Biography
Many have been wondering what happened to Obie Trice and if he was ever going to release a new album. Well after a five-year wait, Obie is back and it’s like he never took a break. Obie is gearing up to release the follow-up to his 2006 release Second Rounds On Me, and this time around he’s not leaving anyone thirsty with his January 17, 2012 release titled Bottoms Up.
Obie Trice III was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan by his mother, along with three brothers. He was given a karaoke machine by his mother when he was eleven and he used it to rhyme over instrumentals from artists such as N.W.A. By the age of fourteen, he was attending rap battle spots around Detroit, notably including the Hip Hop Shop. Obie Trice went by the name of Obie 1 during this time. It wasn’t until he met Proof who wanted to know what his real name was. Obie gave the rapper his real name and Proof proceeded introduced him at the Hip Hop Shop as Obie Tricethe rest they say is historyObie never looked back.
Trice was introduced to Eminem through DJ Head, Eminem’s DJ. Eminem was impressed when Obie free-styled for him while parked, through his car window. Later, Obie received a call from his manager informing him that he would be having dinner with Eminem, and later that night they went to a Kid Rock party. Obie Trice, officially signed to Shady Records in 2001 and first received notoriety from a freestyle skit he did on the Devil’s Night album, then followed that up by the deliverance of the opening line “Obie Trice-real name, no gimmicks”, off Eminem’s The Eminem Show lead single, “Without Me”, as well as the song “Drips.” Later in 2002, Obie rapped on songs for the 8 Mile Soundtrack, and also got a cameo appearance in the film as a rapper in a parking-lot.
In 2003, Obie Trice released his debut album Cheers, which consisted of 17 tracks and featured production by Eminem, Dr. Dre, Timbaland and Mike Elizondo as well as guest appearances by 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Nate Dogg just to name a few. The first single Got Some Teeth was well received at radio. Obie also released “The Set Up” and “Don’t Come Down,” from the certified gold album.
In 2005, Obie began work on his second album, Second Round’s on Me, which was released in 2006. Following the release of Second Round’s on Me, he released a mix-tape called Bar Shots with G-Unit’s DJ Whoo Kid. Shortly after the release, his label-mate and friend Proof was shot to death in a Detroit nightclub, a song emerged on the mixtape circuit called “Ride Wit Me”. The song was dedicated to Proof.
In the single “Cry Now” from his second album, Trice addresses his own shooting, as well as Eminem’s rumored retirement, referenced with the following line, “Rock City is my voice / The white boy has stepped down / So I will accept the crown.” Trice also addresses the shooting in the song “Pistol Pistol” from the album Eminem Presents: The Re-up claiming he’s after revenge, “I solemnly swear on my daughters tears/The nigga that got him in the head will feel it before the year ends / Hope you inconspicuous my friend / `Cause once the word get back ya in a world of sin / Bullets will hurtle at him for tryin to murder what been determined as the first solo African.” He has since given insight as to why he feels the shooting occurred, and has labeled it “haterism”, as well as a bad mind state by saying, “it’s a lot of do-or-die type individuals. They want to get that plug and there’s really more to the game than they think it is [...] it’s competition on a real vicious level.” The bullet is still lodged in Obie’s skull.
In 2008, Obie Trice parted ways with Shady Records.
In 2009, a compilation album, Special Reserves, was released by Obie Trice and MoSS, the first producer of DJ Premier’s Works of Mart production company. The album was a collection of 11 tracks Obie recorded with MoSS from 1997 to 2000. The album serves as a preface to Obie’s upcoming album, Bottoms Up. On April 22, 2010, Rap Basement reported that Obie Trice announced that he would be launching his own independent music label, Black Market Entertainment and would be distributed by Universal. As Trice put it in an official statement he made to Rap basement,”The focus of Black Market Entertainment is to create quality employment opportunities in the entertainment industry for Metro-Detroiters as well as the Midwest. This will be an organization with profound community presence that will embrace and inspire the masses. The vision of Black Market Entertainment is to continually bring authentic Urban Hip Hop Culture to the forefront of the music industry.” On May 4, Trice confirmed that Eminem would be a featured guest artist in his upcoming album, Bottoms Up.
On July 13, 2011, Obie Trice mother, Elenora Trice, passed from breast cancer after a year long battle with the disease. Obie will continue his involvement in Detroit’s Walk For the Cure, an annual event that raises funds and attention to support the research for a cure for the disease.
On August 23, 2011 Obie Trice released his new single “Battle Cry” off the long awaited LP Bottoms Up. “Battle Cry” is available on iTunes and Amazon.
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Discography
Cheers
Album
2003-09-23
Second Round's on Me
Album
2006-08-15
Bottoms Up
Album
2012-04-03
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