Keak da Sneak
Charles Kente Williams (Bowens) (born October 21, 1977), commonly known by his stage name Keak da Sneak, is an American rapper from Oakland, California; He is known for his scratchy, gruff voice and for coining the term hyphy in 1994.
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Keak Da Sneak in 2008 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Charles Kente Williams (Bowens) |
Also known as | Keak Da Sneak |
Born | October 21, 1977 |
Origin | Oakland, California United States |
Genres | Hyphy |
Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1992–present |
Labels | Koch, E1 Entertainment, Thizz Entertainment, Allnfallndoe, Allndadoe |
Associated acts | Mac Dre, Mozzy Yukmouth, The Mekanix, Luniz, The Regime, E-40, Big Lurch, Too $hort, Lil Jon, B.A., Dual Committee, Mistah F.A.B, Spice 1, 3X Krazy |
Early life, family and education
Keak da Sneak was born in Brewton, Alabama, As a newborn he was moved to Oakland, CA. He found popularity while attending Allendale Elementary School, which he parlayed into later friendships and talent show performances at Oakland's Bret Harte Junior High. Through theater he met his collaborator Agerman. Keak has been married to his wife Dee Bowens, former clothing designer, since February 14, 2004, They separated for several years and reconnected just months before he was shot 9 times on August 21, 2017. He has 4 children[1]
Career
Keak and Agerman formed Dual Committee when Keak was 15 years old. The duo's performances were first recorded on "Murder Man" and "Stompin in My Steel Toes" on C-BO's 1994 EP The Autopsy. Citing the personal growth of all three artists, he later signed as a solo artist with Sacramento-based Moe Doe Records.[2] At this point, he began to receive more radio airplay, especially on San Francisco hip-hop station KMEL.
Keak da Sneak has collaborated with recording artists such as E-40, Daz Dillinger, Akon, MC Hammer, Mac Dre, Prodigy, Alchemist, Blac Chyna, G Easy, Dj Vlad and Lil Wayne. He collaborates and tours with his DJ, E-Tech, from the SBC DJs, associated with KMEL DJ Rick "The Dragon" Lee and SBC DJs San Francisco. Keak was featured on MTV's My Super Sweet 16.[3]
3X Krazy
By the end of their junior year in high school, they had added rapper B.A. to form the group 3X Krazy. Their first EP, Sick-O, was released independently on August 5, 1995. In 1996 they signed to Virgin Records, releasing the album Stackin' Chips on March 8, 1997 (with help from the single Keep It on the Real; the album received national attention), and the second album Immortalized, and then the release of Real Talk 2000 on January 18, 2000.[4] The last 3X Krazy album, a collection of previously unreleased material and remixed songs from Sick-O, was flowamatic-9, which was released in 2004.
Discography
Solo albums
- Sneakacydal (1999)
- Hi-Tek (2001)
- Retaliation (2002)
- The Farm Boyz (2002)
- Counting Other Peoples Money (2003)
- Keak da Sneak (2004)
- Town Business (2005)
- Thizz Iz Allndadoe (2006)
- The Farm Boyz Starring Keak (2006)
- On One (2007)
- G 14 Classified (2007)
- All N Da Doe (2008)
- Deified (2008)
- Thizz Iz All N Da Doe Volume 2 (2009)
- Mobb Boss (2010)
- Keak Hendrix (2011)
- The Tonite Show With Keak da Sneak - Sneakacydal Returns (2011)
- Withdrawl (2017)
- Gorilla (2020)
Collaboration albums
- Dual Committee with Dual Committee (2000)
- Da Bidness with Messy Marv & P.S.D. Tha Drivah (2007)
- Welcome to Scokland with San Quinn (2008)
- Word Pimpin 2: We Don't Need You with Baby S and Q-Z (2008)
- Da Bidness 2 with Messy Marv & P.S.D. Tha Drivah (2010)
- The Allinner Album with Benner (2010)
Compilation albums
- Kunta Kinte (2006)
- The Farm Boyz (Special Edition) (2006)
Soundtrack albums
- Copium (2005)
References
- Keak da Sneak. "[Unknown]". UrbanSteez.com (Interview). Cite uses generic title (help)
- Birchmeier, Jason. Keak Da Sneak. Allmusic
- "Nicole". My Super Sweet 16. Season 3. Episode 8. 2006-06-27. MTV.
- Birchmeier, Jason. 3X Krazy. Allmusic
- Noceda, Kristofer; Hern, Jodi; ez. "Popular Rapper Keak Da Sneak Shot in Richmond: Police". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 2019-01-31.