Tommy Wright III (born May 6 1976 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American rapper and hip hop producer.[1][2][3] He began rapping in Memphis during the 1990s and is considered to be an early pioneer for fast-paced rap and trap production in South Memphis.[4][5]
Tommy Wright III | |
|---|---|
 Wright photographed in the summer of 1996. | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | 1 Man Gang |
| Born | May 6, 1976 Memphis, Tennessee |
| Origin | Whitehaven, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, producer |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Street Smart Records |
Musical career
editGrowing up in Memphis, Wright began producing music using four-track recording equipment. Between 1992 and 2001, he released five self-produced solo albums, one with N.O.D., and two more with group Ten Wanted Men. Wright owned, operated and produced the entirety of Street Smart Record's discography and previewed – if possibly never distributed – a street documentary, Behind Closed Doors, for which a soundtrack was also created.[6] Wright is acclaimed as one of the earliest figures of the Memphis rap sound, paving way to the early sound that groups like Three 6 Mafia would be recognized for.
Resurgence
editDespite stepping back from the music industry after 2001's Behind Closed Doors (Da Soundtrack), Wright maintained a cult following through the 2000s and 2010s.[7]
Wright later collaborated with Bay Area rapper Lil B on Secret, a song on the latter's 2019 mixtape, Loyalty Casket.[8]
In 2022, producer Kelman Duran, who had received permission from late Memphis artist Princess Loko's family, estate, and close friend Wright to use her catalog of songs in his productions, sampled Wright's song with Princess Loko ("Still Pimpin") to create dembow and reggaeton-infused opening track "I'm That Girl" from Beyoncé's seventh album Renaissance.[9]
Discography
editAlbums
edit- Memphis Massacre (cassette, mini album, mixed), 1992[10]
- Ashes 2 Ashes, Dust 2 Dust, 1994[11]
- Runnin-N-Gunnin (cassette, album), 1995[12]
- Tommy Wright & Ten Wanted Men – Wanted Dead or Alive (cassette, album), 1995[13]
- On the Run, 1996[7]
- Tommy Wright* & Ten Wanted Men – 10 Toes Down (cassette, album), 1997[14]
- Feel Me Before They Kill Me, 1998[15]
- NASHVILLE TAKEOVER (cassette, album), 2016[16]
Compilations
editReferences
edit- ^ "Memphis Legend Tommy Wright III Adds Dates To "Break The State 2018" Tour". HotNewHipHop. October 13, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ "Tommy Wright III, Memphis Rap Legend, Comes to Oakland". KQED. October 11, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ "Tommy Wright III and Greenwade Remind Nashville Who They Are at Third Man". Nashville Scene. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ "Why is Memphis Rap Legend Tommy Wright III Playing in Philly?". The FADER. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ October 26, Spencer Korchan Thursday; EDT, 2017 04:26 pm. "Tommy Wright III plays 529 Nov. 4". Atlanta Creative Loafing. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "The Unsung Heroes of Early Memphis Rap".
- ^ a b "Still Runnin-N-Gunnin: The Rebirth of Memphis Rap Legend Tommy Wright III".
- ^ "DatPiff :: The Authority in Free Mixtapes".
- ^ "The Gospel of Kelman Duran". Carhartt WIP USA. January 3, 2023.
- ^ "The Rise of Memphis Rap Tapes". reverb.com. August 20, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ "Ashes 2 Ashes, Dust 2 Dust: 25 Years of Tommy Wright III". Passion of the Weiss. September 13, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ "Guts Of Darkness › Tommy Wright III › Runnin-N-Gunnin". www.gutsofdarkness.com. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ Wanted: Dead Or Alive | Ten Wanted Men Lyrics, Song Meanings, Videos, Full Albums & Bios, retrieved May 23, 2022
- ^ "Ten Toes Down by Ten Wanted Men (Tape 1997 Street Smart Records) in Memphis | Rap - The Good Ol'Dayz". www.thegoodoldayz.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Wright, Tommy (October 27, 1998). "AllMusic: Feel Me Before They Kill Me". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Nashville Takeover by Greenwade / Tommy Wright III - RYM/Sonemic, retrieved June 3, 2022
- ^ "Greatest Hits by Tommy Wright III (Tape 1997 Super Sigg Records) in Memphis | Rap - The Good Ol'Dayz". www.thegoodoldayz.com. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- ^ "Genesis Greatest Underground Hits by Tommy Wright III (CD 2000 Street Smart Records) in | Rap - The Good Ol'Dayz". www.thegoodoldayz.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- ^ "Behind Closed Doors: Da Soundtrack (Disc 2) by Tommy Wright III". Genius. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.