Paul Wall

Paul Wall
Background information Birth name Paul Gideon Manry, changed to Paul Slayton Also known as Wallpaper, P. Willigan, The People's Champ, Iceman, The Iced Out Gringo Born March 30, 1980(1980-03-30) (age 28) Origin Houston, Texas Genre(s)Rap/Hip-Hop
Dirty South
Chopped & Screwed
Crunk
Pop RapOccupation(s) Rapper
DJ
Promoter
Jeweller
Instrument(s)RappingYears active 2002 – present Label(s)Swishahouse
SP
Asylum
Atlantic
Paid In Full Associated acts Michael 5000 Watts
The Sleepwalkers
Expensive Taste
Chamillionaire
Travis BarkerWebsite grillsbypaulwall.com

Paul Slayton, (born March 30, 1980)[1] better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is a rapper, DJ, promoter, jeweller, and co-founder of the Houston hip-hop group The Color Changin' Click.[1]. Wall is a graduate of Jersey Village High School [2] and studied mass communications at The University of Houston for three years.[3] He is affiliated with Swishahouse Records, having released several albums under the label as well as collaborating with other rappers signed to the label. He was formerly musical partners with rapper Chamillionaire, having released several albums together, including the independently released Get Ya Mind Correct. In 2005, he was signed to Atlantic Records and became successful with his major-label debut The People's Champ. Get Money, Stay True followed in 2007. He has a wife named Crystal.[4]

1 Career
2 Jewelry
3 Official Screwed and Chopped Projects
4 Discography
5 Awards/Nominations
6 References
7 External links

Career

After proposing to do promotions for Watt's company, Swishahouse, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to Watt's studio Paul Wall, KBXX.[5] Watts, who was convinced to rap on the record, enjoyed the freestyle so much that he put the verses on one of his mixtapes. The freestyle became so popular in the streets that Chamillionaire and Paul Wall became regular staples on Houston's mixtape circuit, appeared on several of Watts' mixtapes, and became permanent members of Swishahouse.[6]

After fellow member Slim Thug left the label, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, GMB'S (Get Money Bro's) followed and started their own group known as The Color Changin' Click. Each successive mixtape released by The Color Changin' Click led to more business opportunities; the most notable of which being a contract to do a full album for Paid in Full Records. A one album contract was then negotiated between the Color Changin' Click and Paid in Full's label head, DJ Madd Hatta from 97.9 The Box, and the CCC's first album, Get Ya Mind Correct, would go on to sell over 100,000 copies. Wall's first music exposure came as a street team member on the Northwest side of Houston, promoting southern labels like Def Jam Records, Cash Money and The New No Limit Records. He is also an accomplished and proficient mixtape and party DJ, known for producing mixtapes in the now well-known screwed & chopped style, which was invented by the late DJ Screw.[7]

Paul Wall and Chamillionaire were originally affiliated with Swishahouse Records, but left for Paid in Full Records a short time later. After several mixtape and independent releases including. Get Ya Mind Correct, the two parted ways, citing creative differences. Chamillionaire continued to release independent records, while Paul Wall returned to the Swishahouse fold. This move allowed him to appear on Mike Jones' first commercially distributed single, "Still Tippin'", from his first major label album Who Is Mike Jones?. The single is originally on Swishahouse's The Day Hell Broke Loose Part 2 aka Major Without A Major Deal, released in 2003.

In 2005, Paul Wall released his debut release, The People's Champ, the first single "Sittin' Sidewayz" featuring Big Pokey. The second single, "They Don't Know", featured Bun B of UGK, and the video version also featured Mike Jones. The third single is "Girl", receiving radio airplay and peaking at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] In 2007, Paul Wall released his second album Get Money, Stay True, spawning the singles "Break 'Em Off" featuring Lil Keke and "I'm Throwed" featuring and produced by Jermaine Dupri.

Paul Wall was also featured on one episode of the podcast TAI...TV by the rock band The Academy Is.[9]

In 2007, Paul Wall appeared alongside other celebrities and regular people in the music video for Rockstar by Nickelback. He also appears on Bermuda based reggae artist Collie Budz' self-titled debut album.[10]

Paul Wall is currently a member of the rap group Expensive Taste with his good friends Travis Barker and Skinhead Rob. The trio also collectively own a clothing line.[4][11]

In the spring of 2008, Paul Wall will join Strange Music recording artist Tech N9ne on a nationwide tour, which is also going to feature Brooklyn rapper ILL BiLL.

Jewelry

Paul Wall is the part owner and proprietor of TV Jewelry with Johnny Dang in Houston.[12] He was also featured in the VH1 documentary Bling'd: Blood, Diamonds, and Hip-Hop, while visiting Sierra Leone, cautioning jewelers to check their source for diamonds.[13][14] The store specializes in the production of grills, silver, gold, or platinum caps and diamond inlays (usually princess-cut diamonds). Grills have become a growing trend in rap culture and have even influenced its own song. "Grillz", by Nelly featuring Wall along with Ali and Gipp artists, where at one point Paul raps "Call me George Foreman 'cause I'm sellin' everybody grills."

Official Screwed and Chopped Projects

Album Title Artist Year of Release Down in tha Dirty Various 2003 U Gotta Feel Me Lil Flip 2004 Let the Truth Be Told Z-Ro 2005Ghetto Bill Vol. 1 Master P2005 The Truest Shit I Ever Said C-Murder2005 Urban Legend T.I.2005 The Day After Twista2005 Haunted Cities The Transplants2005 Minor Setback for the Major Comeback Lil Keke 2005 I'm Still Livin' Z-Ro 2006The Truth Belo (of Do or Die) 2006 Gangsta Grillz XI: Generation Now DJ Drama, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Killer Mike, Stat Quo, & Big Kuntry 2006 Dedication: Gangsta Grillz DJ Drama & Lil’ Wayne2006 Gangsta Grillz: Trap or Die DJ Drama & Young Jeezy2006 The Legend Series: Gangsta Grillz DJ Drama, Bun B2006 GYMC: The Remix Album Paul Wall & Chamillionaire2006

Discography

Main article: Paul Wall discography

Solo albums

2004: Chick Magnet
2005: The Peoples Champ
2007: Get Money, Stay True
2008: Fast Life

Solo singles

2005: "Sittin' Sidewayz" (featuring Big Pokey)
2005: "They Don't Know" (featuring Mike Jones & Bun B)
2006: "Girl"
2007: "Break 'Em Off" (featuring Lil Keke)
2007: "I'm Throwed" (featuring Jermaine Dupri)
2008: "Diamonds Exposed" (featuring Chamillionaire & Lil Keke)
2008: "Johnny Dang's Watch Froze" (featuring Fat Joe, Lil' Keke, & Slim Thug)

Featured singles

2005: "What U Been Drankin' On?" (Jim Jones featuring P. Diddy, Paul Wall, & Jha Jha)
2005: "Draped Up (H-Town Remix)" (Bun B featuring Lil Keke, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Aztek, Lil Flip, & Z-Ro)
2005: "Grillz" (Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp)
2005: "Still on It" (Ashanti featuring Paul Wall & Method Man)
2005: "I'm n Luv (Wit a Stripper) (Remix)" (T-Pain featuring Twista, Pimp C, Paul Wall, R. Kelly, MJG, & Too Short)
2006: "Holla at Me" (DJ Khaled featuring Lil Wayne, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, & Pitbull)
2006: "Hit Em' Up" (DJ Khaled featuring Paul Wall & Bun B)
2006: "Drive Slow (Remix)" (Kanye West featuring Paul Wall, GLC, & T.I.)
2006: "Way I Be Leanin'" (Juvenile featuring Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Skip & Wacko)
2006: "About Us" (Brooke Hogan featuring Paul Wall)
2006: "Chunk up tha Deuce" (Lil Keke featuring Paul Wall & UGK)

Awards/Nominations

2006: Ozone Awards
- Won in the categories of Taste Maker (style and trendsetter); Best Rap/R&B Collaboration (for "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper) (Remix)" by T-Pain featuring Twista, Pimp C, Paul Wall, R. Kelly, MJG, and Too Short); Best Rap Collaboration ("Holla At Me" by DJ Khaled featuring Lil' Wayne, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, and Pitbull)[15]
2007: Grammy Award
- Nominated for Best Rap Performance as a Duo or Group (for "Grillz" by Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp)[16]