Krizz Kaliko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Krizz Kaliko
|
|
|---|---|
Watson at release signing for Tech N9ne's Killer on July 1, 2008
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Samuel William Christopher Watson |
| Also known as | Big Krizz Kaliko |
| Born | March 7, 1974 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, rap rock, alternative hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts |
|
Samuel William Christopher Watson (born on March 7, 1974), known by his stage name Krizz Kaliko, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and voice actor. He is well-known for working closely with fellow musician Tech N9ne. Krizz Kaliko was part of the record label Strange Music from when it started in 1999. In 2021, he created his own music label called Ear House Inc.
Contents
Krizz Kaliko's Music Journey
Krizz Kaliko started his music career in the late 1990s. He began working with a local music producer named IcyRoc Kraven. Around the same time, another rapper, Tech N9ne, was also working with IcyRoc. This is how Krizz Kaliko and Tech N9ne first met.
How Krizz Kaliko Joined Strange Music
Tech N9ne was making a song called "Who You Came To See." Krizz Kaliko thought the song's main part, called the "hook," could be better. Tech N9ne challenged him to prove it. When Kaliko showed what he could do, Tech N9ne was very impressed. Tech N9ne then invited Kaliko to join his close group of artists. This led to Kaliko signing with the new record label, Strange Music. Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin co-owned this label.
Working with Other Artists
Since joining Strange Music, Krizz Kaliko has often helped with Tech N9ne's albums. He has appeared as a featured rapper or provided background vocals. While he mostly worked with Tech N9ne, he also helped other artists. These include former labelmates Kutt Calhoun and Rittz. He also worked with Skatterman & Snug Brim, Ces Cru, and Prozak. Krizz Kaliko has also collaborated with groups like the Kottonmouth Kings and Potluck. Other famous artists he has worked with include E-40, T-Pain, Twiztid, Andy Mineo, and RM from the South Korean group BTS.
Krizz Kaliko's Albums and EPs
Krizz Kaliko has released several albums and EPs (Extended Plays) throughout his career.
Debut Album: Vitiligo
His first album, Vitiligo, came out on May 6, 2008. This album appeared on several Billboard music charts. It reached number 19 on the Top Independent Albums chart on May 28, 2008. In the same week, it also reached number 167 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Second Album: Genius
His second studio album, Genius, was released on July 14, 2009.
Third Album: Shock Treatment
Krizz Kaliko named his third studio album Shock Treatment. He had also thought about other names like Son of Sam and Walk on Water.
First EP: S.I.C.
His first EP, S.I.C., was released on May 17, 2011. In June 2011, he was featured on Winnipeg's Most's song "Forgive Me." This song was from their second album, GoodFellaz.
Fourth Album: Kickin' and Screamin'
On May 15, 2012, Kaliko released his fourth studio album, Kickin' and Screamin'. This album has been his highest-charting album on the Billboard 200 so far. It features artists like Tech N9ne, Twista, Chamillionaire, T-Pain, Twiztid, and Rittz. Most of the music production was done by Seven.
Second EP: Neh'mind
In November 2012, Kaliko released his second EP, Neh'mind. The song "Damage," featuring Snow Tha Product, was chosen as the main single. A music video for "Damage" was released on YouTube on December 14, 2012. It quickly gained over 100,000 views in just two weeks.
Fifth Album: Son of Sam
On August 27, 2013, Kaliko released his fifth album, Son of Sam. This album included guest appearances from Tech N9ne, CES Cru, Kortney Leveringston, IcyRoc Kravyn, and his wife Crystal Watson. The album debuted at number 56 on the Billboard 200 chart. It sold 8,000 copies in the United States during its first week.
Sixth Album: GO
On April 8, 2016, Kaliko released his sixth studio album, GO. Unlike his earlier albums, which were mostly hip-hop, GO was his first R&B/pop album. It featured artists from his label like Tech N9ne, Stevie Stone, Rittz, CES Cru, Wrekonize, and JL B.Hood. The album reached number 4 on Billboard's Rap album chart and number 28 on the Top 200 chart.
Seventh Album: Legend
On September 18, 2020, Kaliko released his seventh album, Legend. This was his first major project in four years.
Starting His Own Label
On May 15, 2021, Krizz Kaliko announced during his online concert event, "The Reveal," that he had officially left Strange Music. He started his own record label, Ear House Inc., with his wife Crystal. In 2022, Kaliko worked with independent artists Anthony Boggs and Messy The Man on their song "Loud Child."
Voice Acting Roles
Krizz Kaliko has also used his voice for acting roles. He voiced Dinobot in the third part of Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy. This show was released on July 29, 2021. He also voiced Leroy Smith in the English version of Tekken: Bloodline, which came out on August 18, 2022.
Krizz Kaliko's Personal Life
Krizz Kaliko has a skin condition called vitiligo. This condition causes smooth, white patches on different parts of the body because of a loss of natural skin color. You can clearly see some of these patches on his face. He even named his first album Vitiligo after this condition.
He has also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This is a mental health condition that affects a person's mood. He named a song on his second album after this disorder.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy | Dinobot | 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Tekken: Bloodline | Leroy Smith | 2 episodes |
Discography
Studio albums
- Vitiligo (2008)
- Genius (2009)
- Shock Treatment (2010)
- Kickin' and Screamin' (2012)
- Son of Sam (2013)
- GO (2016)
- Legend (2020)
