Armani Depaul (born Oakland, California, 1988), also known as Flav, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and director. Based in the Bay Area in Northern California, he operates the independent label Beach Boi Music.[1]

Armani Depaul
Background information
Also known as
  • Flav
  • Armani de Paul
  • Armani DePaul
Born1988 (age 35–36)
Oakland, California
OriginRichmond, California
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • director
Instruments
Years active2007–present
Labels
  • Beach Boi Music
  • Rapbay
  • Urban life Distribution
  • INgrooves
WebsiteArmaniDepaul.com

He has released a number of singles, and collaborated with artists such as Stevie Joe, Iamsu!, Kool John, DJ Fresh, and Sage the Gemini. In 2012 he contributed production to the track "Try'na Get On" off the J. Stalin album Memoirs of a Curb Server. Since 2012, he's had a number of music videos on VEVO.[2]

Early life

edit

Armani Depaul was born in Oakland, California in 1988, and spent his childhood growing up in Richmond, California.[1] Depaul developed an early interest in hip hop. His father was an artist and musician, and he'd join his father in the studio starting at age nine.[3]

Music career

edit

Early years

edit

Depaul started producing and writing rap and hip hop in 2002, and in 2006 Big Von on 106 KMEL put Depaul's first record "Cookies 'n Milk" into rotation.[1] He soon after released one of his first music videos for the single. Depaul performed on BET's 106 & Park for "Wild Out Wednesday" in 2008,[1] and opened for Akon in 2009.[4]

Starting in 2010 he began putting out a new mixtape and music video every other month, a trend he continued until 2012. While in the Bay Area he has also written and produced tracks for artists including Philthy Rich, J. Stalin, Dorrough Music, Audio Push, Clyde Carson, and Iamsu!.[1] He operates the independent label Beach Boi Music, on which he releases most of his solo material.[1] Since 2012 he's had a number of singles released with music videos on music channel VEVO.[2]

Memoirs of a Curb Server

edit

Depaul contributed production to the track "Try'na Get On" off the J. Stalin album Memoirs of a Curb Server in July 2012. The album peaked at number 54 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at 16 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, making it J. Stalin's most successful album to date.[5] The album features guest appearances from E-40, Mistah F.A.B., Too Short, Yukmouth, The Jacka and Richie Rich, among others. Music videos have been filmed for the song "Try'na Get On" featuring Armani de Paul and Philthy Rich.[6]

Recent singles

edit

His single "Ride On It" featuring Iamsu! and Kool John came out in July 2013, with a music video also released online.[1] Released in December 2013 on Beach Boi Music, Rapbay, and Urbanlife Distribution, his digital track "A Million Ways" was a collaboration with AM Dre. The track featured Sage the Gemini as producer, with Gemini and Smoovie and Salty also featured. As of 2014 he continues to release singles online, such as "Steph Curry" in January.[7]

He has a project with Dj.Fresh titled The Morning Show, due out in June 2014, and his independent release HashTag Flav is due out in the summer as well.[8]

Discography

edit

Singles

edit
Incomplete list of singles by Armani DePaul
Year Single title Release details
2012 "You Lookin' Too Good"
(ft. Philthy Rich)
  • Released: Dec 2012[9]
  • Label: Beach Boi Music[10]
  • Format: Digital
2013 "If"
(ft. J. Stalin, Nio tha Gift, Nolan Rashawn)
  • Released: April 16, 2013
  • Label: Beach Boi
  • Format: Digital
"Out the Mudd"
(ft. Che Dnero & Paris Cimone)
  • Released: May 8, 2013
  • Label: Beach Boi
  • Format: Digital
"Ride On It"
(ft. Iamsu!, John Hart, Kool John, Rayven Justice)
  • Released: July 23, 2013
  • Label: Beach Boi, Rapbay, Urbanlife
  • Format: Digital,[11] music video
"Yike On It"
(ft. Priceless Da Roc, Iamsu!, John Hart,
Rossi, Rayven Justice)
  • Released: Sep 3, 2013
  • Label: Beach Boi, Rapbay, Urbanlife
  • Format: Digital
"A Million Ways"
(by DePaul and AM Dre ft. Sage the Gemini, Smoovie & Salty)
  • Released: Dec 3, 2013
  • Label: Beach Boi, Rapbay, Urbanlife
  • Format: Digital

Production credits

edit

Appearances

edit
Incomplete list of songs featuring Armani Depaul
Year Title Primary artist(s) Album Notes
2012 "Hood Chick" (ft. Depaul) Stevie Joe, Dj.Fresh Stevie Joe - The Tonite Show
"Never Knew Her" (ft. Depaul) Philthy Rich, Pooh Hefner #NOBFE
"Fire Up" (ft. Depaul) Stevie Joe Red Eye Flight
tracks 5, 7, 16 (ft. Depaul) Stevie Joe 21.0 Grams
"Up Early In da Mornin" (ft. Depaul) Stevie Joe Mafia
2013 "Clap It Up" (ft. Sage the Gemini & DePaul) Jay n Fresh Single only
"Stick up" (ft. Depaul) Nolan Rashawn Single only
"Its Ok" (ft. Depaul) Stevie Joe Single only

Music videos

edit
Music videos featuring Armani Depaul[2]
Yr Video title Role, notes
2007 "Cookies and Milk" primary artist, director
2010 "1000 Bitches on My Dick" primary artist
2010 "Wiggle" by Depaul primary artist
2010 "Don't Miss Me" with AM Dre primary artist
2010 "Neva Enuff" primary artist
2010 "Rock the Boat" primary artist
2010 "You Ain't Know" with Young primary artist
2010 "All Day Long" primary artist
2010 "Put it Down" primary artist
2011 "Juice" primary artist
2011 "Once More Chance" primary artist
2012 "Lock It In" ft. J. Stalin, Laroo T.H.H. primary artist
2012 "Dollar and A Dream" primary artist
2013 "Theory of Sound" primary artist
2013 "All About You" primary artist
2013 "Can You Handle It" ft. D Spitta primary artist
2014 "Ride On It" primary artist
2014 "Bubble Up (Champaign)" primary artist

See also

edit

Further reading

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "About". ArmaniDePaul.wix.com. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  2. ^ a b c "Armani Depaul". Armani Depaul (VEVO. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  3. ^ Video: Armani Depaul on Just Aint Heard of Me Yet! Episode 2 (August 2011)
  4. ^ "Armani Depaul opening for Akon". Armani Depaul (YouTube). Feb 20, 2009. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  5. ^ Memoirs of a Curb Server (Allmusic)
  6. ^ Video on YouTube
  7. ^ Raze, Steve (January 22, 2014). "Armani Depaul "Steph Curry"". All Hip Hop. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  8. ^ Che Dnero & Armani Depaul - The Feast Official Video
  9. ^ Dub, Em (December 2, 2012). "Armani Depaul ft. Philthy Rich - You Looking Too Good (exclusive)". Thizzler. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  10. ^ "Armani Depaul: You Lookin' Too Good ft. Philthy Rich". Audiomack. December 3, 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  11. ^ "iTunes - Music - Ride On It (feat. IamSu, John Hart, Kool John & Rayven Justice) - Single by Armani DePaul". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
edit
Media