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Paris

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Paris is a hip hop artist from San Francisco known for his militantly confrontational radical rapping. He was once a member of the Nation of Islam, but now is an atheist.

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BIRTH NAME:
Oscar Jackson Jr.
BORN: San Francisco, CA
ORIGIN:  San Francisco, CA
OCCUPATIONS:
Emcee, Political Activist
YEARS ACTIVE: 1990 - present
LABELS: Guerrilla Funk
WEBSITE
MYSPACE
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BIO Paris was catapulted onto the national scene in 1990 with his hit single "The Devil Made Me Do It" and album of the same name, after earning a bachelor's degree in economics from University of California-Davis. Originally released on Tommy Boy Records, his first single was banned by MTV. Since then his stance on political issues and social commentary have both aided and hindered his quest to bring his music and messages to the masses.

When his second album, Sleeping with the Enemy, was ready for release in 1992, Paris was dropped from now-defunct Tommy Boy Records and distributor Time Warner when they discovered its incendiary content - content which includes fantasy revenge killings of then-President Bush and racist police officers. Also problematic was the album's insert, which features the artist waiting behind a tree, holding an Tec 9, as the president is waving to the crowd. Paris eventually released the LP himself on his newly-formed Scarface Records. Also in 1992, Paris contributed to industrial music band Consolidated's 1992 album Play More Music with the track "Guerrillas in the Mist".

Paris signed a major artist and distribution deal with Priority Records for himself and Scarface Records in 1993 and released his third LP, Guerrilla Funk, and several then up-and-coming groups, most notably The Conscious Daughters. Paris and Priority formally severed their business relationship due to creative differences in 1995, and in 1997, Paris signed a one-off deal with now-defunct Whirling Records (distributed by Rykodisc), for the release of his 4th LP, Unleashed, released in small numbers with little promotion. The album contains some very explicitly violent and racially charged verses, and while less overtly political as earlier efforts, the lyrics explicitly describe racial violence when confronted with the same.

The album was also released in Europe with a different track list, featuring songs from '94, '96 and '98, some of which are more in the style of his earlier releases. Becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the music industry, Paris retired from recording and worked as a stockbroker, cementing his personal wealth allowing him to independently finance the next stage of his musical endeavors.

In 2003, Paris appeared on Anybody Killa's Hatchet Warrior album and returned with his most current album, Sonic Jihad. The album continues his tradition of controversial cover art, evoking images of the September 11, 2001 attacks, it depicts a plane flying towards the White House. The content is equally radical and speaks on many topics, including the war on terror, the war in Iraq, police brutality, black-on-black violence, conditions in inner-city communities, the Illuminati, and state sponsored terrorism. Other politically-minded hip hop artists are featured on the album, including Kam, dead prez, and Public Enemy. Sonic Jihad was the catalyst for the creation or Paris' new label and website, Guerrilla Funk Recordings, a home for projects and material of such notable acts as dead prez and Public Enemy.

In 2006, Paris completed a project with Public Enemy, Rebirth of a Nation, the title both a reference to the 1915 film The Birth of a Nation, controversial for its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan and its racist portrayal of African Americans, and PE's 1988 classic It Takes A Nation Of Millions.... Although Chuck D is the primary vocal performer, Paris penned - and produced - the bulk of the album, which also features N.W.A's MC Ren, Immortal Technique, Kam, dead prez, and The Conscious Daughters.

In 2006 Paris also released Paris Presents: Hard Truth Soldiers, Vol. 1, the first in a Paris-produced compilation series that touches on subjects ranging from war and police brutality to black on black crime and domestic violence. It showcases contributions from Public Enemy, The Coup, dead prez, Paris, T-K.A.S.H., Kam, The Conscious Daughters, Mystic, MC Ren, Sun Rise Above, and The S.T.O.P. Movement (Mobb Deep, Tray Deee, Soopafly, KRS-One, Defari, Daz, J-Ro, RBX, Bad Azz, WC, Dilated Peoples, Mac Minister, The Alchemist, Mack 10, Evidence, Defari, Everlast, and B-Real), among others.

Also in 2006, Paris introduced the world to former Coup-member T-K.A.S.H. and his debut offering, Turf War Syndrome, handling production duties as well.

His anti-war anthem "What Would You Do?" on his Sonic Jihad album accuses the US government of perpetrating the September 11th 2001 attacks, saying, "Ain't no terror threat, unless approval rating's slumpin'. So I'ma say it for the record we the ones that planned it, ain't no other country took a part or had they hand in it". It is also featured on the Peace Not War, Vol. 2 compilation album.

Paris not only writes and produces songs, but also publishes information about how to help the black community grow. One example of this is an article about how to manage your personal money. He explains about how you can build a better future for yourself and your children by handling your money more consciously in 5 steps and a final re-investment step.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_%28rapper%29
DISCOGRAPHY

The Devil Made Me Do It (1990)
Label: Tommy Boy
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The Devil Made Me Do It was the debut album of Paris released on October 9, 1990 on Tommy Boy label. MTV banned the title track. The 13 track vinyl record version of The Devil Made Me Do It was released in Spring of 1988 on Tommy Boy Records. This record is considered a collectible.  Paris also toured the USA and Europe that year to promote the record.

Track List
   1. "Intro" – 0:40
   2. "Scarface Groove" – 4:35
   3. "This Is a Test" – 2:47
   4. "Panther Power" – 3:58
   5. "Break the Grip of Shame" 3:34
   6. "Warning" – 1:07
   7. "Ebony" – 3:56
   8. "Brutal" – 3:53
   9. "On the Prowl" – 1:10
  10. "The Devil Made Me Do It" – 4:12
  11. "The Hate That Hate Made" – 1:09
  12. "Mellow Madness" – 4:50
  13. "I Call Him Mad" – 4:17
  14. "Escape from Babylon" – 5:18
  15. "Wretched" – 3:32
  16. "Break the Grip of Shame (The Final Call)" (Bonus track) – 8:06
  17. "Devil Made Me Do It (Poach a Pig Mix)" (Bonus track) – 5:44

Sleeping With the Enemy (1992)
Label: Scarface Records
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Sleeping With the Enemy is the second album Paris. Released in 1992 on Paris's own Scarface Records label, it stimulated much controversy with the songs "Bush Killa" ("a revenge fantasy about the assassination of then president" George H. W. Bush) and "Coffee, Donuts & Death," ("a cop-killing tirade"). It also featured a young DJ Shadow on production.

Originally scheduled for a pre-presidential election release in 1992, the album was eventually released on Paris’ own Scarface Records after Time Warner shareholders and media pressure prevented then Warner-subsidiary Tommy Boy Records from releasing the project.

It has been re-released in a limited release subtitled The Deluxe Edition; it was digitally enhanced, reworked, and contains alternate versions.

Track List
   1. "The Enema (Live At The White House)"
   2. "Make Way for a Panther"
   3. "Sleeping With the Enemy"
   4. "House Niggas Bleed Too"
   5. "Bush Killa"
   6. "Coffee, Donuts & Death"
   7. "Thinka 'Bout It"
   8. "Guerrillas in the Mist"
   9. "The Days of Old"
  10. "Long Hot Summer"
  11. "Conspiracy of Silence"
  12. "Funky Lil' Party"
  13. "Check It out Ch'all"
  14. "Rise"
  15. "Assata's Song"
  16. "Bush Killa" (Hellraiser Mix)

Guerrilla Funk (1994)
Label: Priority Records
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Guerrilla Funk is the third album of Paris. It was released in 1994 on Priority Records.

It has been re-released in a limited release subtitled The Deluxe Edition; it was digitally enhanced, reworked, and contains alternate versions.

Track List
   1. "Prelude"
   2. "It's Real"
   3. "One Time Fo' Ya Mind"
   4. "Guerilla Funk"
   5. "Blacks & Blues"
   6. "Bring It To Ya (Feat. The Conscious Daughters)"
   7. "Outta My Life"
   8. "Whatcha See?"
   9. "40 Ounces and a Fool"
  10. "Back in the Days"
  11. "Guerilla Funk" (Deep Fo' Real Mix)
  12. "It's Real" (Extended Movement Mix)
  13. "Shots Out"

Unleashed (1998)
Label: Whirling
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Unleashed is the fourth album of Paris. It was released in 1998 on Whirling label.

Track List
   1. "Mob on"
   2. "Blast First"
   3. "Record Label Murder"
   4. "Fair Weather Friends"
   5. "Everyday Livin'" (featuring Jet)
   6. "Thug Livin'" (featuring Nutt-So)
   7. "Root of All Evil"
   8. "Heat"
   9. "Street Soldier"
  10. "44 Wayz"
  11. "Conversation"
  12. "Same Ol' Same Ol'" (featuring Jet)

Sonic Jihad (2003)
Label: Guerrilla Funk
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Sonic Jihad is the 2003 album by Paris released on October 7, 2003 on Paris's own Guerrilla Funk label.

Track List
   1. "Ave Bushani"
   2. "Field Nigga Boogie"
   3. "Sheep to the Slaughter"
   4. "Spilt Milk" (featuring Capleton)
   5. "Tear Shit up" (featuring Dead Prez)
   6. "Freedom" (featuring Dead Prez)
   7. "Ain't No Love" (featuring Kam)
   8. "Lay Low"
   9. "Life Goes On"
  10. "You Know My Name"
  11. "Evil"
  12. "AWOL"
  13. "Agents of Repression"
  14. "What Would You Do"
  15. "How We Do"
  16. "Freedom" (The Last Cell Remix) (featuring Public Enemy and Dead Prez)

Battlefield 2 Controversy
In 2006 a fan of the video game Battlefield 2, referring to himself as "SonicJihad" after Paris's album, posted a montage of clips from the game, edited with audio excerpts from the movie Team America: World Police and other sources. The video was viewed with alarm by members of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which held an open hearing on 4 May 2006 entitled "Terrorist Use of the Internet". News reports suggested that the video was an example of recruitment efforts by al Qaeda and other groups to recruit young people.  "News reports" also suggest that ratings win over any "terror" type of scandal. Fox news has been known to be one of the many alarmist private news companies that edit and censor Liberal or progressive commentaries in other "news" stations.

Rebirth of a Nation (2006)
[with Public Enemy]
Label: Guerrilla Funk
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Rebirth of a Nation is a studio album by hip hop group Public Enemy and Paris, released on March 7, 2006 on Paris's label - Guerrilla Funk.

Despite the Public Enemy branding on the album, many tracks were written and produced by Paris; the album itself was deemed a "special project" by Chuck D in order to differentiate it from other Public Enemy works. The album was released on Paris's own Guerrilla Funk label.

The title of the album is a reference to the pro-white supremacist 1915 movie The Birth of a Nation as well as one of the group's prior albums, It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back.

The album features appearances and guest spots by Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, Conscious Daughters, Ren, Sista Souljah, and Kam.

Track List
   1. "Raw Shit" (featuring Paris and MC Ren) 4:16
   2. "Hard Rhymin'" (featuring Paris and Sister Souljah) 4:41
   3. "Rise" 4:08
   4. "Can't Hold Us Back" (featuring Paris, Dead Prez and Kam) 5:07
   5. "Hard Truth Soldiers" (featuring Paris, Dead Prez, The Conscious Daughters and MC Ren) 4:18
   6. "Hannibal Lecture" (featuring Paris) 3:50
   7. "Rebirth Of A Nation" (featuring Professor Griff) 3:27
   8. "Pump The Music. Pump The Sound" 2:28
   9. "Make It Hardcore" (featuring Paris) 5:56
  10. "They Call Me Flava" 3:09
  11. "Plastic Nation" 3:03
  12. "Coinsequences" (featuring Paris) 4:19
  13. "Invisible Man" 4:29
  14. "Hell No We Ain't All Right!"
  15. "Watch The Door"
  16. "Field Nigga Boogie" (featuring Paris and Immortal Technique) (XLR8R Remix) 5:10

Hard Truth Soldiers, Vol. 1 (2006)
[compilation]
Label: Guerrilla Funk
Purchase

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Hard truth Soldiers, Vol. 1 is Paris's first compilation album released on March 7, 2006 on Guerrilla Funk. Featuring Paris's trademark massive sonic production, Hard truth Soldiers, Vol. 1 showcases contributions from Public Enemy, The Coup, Dead Prez, Paris, T-KASH, Kam, The Conscious Daughters, Mystic, MC Ren, Sun Rise Above, and The S.T.O.P. Movement (Mobb Deep, Tray Deee, Soopafly, KRS-One, Defari, Daz, J-Ro, RBX, Bad Azz, WC, Dilated Peoples, Mac Minister, The Alchemist, Mack 10, Evidence, Defari, Everlast, and B-Real), among others with guest production by Fredwreck.

Track List
 1 Can't Break Me - Kam                         
 2 Still Ain't Free - MC Ren                      
 3 Can't Hold Us Back - Public Enemy Featuring Paris             
 4 Woman's World - The Conscious Daughters (featuring Mystic)                      
 5 Made In America - T-K.A.S.H.                      
 6 Officer Down - Uno The Prophet                      
 7 Inspiration - Truth Universal                      
 8 The Road Less Travelled - Blitz                      
 9 Throwyahandzup - Dead Prez, Sun Rise Above & T-K.A.S.H.               
10 Raid - T-K.A.S.H., The Conscious Daughters & Paris            
11 Down Wit Us - The S.T.O.P. Movement                      
12 Ghetto Manifesto (Paris Remix) - The Coup                      
13 If There's A Hell Below - Ms. Monét                      
14 Dear Mr. President - The S.T.O.P. Movement                      
15 Laylow - Paris

Acid Reflex (2008)
Label: Guerrilla Funk
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Acid Reflex is the sixth studio album by Paris released on October 28, 2008 on Guerrilla Funk. It included the single "Don't Stop the Movement" which also had a video to further promote the album.The song "The Violence of the Lambs" samples Ganksta N-I-P's song "psycho" in his first album The South Park Psycho.

Track List
   1. Don't Stop the Movement
   2. So What
   3. Blap That Ass Up
   4. The Trap
   5. Get Fired Up
   6. Neighborhood Watch
   7. Acid Reflex
   8. True
   9. The Violence of the Lambs
  10. Winter in America
  11. The Hustle
  12. Rebels Without Applause
  13. One Gun
  14. Harambe
  15. Don’t Stop the Movement (Warrior Dance Mix)

Hard Truth Soldiers, Vol. 2 (2009)
[compilation]
Label: Guerrilla Funk
Purchase

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Hard Truth Soldiers, Vol. 2 is Paris's second compilation album released on May 12, 2009 on Guerrilla Funk.  Featuring Paris's trademark massive sonic production, Volume 2 showcases contributions from Paris, T-KASH, The Conscious Daughters, Uno the Prohpet, Jasiri X, NYOil, Truth Universal, Sandy Griffith & more.

Track List
 1 Martial Law - Paris                        
 2 Conscious Thug - Uno the Prophet                     
 3 The Box - Jasiri X                     
 4 Pardon Me - T-K.A.S.H.                     
 5 Love It Or Leave It - Uno the Prophet                     
 6 True - Paris                     
 7 Change My Style - Truth Universal                     
 8 Friends - The Conscious Daughters                     
 9 Dead Man Walking - T-K.A.S.H.                     
10 Night Stick - NYOil                     
11 Cream Row - Sandy Griffith                     
12 Side Effect - Paris                     
13 Dirty Little Secret - The Conscious Daughters

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