2011–12: Longterm Mentality and Control System The tape, titled Longterm 2: Lifestyles of the Broke and Almost Famous was highly acclaimed and featured Stevens singing on several songs. Stevens released his second mixtape, and the sequel to his first, on June 28, 2010. In 2009, he formed supergroup Black Hippy, with his frequent collaborators and TDE label-mates Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock and K-Dot. So there will be four of them: Longterm 1, 2, 3, and 4. It was the first in a series, that Stevens claimed would have four installments: "When I did the first Longterm I knew that there would be four of them. The mixtape, entitled Longterm, was released in January 2009. In December 2008, Stevens released his first music video, for a song from the mixtape, titled "A Day in the Life", through YouTube. Also in 2008, he began recording music for his debut mixtape, at the TDE Recording Studio: House of Pain.
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In 2008, Stevens made a brief cameo appearance in the music video for his TDE-mate Jay Rock's commercial debut single, " All My Life (In the Ghetto)". In 2007, Stevens officially became part of the TDE roster.
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Before signing to TDE, Stevens was a part of a rap group called Area 51, alongside Brooklyn-native and fellow American rapper Snake Hollywood. In 2005, he signed a recording contract with StreetBeat Entertainment, but just a year later, in 2006, he met Punch, President and Chairman of Carson-based indie record label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), who as Stevens says, "saw more in his music than metaphors and punchlines". In 2002, Stevens recorded his first song. Musical career 2002–10: Career beginnings and signing to TDE It was not until Stevens graduated from high school that he began to take a career in music seriously. Rapping continued on as a hobby for Stevens, whose parents "saw a bright, college-type future" for him and enrolled him in advanced classes. Stevens claims to have written his first verse when he was 12 years old, to the beat of Twista's " Emotions". It really got me going as far as being a rapper." I had been rapping a little earlier, maybe around 12, but when I hopped online and into that culture, that textcee culture. I think that is where I developed my rhyming skills. I think that it still exists online, where you freestyle but you type it. Stevens also began crafting his rapping skills at an early age: "I was on BlackPlanet freestyle chat, rapping my ass off. Stevens encountered music at a very young age, due to his family owning a record store. In his adolescent years, Stevens was severely teased about his condition. Newborn babies loved Michael Jackson." At the age of 10, Stevens contracted Stevens–Johnson syndrome, which caused him to be hospitalized and is the origin of his dark lips and light-sensitive eyes. But I know early on, I really, really liked Michael Jackson, like we all did. He once recalled being five years old: "I was serious into video games and basketball, at five. He spent the first four years of his life in Korea while his father was in the military, right up until his parents split and he and his mother subsequently moved back to the United States, to live in his grandmother's house in Carson, California. Herbert Anthony Stevens IV was born on February 23, 1987, in Los Angeles.
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I might even sell my new shit for 10 bucks too I know you know we need a few plaques too You got the mic, I ain't the one you wanna pass to You can have all my shine, I'll give you the light (Repeat x2)ī.I.G.
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I never been afraid to say what I wanna say when I wanna say it, okay then Rest in peace, you just made room for the next to be Put the pistol in my hand and I won't think This business is quick sand and I won't sink TDE, put the money in my hand ain't shit free I don't need clothes or jewelry to stand out Still ain't really got no money fucking right Gripping my fucking penis, living this life