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Willie the Kid (rapper)
American rapper (born 1985) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Willie Jackson (born September 25, 1985),[1] known professionally as Willie the Kid, is an American rapper, songwriter, film producer, serial entrepreneur and tech investor from Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Willie the Kid made his music debut as a founding member of The Aphilliates working closely with DJ Drama and Don Cannon. He is the younger brother of Wu-Tang Clan affiliate La the Darkman.[1]
Willie the Kid appeared on both of DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz: The Album and Gangsta Grillz: The Album (Vol. 2) as well as Lil Wayne's Dedication 2 and Dedication 3 mixtapes.[2] He released his debut album, Absolute Greatness, in September 2008 on Warner Bros. Records.[3] He is lauded for his collaborative EP Masterpiece Theatre produced by The Alchemist in 2013.[4]
Outside of his musical career, Willie The Kid is a burgeoning investor and serial entrepreneur. His business portfolio consists of a broad and diverse mix of lifestyle, hospitality, legal cannabis and tech ventures. His businesses include: co-founder of GRUSA, co-founder of Motu Viget Spirits Company, co-owner of Motu Lakeshore Wine Bar, Prohibition Bar and Lounge, Sip Coffee and Cocktails, The Elite District in the historic Harris Building, Botanical Company (Boco) Middleville Cannabis Dispensary and The Gas Station Wayland Cannabis Dispensary along with his business partner Jonathan Jelks. He is also a savvy tech investor with shareholding stakes in The Midwest Tech Project and the innovative geolocation music app Radi8er. Willie’s philanthropic endeavors also include co-founding The Navigate Foundation - a nonprofit workforce development initiative that focuses on hospitality career placement for youths in lower-income, high-potential communities. [5]
Willie the Kid is the co-executive producer of I, Too, Sing America: Langston Hughes Unfurled, the PBS American Masters documentary produced by Datari Turner and directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Willmott.[6] He also wrote, co-produced and starred in his own short film The Fly in 2015.[7]
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Discography
Studio albums
- 2008: Absolute Greatness
- 2011: The Fly 2.0
- 2011: The Fly 2.0, Japan
- 2013: Masterpiece Theatre (with The Alchemist)
- 2013: Aquamarine
- 2014: The Living Daylights (with Bronze Nazareth)
- 2015: The Fly 3
- 2017: Deutsche Marks (with V Don)
- 2017: Filthy Money (with S-Class Sonny)
- 2018: Gold Rush 2 (with Klever Skemes)
- 2018: Blue Notes (with V Don)
- 2020: Capital Gains
- 2020: Deutsche Marks 2 (with V Don)
- 2021: Keep Watching The Fly
- 2022: Deutsche Marks 3 (with V Don)
- 2023: Blue Notes 2 (with V Don)
- 2024: Deutsche Marks 4 (with V Don)
- 2025: Midnight (with Real Bad Man)
EPs
- 2010: Never a Dull Moment (with Lee Bannon)
- 2012: Dilla Forever
- 2013: Somewhere.[8]
- 2013: Naledge & Willie the Kid Are...The BrainFly (with BrainFly)[9]
- 2018: Watch the Fly
- 2018: Gold Rush (with Klever Skemes)
- 2018: Things of That Nature (with Brady James)
- 2018: Midwest Willie (with S0op)
- 2018: Studio 28 (with Troy Caesar)
- 2019: Heather Grey (with V Don)
- 2019: City Lights (with Đus)
- 2021: Catch Me If You Can (with V Don)
- 2025: Catch Me If You Can 2 (with V Don)
Mixtapes
- 2006: The Day the Game Changed... (Hosted by DJ Drama, DJ Sense & Don Cannon)
- 2006: Divide & Conquer (Hosted by DJ Drama & Big Mike)
- 2009: The Fly (Hosted by DJ Drama)[10]
- 2009: The Outkast (Hosted by DJ Scream)
- 2010: The Cure (Hosted by DJ Woogie)
- 2011: The Crates
- 2011: The Cure 2
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References
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