Canibus


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Germaine Williams a.k.a. Canibus (Can I bust!) was born in 1974 in Jamaica to Basil and Elaine Williams. Growing up Canibus didn’t found interest in beatboxing and breakdancing. Canibus was moved to the U.S. before his teen years and moved between the Bronx to Washington D.C. constantly.

Before he was eighteen he was moved between Miami, England (where his mother was originally from), Atlanta, and eventually New Jersey. Though Canibus dabbled with several jobs and interests, his main pursuit in life was rapping. During his days as a kid in the Bronx, Bis (Another alas) had evolved through various elements of Hip Hop. But Canibus’ biggest claim to fame was when LL Cool J invited Canibus to appear on his new single “3, 2, 1”. During the recording session Canibus began admiring a tattoo of a microphone on LL’s arm. He asked if Mr. Smith would mind if he got a mic tatted on his arm. LL joked about it, saying that Canibus should only get a mic tattoo if he truly felt he was worthy. When Canibus stepped into the booth to record his verse for the song he included a few lines before he began to rap, shouting out each of the other artists in the song; when he reach LL he shouted out, “LL, is that a mic on your arm? Let me borrow that!” To this day LL took that as a diss and attacked Canibus lyrically. Canibus insists that the line was meant as a compliment, but that’s not how it would play out. LL went in the booth and recorded an entire verse directed at Canibus. Canibus to hold respect had to respond; attacking back with a song called “Second Round Knockout”. With a little help from Mike Tyson (who laced some background vocals to hype up the song) the song was released and was met with rave fanfare. This ignited a Hip Hop feuds involving Canibus, LL Cool J, even Wyclef, and various other individuals who wanted in on the action. Though Canibus first hit was accepted, the overall lyrical war between LL Cool J and Canibus was won by the veteran LL.

While underground Hip Hop fan embraced Canibus’ albums the outside entertainment did not. Canibus has been credited with being one of the best lyrical freestyle rappers and has few equals in that area of rapping. In fact many rap magazine say the only rapper that could compete with Canibus in a freestyle battle is Eminem. Also Eminem and Canibus have been beginning a beef that started with Canibus making several diss on his underground album “C True Hollywood Story” about Stan, the obsessed Eminem fan. Em responded back in his album “The Eminem Show” warning the rapper that if he does begin a beef Canibus’ career won’t survive saying, “I’ll be brief, let me keep shit simple, Cani-bitch don’t want no beef with Slim; No!” Canibus has not yet replied.

Bio Timeline
1974 – Germaine Williams (aka Canibus) was born in Jamaica to Basil and Elaine Williams.
1992 – Germaine graduates high school.
1995 – Meets ATL rapper named Webb and forms “T.H.E.M” (The Heralds of Extreme Metaphors).
1995 – “T.H.E.M” cypher with Wu-Tang outside an ATL club, impressing RZA.
1996 – “T.H.E.M” break up. Canibus starts Group Home Entertainment with Charles Suitt – they sign “The Loys Boyz”
1996 – Begins rapping with Ras Kass & Heltah Skeltah
1997 – Canibus is introduced to Wyclef Jean by Jay-Z
1997 – LL Cool J asks Canibus to appear on his first radio single "4, 3, 2, 1″ alongside DMX, Redman & Method Man
1998 – Canibus releases debut LP “Can-I-Bus” on Universal which peaks at #2 on the Billboard charts, eventually going Gold.
2000 – Canibus releases 2nd LP “2000 B.C.” – First appearance of The HRSMN – a group consisting of Canibus, Ras Kass, Killah Priest & Kurupt.
2000 – Universal and Canibus part ways.
2001 – Canibus releases his 3rd album “C: True Hollywood Stories” via Archives Music (an indie label owned by Louis Lombard III).
2002 – Canibus joins the US Army.
2002 – Canibus releases his 4th album “Mic Club: The Curriculum” via Mic Club Music.
2003 – Canibus releases his 5th album “Rip the Jacker” via Babygrande, entirely produced by Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind.
2003 – The HRSMN Project is released via Think Differently / Proverbs Records.
2004 – Canibus is discharged from the Army for smoking cannabis.
2005 – Canibus releases collaboration album with Phoenix Orion called “Cloak N Dagga | Def Con Zero” via Head Trauma Records.
2005 – Canibus releases his 6th studio album “Mind Control” via Gladiator Music / Tommy Boy Records.
2005 – Canibus releases his 7th studio album “Hip-Hop for Sale” via Babygrande / Koch.
2007 – Canibus releases his 8th studio album “For Whom the Beat Tolls” via Mic Club Music.
2009 – Canibus forms “The Undergods” with Keith Murray.
2009 – The Undergods EP is released via Sound Records & Entertainment.
2009 – Canibus releases “The Paranoid Chillin” EP with Presto, Sick Since & Prince EA.
2010 – Canibus releases his 9th studio album “Melatonin Magik” via War Lab / RBC Records.