allmusic|date=May 20, 2008|access-date=April 19, 2010}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for his deep voice and rhythmic flow that can alternate between gruff and smooth.
'''U-God''' (born [[October 11]], [[1970]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[hip hop music|rapper]] and member of the [[hip hop culture|hip hop]] collective, [[Wu-Tang Clan]]. He has been with the group since not long after its inception, and released his debut solo album ''[[Golden Arms Redemption]]'' in [[1999]].


==Biography==
== Early life ==
Hawkins was born in [[Brownsville, Brooklyn|Brownsville]], [[Brooklyn]], New York City.<ref name=":0" /> He moved to [[Staten Island]] as a youth.<ref name=":0" /> He was originally a beatboxer for [[Cappadonna]], and was friends with future members [[Method Man]], [[Inspectah Deck]] and childhood friend of [[Raekwon]]. Sometime before the members united, U-God was mentored in rap by Cappadonna. He soon became friends with [[RZA]] and [[Ghostface Killah]], and he began rhyming under the alias Golden Arms, based on the Kung-Fu movie ''[[Kid with the Golden Arm]]''. Later on he changed his name to U-God (which is short for his [[Five-Percent Nation]] righteous name "Universal God Allah").<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4GBEARaH30 |title=Rise of a Fallen Soldier – The story of U-God (part1) |publisher=YouTube |access-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504144959/http://www.youtube.com//watch?v=D4GBEARaH30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-06-20T09_28_59-07_00 |title=PodOmatic &#124; Best Free Podcasts he is u god |publisher=Conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com |access-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-date=July 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722211450/http://conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-06-20T09_28_59-07_00 |url-status=live }}</ref>
U-God was born '''Lamont Hawkins''' in [[Brownsville, Brooklyn|Brownsville]], [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City|New York]]. Being jailed for [[narcotics]] [[possession]] prevented him from featuring heavily on the group's debut album [[Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)]], his input on the seminal LP consisting of only a short [[bridge (music)|bridge]] on the group's debut single "Protect Ya Neck" as well as the now-famous opening verse of "Da Mystery of Chessboxin". Nevertheless, after his release he quickly became known to fans for his rugged flow and bass-like voice on Wu tracks such as ''Winter Warz'', "Knuckleheadz" and "Black Jesus" and featured heavily on the group's second album ''[[Wu-Tang Forever]]'' (on which he was one of only three of the group to get a solo track, the others being [[Inspectah Deck]], with "The City", and [[Ol' Dirty Bastard]], with "Dog Shit". Around this time his young son was accidentally shot and injured, an ordeal the rapper documented on the Wu-Tang Clan track ''A Better Tomorrow''.


== Career ==
U-God was the eighth (out of nine) member of the group to record a solo album, releasing ''[[Golden Arms Redemption]]'' in [[1999]], which displayed a wide variety of sounds from gritty [[blaxploitation]] [[funk]] to urgent string sections, and featured guest appearances from several Wu-Tang members and affiliates.


=== ''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'' / ''Wu-Tang Forever'' ===
After a high-profile disagreement with Wu leader [[RZA]] in 2004 over royalties, which included a heated phone conversation on live radio, U-God released his second album ''[[U-GODZILLA presents the Hillside Scramblers]]'', which featured U-God and his team of Inf Black, Letha Fase, Black Ice and King Just. Shortly before the album was released, U-God released a DVD entitled ''Rise Of A Fallen Soldier''. In the DVD, U-God talked about his problems with RZA and other members of the clan, plus spoke his opinions on the current situation of the rap game. The DVD also included a sampler of ''[[U-GODZILLA presents the Hillside Scramblers]]''. However U-God and RZA appeared to put aside their differences soon after, and they were soon both together on stage as part of the Clan for their European and American tour during summer 2004.
U-God was convicted on the grounds of [[Illegal weapons trade|firearm]] and [[drug possession]] charges on April 17, 1992, and was paroled in January 1993. His incarceration prevented him from attending the group's debut album ''[[Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)]]'' recording sessions for the most part, his input on the seminal LP consisting of only a short [[bridge (music)|bridge]] on the group's debut single "[[Protect Ya Neck]]" as well as the fan-favorite opening verse of "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'". Nevertheless, after his release, he quickly became known to fans for his rugged flow and bass-like voice on Wu tracks such as "Winter Warz", "Knuckleheadz", "Investigative Reports", and "Black Jesus". He was featured heavily on the group's second album ''[[Wu-Tang Forever]]'', on which he was one of only four of the group to get a solo track – "Black Shampoo" (the others being [[Inspectah Deck]] with "The City", [[RZA]] with "Sunshower" and [[Ol' Dirty Bastard]] with "Dog Shit").


=== ''Golden Arms Redemption'' ===
U-God released his third solo album, titled ''Mr. Xcitement'' on [[September 13]], [[2005]], on Free Agency Recordings. It featured two singles&mdash;"Bump", and "You Don't Want to Dance". He will appear on an upcoming tour that promises to feature all of the remaining Wu-Tang Clan members as they reunite for their new album, [[8 Diagrams]]. His next solo album is rumored to be titled "Machine Gun Funk".
U-God was the eighth member of the group to record a solo album, releasing ''[[Golden Arms Redemption]]'' in 1999 on Priority Records, which displayed a wide variety of sounds from gritty [[blaxploitation]] [[funk]] to urgent string sections, and featured guest appearances from several Wu-Tang members and affiliates. It had two singles in "Dat's Gangsta" and "Bizarre". The song "Rumble" was used as the main song for the video game ''[[Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style]]''. Bizarre debuted #7 on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Rap Singles]], but soon after Priority Records was on the verge of shutting down. Still, the album managed to go Gold in sales. Based on the initial success, U-God was able to open his own label, Suppa Nigga Productions. He released his second album ''[[Mr. Xcitement]]'' in 2005.


=== ''Dopium'' and ''The Keynote Speaker'' ===
==Aliases==
[[File:U-God performing in Atlanta.jpg|thumb|U-God performing in Atlanta, 2007]]
*Golden Arms (from the movie ''The Kid With The Golden Arms'')
In 2009 U-God released the album ''[[Dopium]]'' and had the lead single "Wu-Tang" featuring [[Method Man]]. The album featured guest appearances by [[Sheek Louch]], [[Jim Jones]], [[Raekwon]], [[Ghostface Killah]], [[GZA]], [[Cappadonna]], [[Killah Priest]] and Scotty Wotty with production by Bloody Beat Roots, Felix Cartel and [[Large Professor]]. In 2013 U-God announced a new album ''[[The Keynote Speaker]]'' with production by [[RZA]] who also served as the albums executive producer. The album was released on July 23, 2013, by RZA's [[Soul Temple Records]] with guest appearances from [[Styles P]], [[Kool Keith]], [[Method Man]], RZA, [[GZA]] and [[Inspectah Deck]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soultemplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-keynote-speaker |title=The Keynote Speaker &#124; Soul Temple Music |publisher=Soultemplemusic.bandcamp.com |access-date=July 11, 2013 |archive-date=July 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709055325/http://soultemplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-keynote-speaker |url-status=live }}</ref>
*4-Bar Killer
*Baby U
*Uey
*Baby Uey
*Universal God of Law
*Lucky Hands
*U-godzilla
*Jody King
*Daddy Long Caddy
*Goldie
*Stonefingers (in the "Gravel Pit" music video)


=== ''Venom'' and autobiographical book ===
== Discography==
On December 13, 2016, U-God released through Babygrande Records' [[SoundCloud]] account a song "Venom" and announced that his new album, also called ''[[Venom (U-God album)|Venom]]'', would be released soon.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=U-God Releases Fiery New Track 'Venom,' Announces New Album: Exclusive|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7624334/u-god-venom-song-album|magazine=Billboard|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-date=May 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517133122/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7624334/u-god-venom-song-album|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 25, 2017, he added a [[Twitter|tweet]] in which he announced that he had finished his [[autobiography]] entitled ''[[Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang]]'' and it would be released along with his new album in March 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=U-God Announces New Memoir 'RAW: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang'|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/music/u-god-announced-memoir-raw-journey-wu-tang-clan.html|website=Okayplayer|access-date=February 5, 2018|date=September 25, 2017|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073526/http://www.okayplayer.com/music/u-god-announced-memoir-raw-journey-wu-tang-clan.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 2, 2018, he released a free mixtape ''Bring Back God II'' through [[DatPiff]] platform.<ref>{{cite web|title=U-God Delivers New Mixtape 'Bring Back God II' – XXL|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/02/u-god-bring-back-god-mixtape/|website=XXL Mag|date=February 2, 2018 |access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206002522/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/02/u-god-bring-back-god-mixtape/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Venom'' was released on March 30, 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/03/u-god-venom-album-release-date/|title=U-God Shares Release Date and Tracklist for 'Venom' Album – XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=March 6, 2018 |language=en|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409231839/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/03/u-god-venom-album-release-date/|url-status=live}}</ref> and debuted at #34 on the U.S. Rap Albums Chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-albums/2018-04-07|title=Rap Music: Top Rap Albums Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-date=May 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519022203/https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-albums/2018-04-07|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Albums ===
{| class="wikitable"
! width="350"|Album Name
! width="150" align="center"|Release Date
! width="150" align="center"|Status
|-
|''[[Golden Arms Redemption]]''
|[[October 5]], [[1999]]
|- Gold U.S.
|-
|''[[U-GODZILLA presents the Hillside Scramblers]]''
|[[March 16]], [[2004]]
|
|-
|''[[Mr. Xcitement]]''
|[[September 13]], [[2005]]
|-
|''[[Machine Gun Funk]]''
|TBA
|
|-
|}


===Singles and EPs===
== Discography ==
{{Main|U-God discography}}
* 1999 "Dat's Gangsta"
* 1999 "Bizarre"
* 1999 "Rumble"
* 2002 "Supa Nigga EP"
* 2005 "Bump"
* 2005 "You Don't Want To Dance"
* 2007 "Takem Home Exclusive"
* 2007 "FREEZE Exclusive"


===DVD releases===
=== Studio albums ===
* ''[[Golden Arms Redemption]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Mr. Xcitement]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Dopium]]'' (2009)
* ''[[The Keynote Speaker]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Venom (U-God album)|Venom]]'' (2018)


=== Collaboration albums ===
* 2004 "Rise Of A Fallen Soldier"
* ''[[UGodz-Illa Presents: The Hillside Scramblers]]'' <small>with The Hillside Scramblers</small> (2004)


=== Appears On ===
== Personal life ==
Around the time of ''Wu Tang Forever'', his two-year-old son Dontae (now a hip-hop artist as iNTeLL) was struck by a stray bullet while on his way to a birthday party, suffering permanent damage to his kidneys and hands,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hsu|first=Hua|date=March 28, 2018|title=The Unexpectedly Moving Story of U-God, the Least-Loved Member of the Wu-Tang Clan|url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-unexpectedly-moving-story-of-u-god-the-least-loved-member-of-the-wu-tang-clan|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814060055/https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-unexpectedly-moving-story-of-u-god-the-least-loved-member-of-the-wu-tang-clan|archive-date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=New Yorker}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bono|first=Sal|date=May 16, 2020|title=Shot at 2 Years Old and Feared Paralyzed Forever, Son of Wu Tang Clan Rapper Now Walking in Dad's Footsteps|url=https://www.insideedition.com/shot-at-2-years-old-and-feared-paralyzed-forever-son-of-wu-tang-clan-rapper-now-walking-in-dads|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718152925/https://www.insideedition.com/shot-at-2-years-old-and-feared-paralyzed-forever-son-of-wu-tang-clan-rapper-now-walking-in-dads|archive-date=July 18, 2020|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=[[Inside Edition]]}}</ref> an ordeal U-God documented on the Wu-Tang Clan track "A Better Tomorrow".
* 1993 ''[[Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers]]'' (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)

* 1995 "Knuckleheadz" (from the [[Raekwon]] ''[[Only Built 4 Cuban Linx]]'')
== Bibliography ==
* 1995 "Investigative Reports" (from the [[GZA]] album ''[[Liquid Swords]]'')
*{{Cite book|last=U-God|url=|title=Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang|date=2018|isbn=978-1-250-19116-8|edition=|location=New York|oclc=1001859919|publisher=Picador}}
* 1996 "Black Jesus" & "Winter Warz" (from the [[Ghostface Killah]] album ''[[Ironman (album)|Ironman]]'')

* 1996 "If It's Allright With You" (from the [[soundtrack]] for the movie ''[[The Great White Hype]]''
== References ==
* 1996 "Semi-Automatic Full Rap Metal Jacket" (from the [[soundtrack]] for the movie ''[[High School High]]''
{{Reflist}}
* 1997 ''[[Wu-Tang Forever]]'' (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
* 1997 "Intellectuals" (from the [[Sunz Of Man]] album ''[[The Last Shall Be First]]'')
* 1998 "Supa Ninjaz" (from the [[Cappadonna]] album ''[[The Pillage]]'')
* 1998 "Element Of Surprise" (from the [[La the Darkman]] album ''[[Heist Of The Century]]'')
* 1999 "Grand Prix" & "Longevity" (from the [[Inspectah Deck]] album ''[[Uncontrolled Substance]]'')
* 1999 "Killa Hill Niggaz" (from the [[Cypress Hill]] album ''[[Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom]]'')
* 1999 "Mr. Onsomeothershits" (from the [[Methods of Mayhem]] album ''[[Methods of Mayhem]]'')
* 1999 "No Exit" (The Loud Rock Remix & The Infamous Hip Rock Version) (from the [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]] single ''[[No Exit (song)|No Exit]]'')
* 2000 "Cherchez La Ghost" (from the [[Ghostface Killah]] album ''[[Supreme Clientele]]'')
* 2000 ''[[The W]]'' (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
* 2001 ''[[Iron Flag]]'' (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
* 2001 "Militant" (from the [[Killarmy]] album [[Fear, Love & War]]'')
* 2003 "Always NY" (from the [[Mathematics (producer)|Mathematics]] album ''[[Love, Hell & Right]]'')
* 2004 "Digi Warfare" (from the [[Masta Killa]] album ''[[No Said Date]]'')
* 2004 "Rock Steady" (from the [[Tony Touch]] album ''[[The Piecemaker 2]]'')
* 2004 ''[[Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1]]'' (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
* 2005 "Break That" (from the [[Mathematics (producer)|Mathematics]] album ''[[The Problem]]'')
* 2005 "Spot Lite" (from the [[Mathematics (producer)|Mathematics]] album ''[[The Problem]]'')
* 2005 "Still Grimey" (from the [[Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture]] compilation)
* 2006 "No More Tearz" (from the Soular Winds' The Quiet Americans Mixtape)
* 2006 "9 Milli Bros." (from the [[Ghostface Killah]] album ''[[Fishscale]]'')
* 2006 "Handle That" (from the [[Inspectah Deck]] album ''[[The Resident Patient]]'')
* 2006 "Iron God Chamber" (from the [[Masta Killa]] album '' [[Made In Brooklyn]]'')
* 2006 "The Glide" (from the [[Method Man]] album '' [[4:21...The Day After]]'')
* 2007 "''[[8 Diagrams]]''" (album by the Wu-Tang clan)


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.ugodz-illa.com/ Official site]
*{{MySpace|ugod|U-God}}
* {{IMDb name|id=1295273 |name=U-God}}
*[https://www.npr.org/2018/03/02/589928021/u-god-the-wu-tang-clan-story NPR interview, March 2018]
* [http://www.wutang-bg.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=22&Itemid=35 U-God at WuTang-bg.Info (bulgarian)]


{{U-God}}
{{Wu-Tang Clan}}
{{Wu-Tang Clan}}


{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ugod}}

[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:African American musicians]]
[[Category:American rappers]]
[[Category:Five Percenters]]
[[Category:People from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:African-American male rappers]]
[[Category:American male rappers]]
[[Category:American people convicted of drug offenses]]
[[Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:Five percenters]]
[[Category:Rappers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:People from Brownsville, Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Priority Records artists]]
[[Category:Wu-Tang Clan members]]
[[Category:Wu-Tang Clan members]]

[[de:U-God]]
[[fr:U-God]]
[[it:U-God]]
[[ja:U-ゴッド]]
[[pt:U-God]]
[[sv:U-God]]

Latest revision as of 13:21, 13 December 2024

U-God
U-God performing in 2013
U-God performing in 2013
Background information
Birth nameLamont Jody Hawkins
Also known asGolden Arms · Universal-God
Born (1970-11-10) November 10, 1970 (age 54)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
OriginStaten Island, New York City, U.S.
GenresEast Coast hip hop
Years active1991–present
LabelsWu Tang · Babygrande
Member ofWu-Tang Clan

Lamont Jody Hawkins (born November 10, 1970),[1][2] better known by his stage name U-God, meaning Universal-God, is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan.[1][2] He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for his deep voice and rhythmic flow that can alternate between gruff and smooth.

Early life

[edit]

Hawkins was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York City.[2] He moved to Staten Island as a youth.[2] He was originally a beatboxer for Cappadonna, and was friends with future members Method Man, Inspectah Deck and childhood friend of Raekwon. Sometime before the members united, U-God was mentored in rap by Cappadonna. He soon became friends with RZA and Ghostface Killah, and he began rhyming under the alias Golden Arms, based on the Kung-Fu movie Kid with the Golden Arm. Later on he changed his name to U-God (which is short for his Five-Percent Nation righteous name "Universal God Allah").[3][4]

Career

[edit]

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) / Wu-Tang Forever

[edit]

U-God was convicted on the grounds of firearm and drug possession charges on April 17, 1992, and was paroled in January 1993. His incarceration prevented him from attending the group's debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) recording sessions for the most part, his input on the seminal LP consisting of only a short bridge on the group's debut single "Protect Ya Neck" as well as the fan-favorite opening verse of "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'". Nevertheless, after his release, he quickly became known to fans for his rugged flow and bass-like voice on Wu tracks such as "Winter Warz", "Knuckleheadz", "Investigative Reports", and "Black Jesus". He was featured heavily on the group's second album Wu-Tang Forever, on which he was one of only four of the group to get a solo track – "Black Shampoo" (the others being Inspectah Deck with "The City", RZA with "Sunshower" and Ol' Dirty Bastard with "Dog Shit").

Golden Arms Redemption

[edit]

U-God was the eighth member of the group to record a solo album, releasing Golden Arms Redemption in 1999 on Priority Records, which displayed a wide variety of sounds from gritty blaxploitation funk to urgent string sections, and featured guest appearances from several Wu-Tang members and affiliates. It had two singles in "Dat's Gangsta" and "Bizarre". The song "Rumble" was used as the main song for the video game Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style. Bizarre debuted #7 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles, but soon after Priority Records was on the verge of shutting down. Still, the album managed to go Gold in sales. Based on the initial success, U-God was able to open his own label, Suppa Nigga Productions. He released his second album Mr. Xcitement in 2005.

Dopium and The Keynote Speaker

[edit]
U-God performing in Atlanta, 2007

In 2009 U-God released the album Dopium and had the lead single "Wu-Tang" featuring Method Man. The album featured guest appearances by Sheek Louch, Jim Jones, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, GZA, Cappadonna, Killah Priest and Scotty Wotty with production by Bloody Beat Roots, Felix Cartel and Large Professor. In 2013 U-God announced a new album The Keynote Speaker with production by RZA who also served as the albums executive producer. The album was released on July 23, 2013, by RZA's Soul Temple Records with guest appearances from Styles P, Kool Keith, Method Man, RZA, GZA and Inspectah Deck.[5]

Venom and autobiographical book

[edit]

On December 13, 2016, U-God released through Babygrande Records' SoundCloud account a song "Venom" and announced that his new album, also called Venom, would be released soon.[6] On September 25, 2017, he added a tweet in which he announced that he had finished his autobiography entitled Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang and it would be released along with his new album in March 2018.[7] On February 2, 2018, he released a free mixtape Bring Back God II through DatPiff platform.[8] Venom was released on March 30, 2018[9] and debuted at #34 on the U.S. Rap Albums Chart.[10]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: U-God discography

Studio albums

[edit]

Collaboration albums

[edit]

Personal life

[edit]

Around the time of Wu Tang Forever, his two-year-old son Dontae (now a hip-hop artist as iNTeLL) was struck by a stray bullet while on his way to a birthday party, suffering permanent damage to his kidneys and hands,[11][12] an ordeal U-God documented on the Wu-Tang Clan track "A Better Tomorrow".

Bibliography

[edit]
  • U-God (2018). Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang. New York: Picador. ISBN 978-1-250-19116-8. OCLC 1001859919.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Huey, Steve (May 20, 2008). "U-God > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d Hsu, Hua (March 28, 2018). "The Unexpectedly Moving Story of U-God, the Least-Loved Member of the Wu-Tang Clan". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "Rise of a Fallen Soldier – The story of U-God (part1)". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  4. ^ "PodOmatic | Best Free Podcasts he is u god". Conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  5. ^ "The Keynote Speaker | Soul Temple Music". Soultemplemusic.bandcamp.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  6. ^ "U-God Releases Fiery New Track 'Venom,' Announces New Album: Exclusive". Billboard. December 13, 2016. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  7. ^ "U-God Announces New Memoir 'RAW: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang'". Okayplayer. September 25, 2017. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  8. ^ "U-God Delivers New Mixtape 'Bring Back God II' – XXL". XXL Mag. February 2, 2018. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  9. ^ "U-God Shares Release Date and Tracklist for 'Venom' Album – XXL". XXL Mag. March 6, 2018. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  10. ^ "Rap Music: Top Rap Albums Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  11. ^ Hsu, Hua (March 28, 2018). "The Unexpectedly Moving Story of U-God, the Least-Loved Member of the Wu-Tang Clan". New Yorker. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  12. ^ Bono, Sal (May 16, 2020). "Shot at 2 Years Old and Feared Paralyzed Forever, Son of Wu Tang Clan Rapper Now Walking in Dad's Footsteps". Inside Edition. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
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