Hot Rod (rapper)

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Hot Rod
Background information
Also known asYoung Hot Rod
Born (1981-06-25) June 25, 1981 (age 42)
Sacramento, California, United States
GenresHip hop, dance
Occupation(s)Rapper, singer
Years active2006–present
LabelsG-Note (current)
G-Unit, Interscope (former)

Rodney Toole (born June 25, 1981) better known by his stage name Hot Rod (formerly Young Hot Rod),[1] is an American rapper from Sacramento, California, United States. In 2006, Hot Rod secured a recording contract with New York City-based rapper 50 Cent's G-Unit Records. In 2010 he was moved to G-Note Records, a subsidiary label of G-Unit Records, which focuses on pop, dance and R&B music.[2]

Early life[edit]

Raised in Phoenix, Arizona, until the age of 24, Hot Rod worked as mortgage broker until spotted by the G-Unit boss 50 Cent, who signed him to his label in 2006.[3] Hot Rod would send his homemade demo CD to 50 Cent's G-Unit office's in hope the record label would sign him. After 50 Cent heard the CD he thought that Hot Rod's easy flow reminded him of his own. It was December 2005 when the 24-year-old rapper received a call at his day job as a mortgage broker, and it wasn't from any random G-Unit associate but 50 Cent himself.[4]
Hot Rod started in hip-hop as a teenager in the mid ‘90s, making beats. “When my pops made me his assistant music engineer at the church. That's when I realized my passion for music,” he reflects, “I've always had it in my blood so there was no stopping me from that point on”.[5]

Musical career[edit]

Solo career[edit]

Hot Rod released his first single in August 2006, called "Be Easy" which featured R&B singer Mary J. Blige under the labels G-Unit / Interscope.[6] The single failed to gain any major chart success and therefore he was dropped from the label Interscope in late 2006. Hot Rod was the first of various rappers to host the Digital Dynasty series.[7]

2010–present: My Life[edit]

On December 16, 2010, Hot Rod released his second single in four years, "Dance with Me", also the first single from his planned debut album My Life. Produced by Fuego and co-written by Tommy Beringer and Milana Leybovich of Nuthin Under a Million.[8] This was the first single to be released under the newly-formed G-Note Records / G-Unit Records label.[9] In an interview with Vibe magazine Hot Rod revealed that his album was slated for a summer 2011 release date. He also stated that he had been working with producers such as David Guetta, Akon and Pharrell.[10] Hot Rod had been recording music for his debut album, which was previously called Fast Lane, since he signed with G-Unit in 2006. Hot Rod tweeted that he was working with Snoop Dogg on the album.[11] In early 2011, a preview of Hot Rod's second single from the album, the title track "My Life", leaked onto the internet.[12]

Discography[edit]

Singles

Mixtapes[edit]

  • "Mick Swagger: Life in the Fast Lane: Hosted by 50 Cent" (January 2007)
  • "The Prequel: The Pre-Fast Lane Mixtape: (March 2007)
  • "The Hitman: Hosted By 50 Cent & Shadyville" (September 2007)
  • "Lost In The Middle East' (August 2009)
  • "G-Note Presents: It Still Feels Good" (December 2011)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Aftermath Music dot com | Dr. Dre Eminem 50 Cent Busta Rhymes Stat Quo Eve Bishop Lamont G.A.G.E". Aftermathmusic.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  2. ^ "HOT ROD | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  3. ^ "Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  4. ^ [1][permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Hot Rod". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  6. ^ "Be Easy - Single by Young Hot Rod on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  7. ^ [2][permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Hot Rod Talks G-Unit to G-Note Transition & 50's Ultimatum ["50 said 'You got to make yourselves hot... I can't just be doing everything...']- Story Inside - ThisIs50.com". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  9. ^ "50 Cent has created a new record label called "G-Note Records" it's OFFICIAL! - ThisIs50.com". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  10. ^ "V Exclusive: Hot Rod Talks G-Unit To G-Note Transition & 50's Ultimatum". Vibe.com. 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  11. ^ "Snoop Dogg on Hot Rods Album? - ThisIs50.com". Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  12. ^ "Hot Rod - My Life (Snippet) (WORLD PREMIERE!) by www.gunitfamily.ning.com - G Unit Family®-№1 Fanbase Worldwide for G Unit™". Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2016-02-17.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Young Hot Rod.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Hot Rod (rapper).
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