Antwon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
October 25, 1986[1]
Antwon | |
|---|---|
 Antwon performing in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Antonio Paul Williams October 25, 1986[1] Key West, Florida, U.S. |
| Origin | San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation | Rapper |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | antwon |
Antonio Paul Williams[2][3] (born October 25, 1986),[1] better known by his stage name Antwon, is an American rapper based in San Jose, California.[4] In 2013, he was included on Complex's "15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW" list.[5] He was also included on Complex's "25 New Rappers to Watch Out For in 2014" list.[6]
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 Spin's "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] His texts mainly revolve around sex.[4][24]
During his youth, he listened to Biohazard and thrash metal.[4] He has also quoted Kid Rock and Prince among his influences.[9]
Controversy
In 2016, Antwon formed Secret Circle along with Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane.[25] Since then, the group released several tracks and played live performances across North America.[26] In 2018, Lil Ugly Mane announced the breakup of the group, not initially indicating a specific reason for the breakup.[27] Antwon posted a statement on Twitter, alluding to unnamed allegations.[28] 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.[28]
