MF Grimm facts for kids

Percy Carey (born June 11, 1970), known by his stage name MF Grimm, is an American rapper, music producer, and comic book writer. He is from New York City. MF Grimm is known for his unique style in underground hip hop. He has released many solo and collaborative albums throughout his career.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Percy Carey grew up in Manhattan, New York. When he was young, his neighbor, actor Morgan Freeman, helped him get a role on the TV show Sesame Street. Percy appeared on the show from age 5 to about age 9. He even helped create an episode where he and Big Bird looked for his lost tooth!

As a teenager, Percy became very interested in hip hop music. By age 14, he knew he wanted to be an MC (rapper). His mother supported his dream and bought him turntables and a microphone to practice.

Music Career Highlights

MF Grimm's music career started in the late 1980s. He performed in New York City and even toured with famous rapper MC Lyte. In the 1990s, he became known for his skills in freestyle rap battles. He performed alongside well-known rappers like Lord Finesse, GZA, and Large Professor.

The 1990s: Early Success and Challenges

In the early 1990s, Percy moved to California. There, he formed a DJ/rapper group. He also worked with Roc Raida as his DJ. In 1993, MF Grimm showed his talent by placing third in the World Supremacy Battle. He released his first single, So Whatcha Want ...?, that same year. He also performed at a big music convention in Atlanta, sharing the stage with artists like Lady of Rage and Tupac. He also worked with hip-hop legends such as Kool G Rap and Kurious.

Around this time, MF Grimm recorded enough songs for his first album. However, after a serious incident where he was injured and in a coma, much of his music was lost. When he recovered, he managed to get some of the songs back. These were later released on his 2005 album, Scars & Memories.

In the mid-to-late 1990s, MF Grimm released several singles. He also started working closely with MF Doom. MF Doom's first album, Operation: Doomsday, was recorded in Grimm's basement. Grimm helped fund this project and provided music samples for it. During this time, Grimm also started his own music label, Day By Day Entertainment. He also formed the hip hop group Monsta Island Czars with MF Doom.

The 2000s: New Albums and Collaborations

MF Grimm's first release in the 2000s was MF EP, a collaboration with MF DOOM. This album included new songs and remixes.

In 2001, MF Grimm recorded his first official album, The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera. He recorded the entire album in just 24 hours! It featured Count Bass D and MF DOOM. The album was released on Grimm's Day By Day Entertainment label. He didn't even hear the finished album until he was released from prison in 2003. After his release, Day By Day Entertainment released Best of MF, a collection of songs by MF Grimm and MF DOOM.

MF Grimm also helped other artists by being an executive producer on their albums. This means he helped fund and guide the creation of albums like Operation: Doomsday and Escape from Monsta Island!.

After his release from prison, Grimm finished his second album in 2004, called Digital Tears: E-mail from Purgatory. He released this album under his Monsta Island Czars name, Superstar Jet Jaguar. The lyrics and drum beats for this album were created while he was in prison, using a small drum machine he kept hidden.

Later in 2004, he teamed up with MF DOOM again for his third album, Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1. On this album, MF Grimm rapped over beats from MF DOOM's instrumental album series. In 2005, he released Scars & Memories, which was a collection of his earlier songs.

In 2006, MF Grimm released a huge triple-CD album called American Hunger. It was the first hip hop album ever to have 60 tracks! The album was divided into three "meals": "Breakfast," "Lunch," and "The Last Supper."

In 2007, MF Grimm's life story was told in a graphic novel (a type of comic book) called Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm. It was illustrated by Ronald Wimberly. That same year, MF Grimm released a concept album called The Hunt for the Gingerbread Man.

In 2008, Percy Carey (MF Grimm's real name) was nominated for two Eisner Awards for Sentences. These awards are like the "Oscars" for comic books. He also won two Glyph Awards for the book.

The 2010s: Continuing His Musical Journey

In 2010, Grimm released his seventh album, You Only Live Twice: The Audio Graphic Novel. This album came with a 13-page comic book based on the story in the music.

Starting in 2012, he began working with producer Drasar Monumental. They released a series of albums together, including Good Morning Vietnam (2012), Good Morning Vietnam 2: The Golden Triangle (2013), and Good Morning Vietnam 3: The Phoenix Program (2014).

In 2015, MF Grimm released MF Love Songs, a collection of his love songs from throughout his career.

The 2020s: Recent Works

On March 15, 2021, MF Grimm released The Hunt For The Gingerbread Man 2: Get The Dough. An animated music video for the song Candy Rain (Falling Down) was also released.

Aliases and Names

MF Grimm has used many different names during his career. As a teenager, he was called "Build and Destroy." Later, he switched to "The Grimm Reaper." The name "MF Grimm" came about when people told him he had "mad flows" (meaning he rapped very well). As part of the group Monsta Island Czars, he used the names Jet Jaguar and Superstar Jet Jaguar. After his time in prison, he also used "GM Grimm," which stands for Grandmaster Grimm. Today, he mostly uses "MF Grimm," but sometimes still uses "GM Grimm" or "Jet Jaguar."

Personal Life and Resilience

In 1994, MF Grimm was involved in a serious incident that left him with severe injuries. Doctors thought he might not fully recover his senses or movement. However, MF Grimm showed incredible strength and recovered his full vision, hearing, and speech. He still uses a wheelchair.

In the late 1990s, Grimm founded his music label, Day By Day Entertainment. Around the same time, he created his Godzilla-inspired hip hop group, the Monsta Island Czars, which included MF Doom.

Before a prison sentence began, Grimm recorded his first album, The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera. His sentence was later reduced, and he was released in 2003.

Friendship with MF DOOM

MF Grimm and MF DOOM became close friends in the early 1990s. They shared interests in hip hop and comic books. Grimm appeared on a KMD song in 1993. After a difficult time for both of them, they became even closer, living together and supporting each other.

Grimm played a big role in MF DOOM's career. He helped fund MF DOOM's first album, Operation: Doomsday, and provided samples for it. Grimm also helped fund the release of KMD's second album, Black Bastards.

In 2000, DOOM and Grimm released their collaborative album, MF EP. When Grimm was released from prison in 2003, Day By Day Entertainment released Best of MF, a collection of their songs. In 2004, they released another album together, Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1, where Grimm rapped over DOOM's instrumental beats.

Discography

Solo Albums

• 2002: The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera
• 2004: Digital Tears: E-Mail From Purgatory (as Superstar Jet Jaguar)
• 2005: Scars & Memories
• 2006: American Hunger
• 2007: The Hunt for the Gingerbread Man
• 2010: You Only Live Twice: The Audio Graphic Novel
• 2017: American Hunger: Rebirth
• 2019: American Hunger Rebirth, Vol. 2: Trials, Tribulations, Humiliation and Elevation
• 2021: The Hunt for the Gingerbread Man 2: Get the Dough

Compilation Albums

• 2003: Best of MF (with MF Doom)
• 2015: MF Love Songs

Collaboration Albums

• 2000: MF EP (with MF DOOM)
• 2004: Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1 (with MF DOOM)
• 2012: Good Morning Vietnam (with Drasar Monumental)
• 2013: Good Morning Vietnam 2: The Golden Triangle (with Drasar Monumental)
• 2014: Good Morning Vietnam 3: The Phoenix Program (with Drasar Monumental)