Antwon Explained

Antwon
Birth Name:Antonio Williams
Birth Date:25 October 1986
Birth Place:Key West, Florida, U.S.
Origin:San Jose, California, U.S.
Genre:Hip hop
Occupation:Rapper
Years Active:2011–present
Associated Acts:Secret Circle[1]

Antonio Williams[2] (born October 25, 1986),[3] better known by his stage name Antwon, is an American rapper based in San Jose, California.[4] In 2013, he was included on Complexs "15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW" list.[5] He was also included on Complexs "25 New Rappers to Watch Out For in 2014" list.[6]

Biography

Born in Key West, Florida,[7] to an African-American father and a Filipino mother,[2] Antwon grew up in Sunnyvale, California.[8] He was a member of the Philadelphia-based hardcore band Leather,[9] as well as the pop punk bands Sour Patch and How to Summer.[10]

Antwon's first mixtape, Fantasy Beds, was released in 2011.[11] In that year, he also released My Westside Horizon.[12]

In 2012, Antwon released a mixtape, End of Earth.[13] SF Weekly included it on the "10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012" list.[14] In 2013, he released a mixtape, In Dark Denim.[15] It was listed as Spins "Rap Release of the Week".[16]

His first official studio album, Heavy Hearted in Doldrums, was released on UNIF and Nature World in 2014.[17] In 2016, he released an EP, Double Ecstasy, on Anticon.[18] In 2017, he released a mixtape, Sunnyvale Gardens.[19] Red Bull placed it at number 20 on the "20 Best Hip-Hop Mixtapes of 2017" list.[20]

Style and influences

Spin described Antwon as "an affable guy who might have one of rap's biggest, best-sounding voices, which he usually focuses on goofy jokes and surprisingly sweet bedroom raps."[21] He has often been compared to The Notorious B.I.G.[22] [23]

Controversy

In 2016, Antwon formed Secret Circle along with Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane.[24] Since then, the group released several tracks and played live performances across North America.[25] In 2018, Lil Ugly Mane announced the breakup of the group, not initially indicating a specific reason for the breakup.[26] Antwon posted a statement on Twitter, alluding to unnamed allegations.[27] Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane subsequently indicated that the allegations mentioned in Antwon's statement, including abusive treatment of women, were the impetus for the breakup.[27]

Discography

Studio albums

Remix albums

Compilation albums

Mixtapes

EPs

Singles

Guest appearances

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Secret Circle (Lil Ugly Mane, Wiki, Antwon) "Keep It Low". Mass Appeal. James. Johnson. June 9, 2016. November 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181229172357/http://archive.massappeal.com/secret-circle-lil-ugly-mane-keep-it-low/. December 29, 2018. dead.
  2. Web site: At the Zoo With Antwon. SF Weekly. Ian S.. Port. May 7, 2014. June 26, 2015.
  3. Web site: Antwon. BBC Music. May 7, 2019.
  4. Web site: Antwon: In Dark Denim. Pitchfork. Ian. Cohen. March 6, 2013. June 26, 2015.
  5. Web site: 15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW - Antwon. Complex. David. Drake. Ernest. Baker. March 16, 2013. June 26, 2015.
  6. Web site: 25 New Rappers to Watch Out For In 2014 - Antwon. Complex. Chris. Mench. August 2, 2014. June 26, 2015.
  7. Web site: Antwon's Twisted Vision: Sex Rap, Punk Vibes, and Kid Rock. SF Weekly. Phillip. Mlynar. March 6, 2013. June 26, 2015.
  8. Web site: A First Date With... Antwon. Vice. Tish. Weinstock. March 17, 2014. June 26, 2015.
  9. Web site: Antwon: genre benders. Paper. Eli. Schmitt. June 27, 2013. June 26, 2015.
  10. Web site: Getting to Know You: White Lung's Mish Way x Antwon. Vice. Mish. Way. August 16, 2013. June 26, 2015.
  11. Web site: Antwon on the Fringe. East Bay Express. Whitney. Phaneuf. March 13, 2013. June 26, 2015.
  12. Web site: Dream of the '90s (1/2). San Francisco Bay Guardian. Emily. Savage. September 11, 2012. June 26, 2015.
  13. Web site: Download Antwon End Of Earth Mixtape. Stereogum. Tom. Breihan. August 2, 2012. June 26, 2015.
  14. Web site: The 10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012. SF Weekly. Rachel. Swan. December 21, 2012. June 26, 2015.
  15. Web site: Download Antwon's In Dark Denim Mixtape. The Fader. Duncan. Cooper. February 14, 2013. June 26, 2015.
  16. Web site: Rap Release of the Week: Antwon's 'In Dark Denim'. Spin. Brandon. Soderberg. February 20, 2013. June 26, 2015.
  17. Web site: Antwon - Heavy Hearted In Doldrums. CMJ. Lizzie. Plaugic. May 13, 2014. June 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150109233513/http://www.cmj.com/reviews/antwon-heavy-hearted-doldrums/. January 9, 2015. dead.
  18. Web site: Top 10 Songs of the Week (2/19): 01. Antwon – "Luv". Consequence of Sound. Karen. Gwee. February 20, 2016. April 20, 2016.
  19. Web site: Antwon 'Sunnyvale Gardens' (mixtape). Exclaim!. Josiah. Hughes. October 6, 2017. May 19, 2018.
  20. Web site: 20 Best Hip-Hop Mixtapes of 2017. Red Bull. Yu-Cheng. Lin. December 15, 2017. June 6, 2018.
  21. Web site: First Spin: Antwon Slow Jams The Apocalypse On New Album, 'End Of Earth'. Spin. Brandon. Soderberg. July 31, 2012. June 26, 2015.
  22. Web site: San Jose Rapper Antwon Breaks Through a Hellish Set at SXSW. SF Weekly. Ian S.. Port. March 14, 2013. June 26, 2015.
  23. Web site: Q&A: California rapper Antwon does things the punk way. Aux. Mish. Way. January 18, 2014. June 26, 2015.
  24. Web site: Secret Circle (Wiki, Antwon, and Lil Ugly Mane) Break Up. Pitchfork. Matthew. Strauss. Noah. Yoo. May 18, 2018. May 7, 2019.
  25. Web site: Lil Ugly Mane: "Secret Circle is a wrap". The Fader. Jordan. Darville. May 18, 2018. May 7, 2019.
  26. Web site: Antwon, Wiki, And Lil Ugly Mane Release Statements After Secret Circle Break Up. Stereogum. Tom. Breihan. May 22, 2018. May 7, 2019.
  27. Web site: Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane Indicate Secret Circle Broke Up Over Antwon's Treatment of Women. Pitchfork. Matthew. Strauss. May 21, 2018. May 7, 2019.