Smitty
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This article is on the rapper. For the newspaper comic, see Smitty (comic strip)
Smitty born Varick D. Smith is an African-American rapper and hip-hop ghostwriter from Little Haiti, a neighborhood in Miami, Florida'''.
Beginnings and Rap Songwriting
Whilst growing up in the rough neighborhood of Little Haiti in Miami, Florida Smitty came home one day to see that a friend from down the street had been fatally shot due to his involvement in the drugs game.[link] Soon after that incident Smitty began to think about his future. In 1997 he decided to enroll at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee to major in journalism. However, his aspiration to become a full-fledged artist led him to switch coasts after only two and half years of school. He would eventually, through friend, get the opportunity to get his start in the hip-hop entertainment industry by flying out to try and meet with legendary NWA member and producer Dr. Dre whilst he was in filming The Wash (film). After many an hour waiting around on set it was then that Smitty finally got the chance to spit rhymes in front of Dr. Dre. From that meeting in 2001, Dr. Dre was impressed and Smitty was soon asked to work his lyrical skills on a few tracks for The Wash soundtrack.[link]
In addition to working on productions for a soundtrack, Smitty has also worked on several songs, including to two chart hits - 'Shake Ya Tailfeather' by P. Diddy, Nelly & Murphy Lee and 'Bump, Bump, Bump' by B2K. He has collaborated with fellow hip-hop artists such as Trick Daddy, Scarface and Kanye West.
Record Deal
An opportunity to sign with Aftermath Records, Arista, Capitol Records, Def Jam, Elektra, and Jive were all offered but were not chosen to do creative freedom.[link] Smitty eventually chose to be signed with Clive Davis’ J Records which is currently home to successful artists like Alicia Keys, Jamie Foxx and Mario.
Debut Album/Single
In July of 2005, Smitty dropped his debut single effort ‘Diamonds On My Neck’. With the release of ‘Diamonds On My Neck’ as his first single he got to work with Hype Williams who directed the music video. On the Billboard Album Charts it was a moderate success. The forthcoming buzz album 'The Voice of the Ghetto' is scheduled for American release on May 16.[link] and will feature the club banger debut single ‘Diamonds On My Neck’. The set features production by Kanye West, Jazze Pha, Akon, Hi-Tek and Buckwild, among others. [link]. His full debut album 'Life of a Troubled Child' is due to be released later on this year.
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |
| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | |||
| 2005 | "Diamonds On My Neck" | - | #89 | Life of a Troubled Child |
Personal Info
- Grew up listening to local Miami hip-hops such as 2 Live Crew and Jam Pony Express
- Smitty’s mother works in the financial section of Broward General Medical Center hospital.[link]
- He will tell you that his father was in and out from jail whilst he was a teen. [link]
- Smitty has two younger brothers and sisters. He is currently paying for one of his sisters college education. [link]
- He says he rarely talks to friends from his childhood.[link]
- Smitty was raised a spiritual person, he was frequently in church as a young child.[link] and his good friend happens to be a Reverend, Jermaine Turner.[link]
- Even though he is a rapper now with a million dollar recording contract he admits that the ladies have been few and far between in his life previous to being in the rap game. He hopes to marry his current girlfriend.[link]
External Links
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