U-God

U-God (born October 11, 1970) is an American rapper and member of the 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

U-God was born Lamont Hawkins in Brownsville, Brooklyn, 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 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.

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.

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 released his third solo album, titled Mr. Xcitement on September 13, 2005, on Free Agency Recordings. It featured two singles—"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".

Aliases

• Golden Arms (from the movie The Kid With The Golden Arms)
• 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)

Discography

Albums

Album Name	Release Date	Status
Golden Arms Redemption	October 5, 1999
U-GODZILLA presents the Hillside Scramblers	March 16, 2004
Mr. Xcitement	September 13, 2005
Machine Gun Funk	TBA

Singles and EPs

• 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

• 2004 "Rise Of A Fallen Soldier"

Appears On

• 1993 Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers (album by the Wu-Tang Clan)
• 1995 "Knuckleheadz" (from the Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx)
• 1995 "Investigative Reports" (from the GZA album Liquid Swords)
• 1996 "Black Jesus" & "Winter Warz" (from the Ghostface Killah album Ironman)
• 1996 "If It's Allright With You" (from the soundtrack for the movie The Great White Hype
• 1996 "Semi-Automatic Full Rap Metal Jacket" (from the soundtrack for the movie High School High
• 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 single 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 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 album The Problem)
• 2005 "Spot Lite" (from the 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

• Official site
• Template:MySpace
• U-God at WuTang-bg.Info (bulgarian)