Torch (American rapper)

Kevin Christopher Belnavis (born July 12, 1982), better known by his stage name Torch, is a Haitian-American rapper signed to Maybach Music Group as part of the group Triple C's.[1] Born and with a childhood in the Castle Hill[2] area of the Bronx, he was sent by his mother to live with his older sister in Miami, Florida, as a teen.

Torch
Birth nameKevin Christopher Belnavis
Born (1982-07-12) July 12, 1982
Bronx, New York City, New York, United States
OriginStarted music in Miami, Florida
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper
LabelsMaybach Music Group, Def Jam Records
Associated actsRick Ross, Triple C's, Jim Jones, Young Buck, Busta Rhymes, Trey Songz
Websitewww.torchisny.com

While living in Miami, he met William Leonard Roberts II, who came to be better known as musician Rick Ross; a Miami rapper called Gunplay, and rapper Young Breed; together, the four young men formed the Southern rap group Triple C's (aka Carol City Cartel).[3]

Childhood

Torch was born Kevin Christopher Belnavis to his parents Lorna and Christopher Belnavis on July 12, 1982 in the Castle Hill area of the Bronx, New York City.[2] Kevin spent most of his childhood on the streets of this rough neighborhood and earned the nickname "Torch" for his volatile and unpredictable misbehavior.[2] Fearful of the dangerous path her son was on, his mother Lorna sent Torch to Miami, Florida to live with his older sister.[4] While living in Miami, Torch met Rick Ross, Gunplay, and Young Breed, future members of his Triple C's group.[2][3]

Education

Though skilled with words and wit, Torch struggled academically. Having attended PS 136 and Junior High School 125 in New York, he was expelled from three high schools before finding an advocate in the principal at the fourth. At Lehman High School, the school principal helped Torch catch up in his classes and makeup months of neglected work to graduate on time with his class. While in high school, Torch met Kenta "Geter K" Geter, future VP of Maybach Music Group, with whom he later signed.[5]

Incarceration

In 2005, Torch served a brief sentence in a New York state prison on drug charges.[6] Shortly after his release, Rick Ross shot to fame with his platinum single "Hustlin'." Torch has said that he began to believe that his own life might amount to something larger than the struggle on the streets.[2]

Music

Triple C's

Newly out of prison, Torch joined Rick Ross, Gunplay and Young Breed to form the rap group Triple C's (aka Carol City Cartel). The group was recorded and featured on Ross's certified gold albums, Port of Miami (2006) and Trilla (2008).[7] Their own first studio album, Custom Cars & Cycles, was released in 2009. The album reached peak positions of number two on the Billboard Rap Album chart and number 44 on Billboard's Top 200.[8]

After releasing a series of independent mixtapes, Torch was given music's official stamp of approval from L.A. Reid, who dubbed the rapper, "what hip-hop's been missing."[9]

Specialyst Entertainment

Torch is also CEO of Specialyst Entertainment, a music and artist management company based in New York.[2]

Discography

Guest appearances
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
" Street Judge" 2010 Masspike Miles Supafly
"Home Run" 2011 Young Buck, Young Breed Bond Money
"Main Event" Masspike Miles The Road Less Traveled
"Live And Let Die" 2012 DJ Kay Slay, A-Mafia, Shoota Grown Man Hip-Hop
"U Can Do It" 2013 J-Hood, Project Pat, Lil' Flip, Ron Browz N/A
"Good Alcohol"[15] Young Breed, Gunplay Young Nigga Old Soul
"Count Your Blessings"[16] DJ Kay Slay, Vado, Uncle Murda Grown Man Hip Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' With The Enemy)
"FTBS"[17] Torae Admission of Guilt
"Wherever I Fall"[18] 2013 Richard Osborne Nothing Personal
"No Sympathy"[19] 2014 DJ Kay Slay, N.O.R.E., Saigon The Rise of a City
"Fort Apache" [20] DJ Kay Slay, Fred the Godson, Oun-P The Last Hip Hop Disciple

References
  1. "About Maybach Music." Maybach Music Group. http://maybachmusic.net/?mmg=about
  2. Torch Interview. Music is Life Magazine. Nov. 2010. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-12-29. Retrieved 2012-03-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Caramanica, Jon. "In the Hip-Hop World, Blogs Mean Business," The New York Times, 27 May 2011. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/28/arts/music/rick-ross-and-the-maybach-music-group.html
  4. "Exclusive Interview With Rapper Torch Of Triple C's (Maybach Music Group)." My Buzzworthy. 5 Sep. 2010. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-07. Retrieved 2012-03-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "The Annual A&R Power Summit." 2012. http://www.thearpowersummit.com/panelists/
  6. "Torch Interview." Lumiere magazine, 13 Jan. 2010. http://www.lumieremagazine.com/jan/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:torch-interview&catid=37:interviews&Itemid=210
  7. Richburg, Chris. "Rick Ross' Triple C's Ink Deal With Def Jam." Allhiphop.com. Ed. Nolan Strong. 4 April. 2009. http://allhiphop.com/2009/04/04/rick-ross-triple-cs-ink-deal-with-def-jam/
  8. "Chart History." Billboard.com. Triple C's.https://www.billboard.com/music/triple-c's/chart-history/
  9. "Triple C's Torch Talks Ghostwriting, Being A "UFO", Ross' Chess Game On Current Rappers & MMG's Future," Ms Drama TV, 26 Jan. 2012. Rapper AJK is set to do a remix for the single "Another Cloud". http://msdramatv.com/2012/01/26/triple-cs-torch-talks-ghostwriting-being-a-ufo-ross-chess-game-on-current-rappers-mmgs-future/
  10. Markman, Rob. "Maybach Music's Torch Puts 'Little Flip' On U.F.O. Mixtape: Rick Ross signee talks to Mixtape Daily about new release, featuring Busta Rhymes and Trey Songz." MTV. 23 May. 2011. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664441/torch-ufo-mixtape.jhtml
  11. Santos, Nate. "Mixtape: Torch x DJ Scream - UFO Vol. 2." The Source. Ed. Andrieux, Amy Aimstar. 25 Feb. 2012. http://www.thesource.com/articles/202684/Mixtape%3A-Torch-x-DJ-Scream---UFO-Vol.-2/
  12. "» Torch – No A/C (Mixtape)". 2DOPEBOYZ. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  13. "New Music: Torch Ft. Ameer x Styles P "Supa Hard" - Rap Radar". Rap Radar. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  14. "Torch - No AC Vol 2 Hosted by Big Mike & DJ Instynctz". DatPiff. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  15. "Young Breed - Young Nigga Old Soul". DatPiff. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  16. "DJ Kay Slay - Grown Man Hip Hop Part 2 (Sleepin' With The Enemy)". DatPiff. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  17. HipHopDX (5 March 2013). "Torae "Admission Of Guilt" Tracklist & Cover Art". HipHopDX. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  18. "ENDZ2ENDZ.COM - New Music: Richard Osborne – Wherever I Fall (ft. Torch)". ENDZ2ENDZ.COM. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  19. Big Homie (January 24, 2014). "New Mixtape: DJ Kay Slay The Rise Of The City". RapRadar. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  20. Rose Lilah (May 8, 2014). "DJ Kay Slay - The Last Hip-Hop Disciple". HowNewHipHop. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
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