Kutt Calhoun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kutt Calhoun
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Calhoun in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Melvin Lewis Calhoun Jr. |
| Also known as | Cutt Dawg, Bloody Kutty Cal, Bloody Kutty |
| Born | January 1, 1977 |
| Origin | Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | Tech N9ne, Skatterman & Snug Brim, Big Scoob, Krizz Kaliko, 816 Boyz |
Melvin Lewis Calhoun Jr. (born January 1, 1977), known by his stage name Kutt Calhoun, is an American rapper from Kansas City, Missouri. He started his career in the late 1990s in the city's underground rap scene. This means he was making music outside of the major record labels.
In 2004, he signed with Strange Music, a record label started by fellow Missouri rapper Tech N9ne. Calhoun was the first artist to join the label. His first album, B.L.E.V.E. (2004), and his second, Feature Presentation (2008), were both well-liked by music critics. Feature Presentation even appeared at number 60 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Calhoun's third album, Raw and Un-Kutt, was also successful. It made it onto the famous Billboard 200 chart, which lists the most popular albums in the country. Later, he released his fourth album, Black Gold (2013), which was very popular and praised by critics. In 2014, he left Strange Music to start his own record label, Black Gold Entertainment.
Contents
Music Career
Starting Out and First Album (1990s–2004)
Melvin Lewis Calhoun Jr. was born and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. In the 1990s, he became part of the local underground rap community. He started recording his own music and began his professional rap career in 1998. That year, he was featured on an album by Snug Brim, using the name Cutt Dawg.
Soon after, he started working as a "hype man" for the famous Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne. A hype man helps get the crowd excited during concerts. Calhoun also helped Tech N9ne create the record label Strange Music in 1999. In 2002, he was a guest rapper on several songs on Tech N9ne's album Absolute Power.
On August 10, 2004, Kutt Calhoun released his first album, B.L.E.V.E., through Strange Music. The album's title stands for Boiling Liquid Expanding Viscous Explosion. It featured other rappers from the label, like Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko, and Skatterman & Snug Brim. The album was popular enough to appear on a regional Billboard chart. Music critics liked the album and said Calhoun was a talented artist who was ready to become a big star.
Second Album: Feature Presentation (2006–08)
Calhoun's second album, Feature Presentation, came out on October 7, 2008. It also featured many of his friends from the Strange Music label. The album was produced by talented music makers like Michael "Seven" Summers and Young Fyre.
This album was a success, reaching number 60 on Billboard magazine's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It also appeared on the Top Heatseekers chart, which tracks new and developing artists. Music critics gave the album a positive review and a high score of 8 out of 10.
Third Album and First EPs (2010–12)
On June 8, 2010, Kutt Calhoun released his third album, Raw and Un-Kutt. It featured many famous guest rappers, including Brotha Lynch Hung, E-40, Joe Budden, Too Short, and Tech N9ne.
The album was very successful. It entered the Billboard 200 chart, which is a major achievement for any artist. It also did well on other charts, like the Top Heatseekers and the Top Rap Albums charts.
After this album, Calhoun released two EPs, which are like short albums. The first was Red-Headed Stepchild in 2011, and the second was Kelvin in 2012. Both EPs were popular and appeared on several Billboard charts.
Fourth Album: Black Gold (2013)
Calhoun released his fourth album, Black Gold, on February 26, 2013. This was his last album with the Strange Music label. The album featured guest artists like Krizz Kaliko, Brotha Lynch Hung, and Tech N9ne.
Black Gold was a huge success. It reached number one on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and sold over 4,000 copies in its first week. Critics loved the album. The website HipHopDX said the album showed off Calhoun's unique style. AllMusic, another music review site, also gave it a positive review, praising Calhoun's clever and funny lyrics.
Starting a New Label (2014–16)
In 2014, Calhoun decided to leave Strange Music to start his own record label. He and the label separated on good terms. He named his new company Black Gold Entertainment.
In 2015, he released his first project on his own label, an EP titled Kuttin Loose. It was successful, appearing on both the Heatseekers Albums and Top Rap Albums charts. Critics liked the EP, with one reviewer noting his sharp lyrics and great music production. One song on the album talked about important social issues. By the end of 2015, Calhoun was on tour, performing his new music for fans.
Discography
Studio albums
- B.L.E.V.E. (2004)
- Feature Presentation (2008)
- Raw and Un-Kutt (2010)
- Black Gold (2013)
- Persona Non Grata: Truth Be Told (2019)
- T.D.I.A.L. (2024)
See also
- List of American rappers
- Strange Music discography
- List of hip hop musicians
- Midwest hip hop
