Raz Simone

Solomon Samuel Simone (born January 15, 1990), known by his stage name Raz Simone (/ræz sɪˈmoʊn/), is an American recording artist, songwriter, and political activist and organizer[1] from Seattle, Washington. A hip hop artist who started under the name Razpy, he built his brand by releasing EPs, touring, and filming music videos through his company Black Umbrella.[2]

Raz Simone
Simone at the June 2020 Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone
Born
Solomon Samuel Simone

(1990-01-15) January 15, 1990
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Other namesRazpy
OccupationRapper
Children1
Musical career
GenresHip hop
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2014–current
LabelsBlack Umbrella
H1ghr Music
Websiterazsimone.com

He gained recognition after releasing his debut solo EP, Solomon Samuel Simone.[2] Simone became the subject of media coverage for his association with the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, part of the George Floyd protests in Seattle.

Biography

Early life

Simone attended a private elementary school. In 2007, he worked for the Boys & Girls Club and was in the Running Start dual enrollment program.

Music

Upon release of his debut solo EP, Solomon Samuel Simone, Simone garnered the attention of 300 Entertainment executives Lyor Cohen, Todd Moscowitz, and Kevin Liles which resulted in a partnership between the newly established 300 Entertainment and his Black Umbrella Imprint.

After the success of his debut EP, Simone embarked on a 52 city tour with Rittz of Strange Music and Tuki Carter of Taylor Gang Entertainment. During this time he dropped his first full-length album Cognitive Dissonance. For the first four months of 2015 Simone released new music nearly every week, resulting in three new projects: Cognitive Dissonance: Part 2, Macklemore Privilege & Chief on Keef Violence, and Baby Jesus.[3] In 2016 Simone released Trap Spirituals. He was nominated for XXL's Freshman List. In June 2016 Simone played shows in seven cities, opening for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

Simone has also collaborated with a variety of rappers, such as Roc Nation label member Jay Park, and GOOD Music artist Pusha T on the track featuring King Leez titled "That Ain't Love", which was praised by hip-hop blog sites.[4]

In May 2020, he threw a "pop-up, drive-in concert" at a parking lot at Seattle Center.[5] This type of concert was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to allow for social distancing.

Activism

In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests in Seattle, Simone emerged as an active member of the self-declared Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.[6][7] CNN described him as the "de facto leader of the autonomous zone."[8] Conservative news outlets and publications including Fox News,[9] Townhall,[10] New York Post,[11] and City Journal[12] featured Simone prominently in their coverage of the zone, characterizing him as a "warlord" policing the area with an AK-47 and highlighting an interaction where he allegedly assaulted a tagger.[10] Video was later released showing Simone distributing firearms to unknown individuals.[13][14]

According to Snopes, conservative social media personality Andy Ngo shared a video on June 15 of Simone distributing a rifle from the trunk of his car to another protester on June 8 (the day the zone was first established), after "rumors developed that members of the right-wing group Proud Boys were going to move into the protest area to set fires and stir chaos."[13] Simone disagreed with the characterization that appeared in the media.[15]

Discography
  • 5 Good Reasons EP with Sam Lachow (2012)[16]
  • Samuel Solomon Simone (2013)[17]
  • Cognitive Dissonance pt. 1 (2014)[18]
  • Baby Jesus (2014)[19]
  • Macklemore Privilege & Chief On Keef Violence (2015)[20]
  • Cognitive Dissonance pt. 2 (2015)[21]
  • Trap Spirituals (2016)[22]
  • Closer (2018)
  • Drive Theory (2018)
  • Still Love (2019)

References
  1. Johnson, Gene. "Black Lives Matter sues over violent Seattle police tactics". Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. "Meet Raz Simone: 300's First Artist". MTV News. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  3. "ABOUT RAZ SIMONE". blog.razsimone.com. Retrieved 2017-05-26.
  4. JES7. "Raz Simone – "That Ain't Love" f. Pusha T & Leezy Soprano". 2DOPEBOYZ. Retrieved 2017-05-26.
  5. "Seattle rapper Raz Simone threw a pop-up, drive-in concert at a Seattle Center parking lot. Here's how it went". The Seattle Times. 2020-05-10. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  6. News, Patrick Quinn | KOMO (June 10, 2020). "'Property of the People': Protesters set up camp outside SPD East Precinct". KOMO. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  7. Markovich, Matt (2020-06-10). "Police make allegations of intimidation, extortion inside Capitol Hill's Autonomous Zone". KOMO. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  8. Toropin, Konstantin (June 24, 2020). "Leader of Seattle's 'autonomous zone' says many protesters are leaving". CNN. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  9. Wallace, Danielle (June 11, 2020). "Seattle autonomous zone 'leader' denies acting like 'warlord' in 'no cop, co-op'". Fox News. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  10. Rosas, Julio (June 11, 2020). "Cracks Are Starting to Appear at Seattle's 'Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone'". Townhall. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  11. Feuerherd, Ben; Italiano, Laura (2020-06-12). "Rapper Raz Simone accused of being 'warlord' in Seattle's police-free CHAZ". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  12. Rufo, Christopher F. "Anarchy in Seattle". City Journal. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  13. Kasprak, Alex (June 23, 2020). "Does This Video Show Raz Simone Handing Out Guns in Seattle's CHOP?". Snopes.com. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  14. Graham, Ben (2020-06-16). "'Warlord' of Seattle's lawless zone hands out guns from his Tesla". NewsComAu. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  15. Read, Bridget (June 11, 2020). "What's Going On in CHAZ, the Seattle Autonomous Zone?". The Cut. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  16. CG (2012-09-24). "NEW MUSIC: 5 Good Reasons – Sam Lachow & Raz Simone". A SEATTLE HIP-HOP BLOG. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  17. "Raz Simone - Solomon Samuel Simone - Black Umbrella & Dream & Produce". Respect My Region. 2013-03-25. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  18. "First Listen: Raz Simone, 'Cognitive Dissonance'". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  19. "Raz Simone's 'Baby Jesus' Will Give You Goosebumps". UPROXX. 2015-03-15. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  20. "[Album Review] MACKLEMORE PRIVILEGE & CHIEF ON KEEF VIOLENCE - Raz Simone| more than a hip hop blog". Upcoming Hip-Hop | more than a hip hop blog. 2015-03-28. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  21. "Raz Simone - Cognitive Dissonance: Part 2 | Stream | Hip Hop Albums - DJBooth". DJBooth. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  22. "Raz Simone Delivers Soulful, Trap Tunes In His New Mixtape "Trap Spirituals"". Vibe. 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2017-05-30.


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