Curtiss King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Curtiss King
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Curtiss King performing during the 2012 Paid Dues Festival
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Dwan Howard |
| Also known as | Baby Sinbad |
| Origin | Inland Empire, California, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | Ab-Soul, Glasses Malone, Murs, Noa James, Tae Beast |
Dwan Howard, known by his stage name Curtiss King, is an American hip hop artist and music producer. He is from the Inland Empire in California. Curtiss King is signed to an independent music label called Black Cloud Music. He is also known for producing songs for other artists like Murs, Noa James, Ab-Soul, and Glasses Malone.
Contents
About Curtiss King
Early Life and Starting Music
Curtiss King, whose real name is Dwan Howard, was a shy kid. He found comfort in music and 90s TV shows, which even inspired his stage name. From a young age, he taught himself many skills needed in music. He learned how to produce, engineer, and write his own songs. He also learned to edit videos, design album covers, and build websites. He used resources like YouTube and library cards to learn these skills.
Early Music Projects (2003–2008)
After finishing high school in 2003, Curtiss King started making and sharing his own music. He became more known locally after joining Myspace in 2005. In 2007, his music production became very popular. One of his songs was featured on a Vans Skate DVD. He also produced a song called "Watch Yo Lady" for Ab-Soul's first project, Longterm. This song featured Kendrick Lamar.
Later in 2007, Curtiss King signed with Rocstarr Entertainment. This was an independent label based in Inglewood. Under this label, he released two street albums: Notorious Scholars and The Storm On Mars. These albums included songs with Ab-Soul. After a few years, Curtiss King left Rocstarr Entertainment.
While working a part-time job, King also studied at Orange Coast College. He earned a certificate in marketing. After losing his grandparents, he moved to the Inland Empire with his mother. There, he became active in the local music scene. He performed at poetry events and entered beat contests.
Joining Black Cloud Music (2009–2010)
In 2009, Curtiss King's fan base grew a lot. He also became more in demand as a producer. This happened after he worked with Noa James on his album Sounds of A Monster. He also worked on Ab-Soul’s Longterm 2. His work caught the attention of Jynxx, a producer and rapper. Jynxx asked King to join his independent label, Black Cloud Music.
With Black Cloud Music, Curtiss King started to gain attention across the country. He released projects like Snick @ Nite and Jet Pack On E. In 2010, his music production became known worldwide. He was invited to compete in the Red Bull Big Tune Beat Battle. He also got his first major record label placement. This was on Glasses Malone and Mack 10’s album Money Music.
Recent Achievements (2011–Present)
In July 2011, King released his EP (Extended Play) called DIY (Do It Yourself). This EP featured popular songs like "Sinbad" and "21Sev7n." It also included collaborations with other artists. DIY was a big moment for Curtiss King's career.
In late 2011, King had a special chance to produce music for a video game trailer. This was for the popular computer game "APB: Reloaded".
Curtiss King worked hard for 97 days to get a spot at the 2012 Paid Dues Festival. He was officially invited by hip hop artist Murs to perform. This was a big success for his campaign. After performing at Paid Dues in April 2012, King produced a single for Ab-Soul. The song was "A Rebellion" and was part of Ab-Soul's album Control System. This album became number one on the iTunes Hip Hop Charts.
On April 3, 2019, King released "Ratchets Still Jockin." This was the first song from his debut album, AtyChiphobia – The Fear Of Failure. The album was released in the summer of 2019.
In 2020, King produced all 11 songs on the album He's the Christian, I'm the Rapper. This album was a collaboration between Murs and Dee-1. It was released on September 18, 2020.
Personal Life
Curtiss King started rapping at age 17 and producing at 18. He gets inspiration from many artists. Some of his inspirations include Outkast, Sade, 2pac, Kanye West, Cameo, Zapp and Roger, Earth Wind and Fire, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu. He also finds inspiration in 80s synth music.
Music Releases
- President Howard (2007)
- Notorious Scholars (2008)
- The Storm On Mars (2009)
- Snick @ Nite (2009)
- Jet Pack On E (2010)
- Big Drums Come Knockin (2010)
- SlumBeautiful (2010)
- D.I.Y. (Ep) (2011)
- AtyChiphobia – The Fear Of Failure (2012)
- Shut Your Trap (with Murs) (2014)
- Raging Waters (2015)
