Webbie

Webbie (born Webster Gradney, Jr. on September 6, 1985) is a rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He came into the hip-hop scene in 2005 with "Give Me That" which featured UGK rapper Bun B. His song "Bad Bitch" was featured in the 2005 movie Hustle & Flow. Both singles are on Gangsta Musik, his group album with Lil Boosie, the album was released in 2003, both songs are on Webbie's debut album Savage Life which was released on July 4 2005.

Biography

Gradney was raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the rough Glen Oaks section of the city. His mother Jocelyn died of cancer on August 11, 1998. He spent his teen years living with his father and grandmother. Gradney started rapping at the age of 5. At the age of 15, he was signed to the record label Trill Entertainment which was co-owned by Pimp C of UGK. He frequently raps and performs with various other artists in the region. The most famous artist he performs with is a fellow Baton Rouge native by the name of Lil' Boosie. Despite its quiet country atmosphere, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, once had the #2 highest murder rate in the nation. "It's real gutta," admits 19-year-old Baton Rouge native Webster "Webbie" Gradney, Jr. "But it's nice if you mind your own business. When I'm gone for too long, I be missin' it. That's where I'm from, that's home."

Webbie's mother, Jocelyn, died of cancer when he was young. He spent his early teen years shuttling back and forth between the care of his father and grandmother.

Ever since he was five years old, writing rhymes had been his release. "My big cousin from California taught me how to rap," Webbie recalls, adding that his mother was a music lover who often danced to her favorite songs. Intrigued by music that reflected his rough upbringing, he started listening to "all the gangsta rappers, all that shit that hits hard," including the Geto Boys, 2Pac, Eazy E, Snoop Dogg, 8Ball & MJG, UGK, and Scarface.

Webbie struggled throughout school, prevented from playing his favorite sports (basketball and football) because of his poor grades. "I cared about school, but I used to get expelled for fights. I'd have loved to make all A's, but I just never did." His interests lay elsewhere. At the time, New Orleans-based powerhouses like No Limit and Cash Money were dominating the urban music scene. Less than an hour away, Baton Rouge felt the impact. "We was rockin' right with them," says Webbie. "I was already rappin' before I heard them, but [to see them make it] made it start seeming more real."

At age 15, Webbie found a home with local indie label Trill Entertainment, co-owned by the legendary Pimp C of UGK. "Webbie [signed with Trill] after I was incarcerated, so I haven't had the chance to work with him," says Pimp C. "But I know he can take it to the top. He's got a knack for writing singles. I can see that already and it's still early in his career. Very talented guy." Webbie felt comfortable with the label because he felt they had his best interest at heart. "They was keeping it real," he says. "I used to just rap, and they'd take care of me like it was a family. I ain't really sign [a contract] until it was time for the serious shit to start happenin'."

Trill teamed Webbie up with fellow Baton Rouge native Lil Boosie, and together the two gained an impressive street following with independent releases like Ghetto Stories and Gangsta Muzik. Webbie isn't sure exactly how many albums they've sold independently. "[I don't know, I just know] it's a lot for niggas who ain't got a deal. I just know it's been way more hoes comin' up to me than before," laughs Webbie.

After creating a buzz with their underground albums, Webbie broke into the mainstream in 2004 with hot radio singles like "Gimme Dat" and "Bad Bitch." Boosie & Webbie were soon the hottest unsigned commodity in the South, attracting the attention of numerous major record labels. Trill eventually signed a label deal with Asylum, the independent "incubator" branch of Warner Music Group.

Webbie's debut album, titled Savage Life, is dropped in July 2005. "Everything I rap about is my life," explains Webbie. "It's like 'thug life,' but I call it 'Savage Life'. I don't know what I'd be doing if I wasn't rapping."

Discography

Savage Life (2005)

• Savage Life 2 (2007)

External links

• Webbie Official Website
• Trill Ent Webbie Official Label Website

Year	Title	Chart Positions			Album
		US Hot 100	US R&B/Hip-Hop	US Rap
2005	"Give Me That" (feat. Bun B)	#29	#8	#4	Savage Life
2005	"Bad Chick [Remix]" (feat. Trina)	-	#48	-	Hustle & Flow Soundtrack
2005	"How U Ridin'"	-	#91	-	Savage Life
2006	"How the Hustlers Do It" (with Lil Keke & Yung Redd)	-	-	-	The Day Hell Broke Loose 3
2007	Shawty Feat. T-Pain & Plies				Savage Life 2
2007	Wipe Me Down~Lil Foxx Lil Boosie and Webbie				Only The Trillest Survive