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Stat Quo

 
Artist: Stat Quo
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Similar Artists:

Eminem, Ghostface Killah, Cashis, Bobby Creekwater, Snoop Dogg

Influenced By:

Scarface
See Stat Quo Lyrics
  • Active: 2000s
  • Genres: Rap
  • Instrument: Rap
  • Representative Albums: "Grown Man Music: Gangsta Grillz Extra

Biography

From the onset, Stat Quo wanted to raise the standards (i.e., the status quo) for MCs in the rap game, particularly in Southern hip-hop. Being handpicked by rap superstar Eminem and the legendary Dr. Dre as a potential up-and-comer was a definite vindication of his lofty goals. The Atlanta-born rapper, whose real name is Stanley Benton, has repeatedly acknowledged that his strong work ethic came from his mother, who raised him in Atlanta's housing projects. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Florida, though mainly to pursue a career in basketball. He eventually quit basketball but still graduated with degrees in international business and economics. Benton was still unsure about his future plans, pondering whether to go to law school or perhaps doing something with the many rhymes he had on paper. He had begun freestyling at 12 years old, inspired by Kurtis Blow's "Basketball," but didn't start writing his rhymes down until encouraged by friends in college. When he heard how Ludacris signed to the newly formed Def Jam South subsidiary, he composed a demo tape to send to its label head, Scarface, who was a major idol of Stat Quo. Although it was Scarface's words of encouragement that convinced him to pursue rap professionally, a deal with Def Jam South didn't pan out. Stat Quo got on the grind and began pressing his own CDs, namely the Underground Atlanta mixtape series. With enough hustle, his mixtapes wound up separately in the hands of Eminem and Dr. Dre, and the two jointly signed Stat Quo to their respective imprints in 2004. Upon releasing more mixtapes and guest rapping on various songs, Stat Quo received a good deal of press as the first Southern rap signee to the Shady/Aftermath block. Appearances on major releases by Young Buck and Eminem kept his name afloat while his debut album, Statlanta, experienced numerous delays. ~ Cyril Cordor, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Stat Quo
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Stat Quo
Birth name Stanley Benton
Born July 24, 1978
Origin Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Gangsta rap
Occupations Rapper
Years active 2002–present
Labels Shady/Aftermath/Interscope (2003-2008)
GMM (2008-current)
Associated acts Eminem, Obie Trice, D12, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, DJ Drama, Slim Thug Chamillionaire, Jeremih, T-Pain, Kanye West
Website www.statquo.com

Stanley Benton, better known as Stat Quo, is an American rapper.[1] He is a co-founder—with LT Moe—of the Grown Man Music (GMM),[2]. Benton attended University of Florida, where he majored in economics and international business in 2000. Benton was contemplating law school, until veteran Southern rapper Scarface assaulted him, encouraging him to rap professionally.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Stanley Benton was born in Thomasville Heights, a neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, at the Grady Hospital. In his early life, he lived with his mother and grandmother. Benton started freestyle rapping at around the age of 12. Later, his mother bought him a radio, and he would record himself rapping. In 1997, Benton started taking rap seriously, but continued with his education.[3] Benton worked his way to college and attended University of Florida, where he majored in economics and international business in 2000.[1]

Career

Stat Quo was discovered towards the end of 2003. Dr. Dre and Eminem individually came to know of the Atlanta-based rapper via his Underground Atlanta mixtapes. After Eminem heard his music he gained interest and took it to Dr. Dre who also had interest in the music, and a joint deal was made, resulting in Stat Quo becoming the third artist to be signed to Shady/Aftermath, after 50 Cent and Obie Trice.[4]

His debut album Statlanta was originally slated to be released in 2003 but has been repeatedly pushed back.[5][6] Stat Quo is also featured on Young Buck's Straight Outta Cashville, the compilatation Eminem Presents the Re-Up and on the track "Spend Some Time" on Eminem's Encore. Stat has also appeared on tracks with artists such as Jermaine Dupri, The Alchemist, The Game, Disturbing tha Peace, and Chamillionaire.

In 2005, Stat Quo shot a video for his single "Like Dat". The song was made to be a buzz single, in order to help the artist become more exposed The video was shot in Atlanta's Zone 3 near the Thomasville Heights projects where Stat Quo was brought up.

“ It's the beginning of my career, so I wanted to start where I began life, […] Plus, [the city of Atlanta] is supposed to be tearing the projects down, so I wanted to showcase the area I grew up in and capture it before it was gone forever.[7] ”

The Atlanta bred rapper was featured on the summer 2005 Anger Management Tour, which also included Eminem, 50 Cent, G-Unit, Obie Trice, D12, and others.[8] On July 13, 2005, a tour bus carrying Eminem's entourage for the summer's Anger Management tour swerved off the road and turned over. Stat Quo was taken to Independence Regional Health Center in Independence, Missouri, where he was treated and released.[9]

Stat Quo has said that his "number one goal is to bring a respect, and bring a voice to this whole southern movement around the world".[10] In a recent interview with AftermathMusic.com, Stat Quo mentioned that his debut album Statlanta, has been completed for quite some time now and he is waiting for his label to release it. He said that he is now in the process of working on a untitled second album. He also went on to say that his fans will hear Statlanta "whether on Aftermath/Interscope or not."

After more than five years since Stat Quo first signed to Eminem's Shady Records and Dr. Dre's Aftermath, and without the release of his long anticipated Statlanta album, he left Aftermath Records in October, 2008. The album has been completed for some time, and Stat Quo has stated that it will be released in 2009. He has already started working on his second album, which has yet to be titled. In order to promote the upcoming release of Statlanta, Stat Quo has released multiple mixtapes for free download in 2009: Quo City, Checks & Balance[11], and The Invisible Man[12]. On April 21, 2009, Stat Quo will release Smokin' Mirrors, a street album, through EMI.

Zeke the other owner of GMM (Grown Man Music) stepped away from the label due to legal issues for more read the interview here: [1] [13]

Discography

Main article: Stat Quo discography
Album Year
Smokin Mirrors 2009
The Great Depression
Statlanta 2010

References

  1. ^ a b Shaheem Reid (12 January 2004). "Mixtape Mondays: Stat Quo". MTV. Accessed 5 February 2008.
  2. ^ "Interview with Stat Quo May 2007". AftermathMusic.com (May 2007). Accessed 5 February 2008.
  3. ^ Jay Casteel (5 August 2003). "Stat Quo: ATL Thoroughbreed". BallerStatus.com. Accessed 5 February 2008.
  4. ^ Matt Barone (2 December 2004). "Stat Quo: The Shady South (Interview)". BallerStatus.com. Accessed 5 February 2008.
  5. ^ Shaheem Reid, Jayson Rodriguez and Rahman Dukes (11 June 2007). "Mixtape Monday: Lil Wayne Plans His Own Leak; Cassidy's Live-From-Jail Rhymes". MTV. Accessed 5 February 2008.
  6. ^ Julianne Shepherd (11 June 2007). "FIRST SHOT: Stat Quo, "Statlanta"". Vibe. Accessed 5 February 2008.
  7. ^ Jay Casteel (12 June 2005). "Stat Quo To Shoot First Video; Prepares For Anger Management Tour". BallerStatus.com. Accessed 5 February 2008.
  8. ^ Gil Kaufman (4 April 2005). "Eminem, 50, Lil Jon, G-Unit, D12 Team Up For Anger Management 3 Tour This Summer". MTV. Accessed 5 February 2008.
  9. ^ Chris Harris (14 July 2005). "Anger Management Tour Bus Crashes; Stat Quo, Eminem's DJ Among Those Injured". MTV. Accessed 5 February 2008.
  10. ^ AftermathMusic.com - Interview with Stat Quo September 2003
  11. ^ (6 February 2009). "Stat Quo - Checks & Balance Mixtape". WeLiveThis.com. Accessed 11 April 2009.
  12. ^ (8 April 2009). "Stat Quo - The Invisible Man Mixtape". WeLiveThis.com. Accessed 11 April 2009.
  13. ^ (16 April 2009). "Stat Quo Announces Smokin' Mirrors Street Album". WeLiveThis.com. Accessed 16 April 2009.

External links

v • d • e
Shady Records
Founder
Notable artists
Former artists
Related articles
v • d • e
Aftermath Entertainment
Artists
Former artists
Busta Rhymes · Eve · The Firm · G.A.G.E. · The Game · Hittman · Joell Ortiz · King Tee · Last Emperor · Rakim · Stat Quo · Truth Hurts



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