MF Grimm facts for kids

Percy Carey (born June 11, 1970), known by his stage names MF Grimm and GM Grimm, is an American rapper, music producer, and comic book writer from New York City. He is famous in the underground hip hop scene. Grimm has released many albums, both on his own and with other artists. He is also known for his work as a comic book writer.

Early Life and Start 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 idea after telling Jim Henson about a dream he had.

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 music equipment. Percy faced challenges in high school and was expelled.

Music Career Highlights

MF Grimm's music career began in the late 1980s. He performed in New York City and later toured with famous artists like MC Lyte. In the 1990s, he became known for his skills in freestyle rap battles. He performed alongside other well-known rappers such as Lord Finesse and GZA.

Early Releases and Collaborations

In the early 1990s, Carey moved to California. There, he formed a group called the Gravediggaz. He also worked with DJ Roc Raida. In 1993, Grimm placed third in the World Supremacy Battle, showing his talent as a battle rapper. He released his first single, So Whatcha Want..., that same year. He also collaborated with hip hop legends like Kool G Rap and Kurious.

Around 1993, MF Grimm had recorded enough songs for his first album. However, after a serious incident that led to him being hospitalized, much of his music was lost. He later managed to get some of it back. These songs were eventually released as singles and 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. Grimm helped produce MF Doom's first album, Operation: Doomsday, by providing money and music samples. During this time, Grimm started his own music label, Day By Day Entertainment. He also formed a hip hop group called Monsta Island Czars with MF Doom.

Music in the 2000s

In the early 2000s, MF Grimm released the MF EP with MF DOOM. This album included new songs and remixes.

In 2001, MF Grimm recorded his first solo album, The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera. He recorded the entire album in just 24 hours. It featured production and appearances from Count Bass D and MF DOOM. The album was released on Grimm's Day By Day Entertainment label. After his release from prison in 2003, Day By Day Entertainment released a collection of songs by MF Grimm and MF DOOM called Best of MF.

Grimm also helped produce other important albums during this time. These included Operation: Doomsday and KMD's Black Bastards.

After his release from prison, Grimm finished his second album in 2004. It was called Digital Tears: E-mail from Purgatory. He created the lyrics and drum beats for this album while he was in prison. Later in 2004, he worked with MF DOOM again on Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1. On this album, MF Grimm rapped over beats from MF DOOM's instrumental series. In 2005, Grimm 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 parts: "Breakfast," "Lunch," and "The Last Supper." It also included a song called "The Book of Daniel," which was a response to MF DOOM.

In 2007, MF Grimm released a concept album called The Hunt for the Gingerbread Man. His life story was also told in a graphic novel (a type of comic book) called Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm. This book was released by DC Comics.

In 2008, Percy Carey 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.

Music in the 2010s and 2020s

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

In 2012, he started a series of albums with producer Drasar Monumental. The first was Good Morning Vietnam. They followed this with Good Morning Vietnam 2: The Golden Triangle in 2013 and Good Morning Vietnam 3: The Phoenix Program in 2014.

In 2015, MF Grimm released a collection of his love songs called MF Love Songs. More recently, in 2021, he released The Hunt For The Gingerbread Man 2: Get The Dough.

Aliases

MF Grimm has used many different names throughout his career. As a teenager, he was called "Build and Destroy." Later, he became "The Grimm Reaper." The name "MF Grimm" came from people saying he had "mad flows." As part of the Monsta Island Czars group, he used the names Jet Jaguar and Superstar Jet Jaguar. After his release from prison, he also used "GM Grimm," which stands for Grandmaster Grimm.

Personal Life

In 1994, Grimm survived a serious attack where he was injured. This incident left him unable to hear, see, or move his legs for a time. Doctors thought he might be paralyzed for life. Sadly, his half-brother and manager, Jansen Smalls, died in the attack. Despite the doctors' predictions, Grimm recovered his full vision, hearing, and speech. He still uses a wheelchair.

Grimm founded his music label, Day By Day Entertainment, in the late 1990s. Around the same time, he created the Godzilla-inspired hip hop group, the Monsta Island Czars, which included MF Doom. To help pay for his medical bills, Grimm faced legal challenges. In 2000, he was sentenced to prison. Before his sentence began, Grimm recorded his first album, The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera. In 2003, his sentence was reduced, and he was released.

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. After the death of DOOM's brother and Grimm's injuries, they supported each other. Grimm helped MF DOOM by funding his first album, Operation: Doomsday. He also helped fund KMD's second album, Black Bastards.

In 2000, DOOM and Grimm released the MF EP together. After 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 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)