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Paul Wall extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Paul Wall
Background information
Birth name	Paul Manry
Also known as	The People's Champ
Born	March 11, 1981 (1981-03-11) (age 28)
Origin	Houston, Texas
Genre(s)	Southern Rap
Occupation(s)	Rapper, DJ, Promoter, Jeweller
Years active	1998–present
Label(s)	Swishahouse/Asylum
Associated acts	Michael 5000 Watts, Expensive Taste, Chamillionaire
Website	grillsbypaulwall.com

Paul Slayton (born March 11, 1981),¹ better known by his stage name Paul Wall or "The People's Champ", is an American rapper. Wall graduated from Jersey Village High School² and later graduated with a degree in mass communications from the University of Houston.³ He is currently 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 releasing several collaborative albums 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 2007.⁴

Contents 1 Career 2 Jewelry 3 Discography 4 Awards and nominations 5 References 6 External links

Career

After proposing to do promotions for Michael "5000" Watts' company, Swishahouse, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to Watts' studio, KBXX⁵. Paul & Chamillionaire convinced Watts to rap on his radio show and put the verses on one of his mixtapes. That mixtape was entitled, Choppin Em Up Part 2, which was released in mid 1999. 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. Paul wall officially left his old underground group Meeshka Productionz, which still exists, with active members Finhum and Pooz.⁶

After fellow member Slim Thug left the label, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall followed suit and the two started their own group known as The Color Changin' Click (named after Chamillion's Chameleon persona). 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 200,000 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 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, the album went on to sell over 500,000 copies two months after being released.

In 2005, Paul Wall released his debut release, The People's Champ, which debuted in #1 on Billboard 200. 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, which debuted in the #1 spot on the Billboard Chart Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Paul Wall released 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 (ex-Transplants). The trio also collectively own a clothing line.⁴¹¹

In the spring of 2008, Paul Wall joined Strange Music recording artist Tech N9ne on a nationwide tour, which also featured Brooklyn rapper ILL BiLL.

In the 2008 presidential campaign Wall spoke out in favor of candidate Barack Obama. He was quoted in The Source magazine as saying "Barack seems to come off as a true leader for everyone, whereas most people campaigning, including Hillary Clinton, seem to be just politicians. Barack seems to be genuine and sincere about his beliefs. He is selfless, while they are selfish. I'm gonna 'Barack the vote' this year and I've never voted before." ¹²

Paul was introduced to many hip hop fans in the spring on 2009 when Eminem gave him a shout out on "My Darling." Em rapped "If I were to say something about Paul Wall, you'd probably crap in your pants, cuz I'm white, and he's white, so he's like, my competition i mean, right? Nope. Paul Wall is dope, and so's Bubba, sooooo...."

Jewelry

Paul Wall is the part owner and proprietor of TV Jewelry with Johnny Dang in Houston.¹³ 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.¹⁴ The store specializes in the production of grills, silver, gold, or platinum caps and diamond inlays (usually princess cut diamonds). Grills were a trend in the mid 2000s 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."

Discography

• 2004: Chick Magnet
• 2005: The Peoples Champ
• 2007: Get Money, Stay True
• 2009: Fast Life

Awards and 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 Awards
  • Nominated for Best Rap Performance as a Duo or Group (for "Grillz" by Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp)¹⁶

References

External links

• Paul Wall Official Website
• Paul Wall at MySpace
• Paul Wall at the Internet Movie Database

v • d • e Paul Wall Albums Chick Magnet · The Peoples Champ · Get Money, Stay True · Fast Life Collaborations Get Ya Mind Correct · Controversy Sells · Expensive Taste Singles "Sittin' Sidewayz" · "They Don't Know" · "Girl" · "Break 'Em Off" · "I'm Throwed" · "Bizzy Body" Featured singles "Draped Up" · "Grillz" · "Holla at Me" · "About Us" · "Still Tippin'" · "Chunk Up the Deuce" · "Drive Slow" Related articles Discography · Expensive Taste · Travis Barker