Obie Trice

Real Name: Obie Trice III
D.O.B.: November 14th, 1977 Detroit, Michigan

Label(s): Shady/Interscope Records

Trice began rapping at the age of 11, and had a number of underground hits such as "Respect", "My Club", "Dope Jobs Homeless", and "The Well Known Asshole" before he signed to Shady Records in 2000. Obie Trice credits himself for having no "rap name", but instead using his birth name/given name for performing, as also mentioned in one of his songs, "Rap Name".

Obie Trice was raised on Detroit's West Side by his mother, along with three brothers. He was given a karaoke machine by his mother when he was eleven and he used it to rhyme over instrumentals from artists such as N.W.A. By the age of fourteen, he was attending rap battle spots around Detroit, notably including the Hip Hop Shop, on which Obie commented,
“There was a place called the Hip-hop Shop. We'd go up there on Saturday afternoons for the battles. They were hosted by Proof, from D12. I got a response every time I went. That's when I said, 'OK, I wanna get into this music.' "Really, I didn't have a backup plan..."

Obie Trice went by the name of Obie 1 during this time, but when he first met Proof, who was about to introduce him at the Hip Hop Shop, Proof asked him, "What's your name? Your real name, no gimmicks." He was then introduced as Obie Trice, and has kept his real name as his rap name. Obie Trice was introduced to Eminem through D12 member Bizarre. Eminem was impressed when Obie freestyled for him in a car park through a window, whilst Eminem was in a car. Later, Obie received a call from his manager informing him that he would be having dinner with Eminem, and later that night they went to a Kid Rock party.

Studio Recordings

Trice was officially signed in 2000. He first received public attention via a freestyle skit on the Devil's Night album, followed by the deliverance of the opening line "Obie Trice-real name, no gimmicks", off Eminem's The Eminem Show lead single, "Without Me", as well as the song "Drips". Later in 2002, Obie rapped on songs for the 8 Mile soundtrack, and also got a cameo appearance in the film as a rapper in a parking-lot.

Trice's debut album, Cheers, was released on September 23, 2003 with its first single "Got Some Teeth" being well received on radio in a number of countries. He also released the singles "The Set Up" and "Don't Come Down". The album consists of 17 tracks with production from Eminem, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Mike Elizondo, Emile, Fredwreck and Mr. Porter. Artists featuring on Cheers include Busta Rhymes, Eminem, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg and D12. The album was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA.

In 2005, he began work on his second album, entitled Second Round's on Me. The album was finally released on August 15, 2006. Following the release of Second Round's on Me, he released a mixtape called Bar Shots with G-Unit's DJ Whoo Kid.

Bottom's Up is to be the third studio album by hip hop artist Obie Trice, and is in the process of being put together. Obie Trice recently left Shady Records saying that they were going in opposite directions and couldn't handle it anymore.

The title of the album, Bottom's Up, was chosen as Obie Trice was keen to keep the alcohol related theme for his album titles. He had begun working on the album whilst in the process of releasing his second album, Second Round's on Me. As of 21 May 2007, Obie Trice told MTV that he was at the time "a few songs deep", and had by that point collaborated with just Daz Dillinger. He also stated that he'd like to get work done with Eminem, Young Buck, Akon, Jazze Pha, and Devin the Dude. On the topic of collaborating, Obie Trice also explained to MTV,

“I don't really know a lot of artists — I'm in Detroit. It's not Atlanta, where everybody is everywhere, or L.A. or somewhere like that. I actually think it's time for me to start branching off and start connecting with cats. Getting my collaboration on and working with some hot producers — unknown and known — and just make them joints that feel good and that are radio. I just want to make that transition.”