Paul Wall

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Paul Wall

Paul Wall in May 2005

Background information
Birth name Paul Michael Slayton[1]
Born
March 11, 1981 (age 34)[1]
Origin
Houston, Texas, United States
Genres
Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper
Years active 1998present
Labels
Swishahouse, RED Distribution
The Color Changin' Click, Expensive
Taste, Bun B, Chamillionaire, Lil'
Associated
Keke, Michael "5000" Watts, Slim
acts
Thug, Kanye West, Z-Ro, OG Ron C
Haji Springer, Mike Jones
Website
www.paulwallbaby.com
Paul Michael Slayton (born March 11, 1981), better known by his stage name Paul Wall,
is an American rapper. He is currently affiliated with Swishahouse Records, having
released several albums under the label as well as collaborating with other rappers signed to
the label. He was formerly musical partners with rapper Chamillionaire releasing several
collaborative albums including the independently released Get Ya Mind Correct. In 2005,
he was signed to Atlantic Records and became successful with his major-label debut The
Peoples Champ. Get Money, Stay True followed in 2007.[2]

Contents

1 Career
2 Acting career

3 Personal life

4 Discography

5 Filmography
o

5.1 Video games

6 Awards and nominations

7 References

8 External links

Career
Wall attended Jersey Village High School and studied mass communications at the
University of Houston for three years.[3][4] After proposing to do promotions for Michael
"5000" Watts' company, Swishahouse, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to Watts' studio,
KBXX.[5] Paul & Chamillionaire convinced Watts to let them rap on his radio show and put
the verses on one of his mixtapes. That mixtape was titled Choppin Em Up Part 2, which
was released in mid-1999. The freestyle became so popular in the streets that
Chamillionaire and Paul Wall became regular staples on Houston's mixtape circuit,
appeared on several of Watts' mixtapes and became permanent members of Swishahouse.
After fellow member Slim Thug left the label, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall followed suit
and the two started their own group known as The Color Changin' Click (named after
Chamillionaire's Chameleon persona). Each successive mixtape released by The Color
Changin' Click led to more business opportunities; the most notable of which was a
contract to do a full album for Paid in Full Records. A one album contract was then
negotiated between the Color Changin' Click and Paid in Full's label head, DJ Madd Hatta
from 97.9 The Box, and the CCC's first album, Get Ya Mind Correct, would go on to sell
over 200,000 copies. Wall's first music exposure came as a street team member on the
Northwest side of Houston, promoting southern labels like Def Jam Records, Cash Money
and No Limit Records. He is also an accomplished and proficient mixtape and party DJ,
known for producing mixtapes in the now well-known screwed & chopped style, which
was invented by DJ Screw.[6]
Paul Wall and Chamillionaire were originally affiliated with Swishahouse Records, but left
for Paid in Full Records a short time later. After several mixtape and independent releases
including Get Ya Mind Correct, the two parted ways, citing creative differences.
Chamillionaire continued to release independent records, while Paul Wall returned to the
Swishahouse fold. This move allowed him to appear on Mike Jones' first commercially
distributed single, "Still Tippin'", from his first major label album Who Is Mike Jones?. The
single is originally on Swishahouse's The Day Hell Broke Loose Part 2 aka Major Without
A Major Deal, released in 2003, the album went on to sell over 500,000 copies two months
after being released.

Paul Wall shows off his grills with a smiling fan in Baghdad, 2007.
In 2005, Paul Wall released his first album, The Peoples Champ, which debuted at number
one on the Billboard 200. The first single "Sittin' Sidewayz" featuring Big Pokey. The
second single, "They Don't Know", featured Bun B of UGK, and the video version also
featured Mike Jones. The third single is "Girl", receiving radio airplay and peaking at #35
on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] In 2007, Paul Wall released his second album Get Money, Stay
True, which debuted in the #1 spot on the Billboard Chart Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Paul
Wall released the singles "Break 'Em Off" featuring Lil Keke and "I'm Throwed" featuring
and produced by Jermaine Dupri.
Paul Wall is formerly a member of the rap group Expensive Taste, with his good friends
Travis Barker and Skinhead Rob (Transplants).[8]
In 2007, Paul Wall appeared alongside other celebrities and regular people in the music
video for Rockstar by Nickelback. He also appears on Bermuda-based reggae artist Collie
Buddz self-titled debut album.[9]

Paul Wall performing in Baghdad, 2007.

In the spring of 2008, Paul Wall joined Strange Music recording artist Tech N9ne on a
nationwide tour, which also featured Brooklyn rapper ILL BiLL.
In the 2008 presidential campaign, Paul Wall spoke out in favor of candidate Barack
Obama. He was quoted in The Source magazine as saying "Barack seems to come off as a
true leader for everyone, whereas most people campaigning, including Hillary Clinton,
seem to be just politicians. Barack seems to be genuine and sincere about his beliefs. He is
selfless, while they are selfish. I'm gonna 'Barack the vote' this year and I've never voted
before." [10]

Paul Wall appears as fictional rapper Grillionaire in the movie I Hope They Serve Beer In
Hell, released on September 25, 2009. He, along with screenwriters Nils Parker and Tucker
Max, co-wrote tracks for the movie.
In 2010, Paul Wall featured on the 'Przyja, Duma, Godno' (eng. 'Friendship, Pride and
Dignity') album by a highly rated Polish rap artist Kaczor.
In February 2011, Paul appeared on an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation along
with rapper Yelawolf and singer Christina Milian.[11]
In October 2011, Paul Wall joined forces with Silicon Valley-based social and mobile game
company Jump Shot Media to create the world's first mobile battle rap game, Battle Rap
Stars. Paul is featured as the "main event" and is the rapper to beat in order to win the
game.[12] On March 7, 2012 Paul Wall released a mixtape entitled [13] "No Sleep To
Houston" and as of 3-28-12 it has gone gold on the mixtape website "datpiff". Paul Wall
released a collaboration mixtape with Slim Thug for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in
Houston.[14]
On December 10, 2013, Paul Wall released his seventh studio album, an 11-track offering,
titled CheckSeason, which featured contributions from Stunna Bam, Killa Kyleon, Slim
Thug, Lil Keke, Kid Ink and Young Dolph. The record was released independently via his
Paul Wall Music imprint.[15]
Paul Wall followed up "Check Season" on December 2, 2014 with the release of his eighth
studio album, titled "The Po-Up Poet" which was heavily produced by up-and-coming
super producer June "The Jenius" James. On his latest track "No Favors", produced by June
James, the rapper contorts his voice behind his usual slow crawl into something that hits the
ground running from the word go. According to a VIBE Magazine article in November
2014, "The almost circus-like production reestablishes the idea that as long as Wall's been
in the game, he's been a beloved Texas rap legend".[16][17]

Acting career
During his break from rapping, Paul Wall appeared in Furnace with Ja Rule. He also
appeared in the 2009 movie I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell along with Jesse Bradford and
Matt Czuchry. He was also in the 2010 Science Fiction movie Xtinction: Predator X.[18]

Personal life
Paul Wall married girlfriend Crystal in 2006. Their son William Patrick Slayton was born
April 18, 2006.[19][20] and their daughter Noelle Slayton was born in 2007.
During a concert in San Antonio, Paul Wall hit a fan with a microphone. The fan was
flicking his middle finger at Paul Wall. Paul Wall apologized to not only the victim but to
all his San Antonio fans.[21]

In 2010, Paul Wall went on an extreme diet and had gastric sleeve surgery,[22] resulting in an
over 100 lb. weight loss. In February 2011, Paul Wall and his wife Crystal unveiled a
Bonnie & Clyde 40's themed photo shoot, which revealed Paul's slimmer, trimmer
physique.[23]

Discography
Main article: Paul Wall discography
Studio albums
Chick Magnet [24](2004)
The Peoples Champ (2005)

Get Money, Stay True (2007)

Fast Life (2009)

Heart of a Champion (2010)

#Checkseason[25] (2013)

The Po-Up Poet[26] (2014)

Slab God [27](2015)

Collaboration albums
Get Ya Mind Correct (with Chamillionaire) (2002)
Controversy Sells (with Chamillionaire) (2005)

Filmography
Film
Year
Title
Role
2006 Furnace
Joey Robbins
2009 I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell Grillionaire
2010 Alligator X
Froggy
2011 Cash or Crash

Video games

2005: Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition for Xbox and PlayStation 2 - "Sittin'
Sideways"
2005: SSX On Tour for Xbox and PlayStation 2 - "Sittin' Sideways"

2005: Madden NFL 06 for Xbox 360 - feat. Mike Jones - "They Don't Know"

2007: Def Jam Icon for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 - "Sittin' Sideways" & "Trill"

2011: Battle Rap Stars for iPhone and Android

Awards and nominations

Ozone Awards
Year

Recipient/Nominated work
Paul Wall
2006 "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)"
(Remix)

"Holla at Me"

Award
Taste Maker (style and trendsetter)

Result
Won

Best Rap/R&B Collaboration

Won

Best Rap Collaboration

Won

Grammy Awards
Year

Recipient/Nominated work

2007 "Grillz"

Award
Best Rap Performance as a Duo or
Group

Result
Nominated