Syntax Error | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jason Craig Scottman April 2, 1980 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 6, 2009 (aged 28) Osaka, Japan |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1998-2009 |
| Spouse | Oksana Willson ( m. 2002 - 2005 ) |
| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Hip Hop |
| Website | www.syntaxed-albums.com |
Jason Craig Scottman (April 2 1980 - January 6 2009), better known by his stage name Syntax Error, was an American rapper and radio personality. He is best known for his 2 albums featuring Jay-Z, and Eminem, whom made him popular in the early 2000s.
Early Life
editJason Craig Scottman was born in Los Angeles in 1980. His parents we're Victoria and Clancy Scottman. His mother is from Cameroon and his father is from U.S. Jason studied at Occidental College in Los Angeles.
Career
editAfter Jason graduated back in 1998, he signed a contract with a small band named Marlboro, producing singles. At the time of his career alongside Marlboro band, he decided to create a stage name, concluding into the name Syntax Error, which he kept it along his whole career. In November 1999, Jason left the band due to a fight between the members. On April 10 2000, Jason released his first single called Doppelganger which contributed in his trending manuever. His first single gained over 2 million streams in aproximatively 3 months. After a while, Jason released another single by the name of Free Will, which it got promoted by several commerciants and posters in the following states: California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Nevada, Arizona and Georgia. This release gained 5 million streams in 2 months and in the following months, it got promoted in Europe.
After a break due to vacations, Jason returned into making singles in 2002. He released 'Blockage' in June 2002 and 'Zup!' in July 2002. Jason was awarded in December 2002 for being the most controversial hip hop rapper of the year 2002.
In February 2003, Jason released his first album named 'Off-Topic' including in total of 10 songs( 'Carsson', '$peedy', 'Notch', 'Botch', 'Grim Reaper', 'Statistic', 'Cruel Serpent', 'Domination', 'Infertile', 'No Money, No Party') all of them having maximum 2 minutes length. This album became on trend very fast according to sellings of the CDs around the world.
In the late 2003, Jason went to a fans meeting after he got invited. There, he met Jay-Z where they came to an agreement of having an album together. In October 2003, they released the album entitled 'My World' where there are included 5 songs, 2 of them are featuring Syntax Error and Jay-Z and the other 3 are featuring only Syntax Error. ( 'In Dallas', 'Back to Back', 'Smoke Gun', 'Cruel Serpent 2', 'I'm in love with the lore' )
In 2004, Jason met Eminem for a collab regarding an album. Their plan continued and in the later 2004 they released a small album called 'DIPLOMACY' that got the attention of many people at that time. The album is including 5 songs featuring Syntax Error and Eminem in all of them ( 'It's time!', 'New Era', 'Diplomatic Discussion', 'Tiny Rea', 'Layer 1' ). This album has reached a total of 10 million streamings in 4 months which it was a record for Jason.
After Jason got arrested for drugs possession in January 2005 and served 3 years in jail, he returned in 2008, being suspended and forced to move from U.S. in another country. He choosed to move in Osaka, Japan, where there he held his first ever concert. He made in total of $200.000 from that concert.
In November 2008, Jason released his last single entitled 'Phoenix', reference to him being a 'Phoenix' moving from U.S. to Japan. This single gained 1 million streamings in only 2 weeks.
Personal Life
editJason was married with Oksana Willson, and later she took the name Scottman. They have 1 child, Emily Scottman ( born 2004 ).
Jason was known by his friends and family for being a chill person and relatively kind and respectful around everyone.
In January 2005, Jason got arrested for drugs possession and served the jail for 3 years. According to his lawyer, he had to serve 6 years of jail, but due to his work with his lawyer, they managed to reduce the serving years.
Death
editJason was found dead by his neightbour in his apartment in Osaka, Japan, in the night of January 6 2009. According to his neightbour, he was found dead in his bathroom, lying on the floor with the eyes open. Medical autopsy report prior his death, made on the date of January 7 2009, could not be revealed due to undisclosed cases. His neightbour mentioned to the police investigators that before Jason arrived to his apartment, he was arguing outside the apartament with a woman: 'He looked very upset after the fight with that woman, and when i wanted to say hello to him, he ignored me! To be honest, he was never like this before'. His neightbour also speculated: 'I think he took all his painkillers pills at once, or even worse, he commited suicide!'.
On the date of July 4 2009, a lawsuit form against priors of Jason was formed by his lawyer, convincing that the medical reports of Jason's death we're false. An advanced autopsy report was later hold, revealing that Jason's death was ruled to a Heart Attack. His lawyer and his neightbour we're questioned by police investigators that night about Jason's personal life. They both conformed that Jason was still consuming drugs, specifically oxycodone and xanax, after he served his jail years, making the medical reports changing the applied cause of death to a drug-related Heart Attack. He was only 28 years old.
On November 23 2017, an episode of The Dark Side was released on YouTube, regarding the mysterious death of Jason.