Willie D facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willie D
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Willie D in 2017
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William James Dennis |
| Born | November 1, 1966 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, Southern hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1983–present |
| Labels | Rap-A-Lot |
William James Dennis (born November 1, 1966), known as Willie D, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. He became famous as a member of the hip hop group Geto Boys. He helped form the group in 1986 with other Houston rappers Bushwick Bill and Scarface.
Willie D signed with Rap-A-Lot Records, a record label from his region. He released his albums Controversy (1989) and I'm Goin' Out Lika Soldier (1992) with them. His second album, I'm Goin' Out Lika Soldier, even made it onto the Billboard 200 music chart.
Today, Willie D is also known as an online broadcaster. He shares his thoughts on political and social topics in Houston. His YouTube channel, started in 2011, has grown to have over one million followers.
Contents
Early Life and Boxing
Willie D started boxing when he was 11 years old. In 1985, he became the Golden Gloves Champion for the state of Texas. This is a big award in amateur boxing.
Instead of becoming a professional boxer, he chose to become a rap music MC. An MC is a rapper who performs and hosts events. He went to Forest Brook High School. However, he was expelled in 1986, just two months before he was supposed to graduate. He never went back to school after that.
Music Career Highlights
Willie D's talent caught the attention of J Prince. Prince is the founder of Rap-A-Lot Records. At that time, Prince wanted to make the Geto Boys group stronger. He believed Willie D would be very important for the group's success.
Once Willie D joined, Scarface was added to complete the group. This lineup, with Willie D, Bushwick Bill, and Scarface, is seen as the classic Geto Boys group. They first gained fame in 1989 with their album Grip It! On That Other Level, which sold enough copies to be certified gold.
Willie D was also featured on a song called "Scrubstitute Teachers." This song was on Mike E. Clark's Extra Pop Emporium and included Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid. In April 2012, he released a song called "Hoodiez." It featured Scarface, D-Boi, and Propain. This song quickly became very popular online. It was a tribute to Trayvon Martin, a teenager who was shot.
Family Life
Willie D's mother, Marvelous Dennis, was born in Houston, Texas. She later became Marvelous Basey after she got married. She worked as a cafeteria cook for the Houston Independent School District for many years. She named Willie D after his grandfather, Willie Dennis.
His father, Alfred Deboest, was from Lake Charles, Louisiana. He worked as a carpenter and construction worker. Willie D's parents separated when he was four years old. His mother raised him in Houston.
Even though he did not see his father often while growing up, Willie D helped him later in life. When his father was diagnosed with lung cancer, Willie D invited him to live with him. He stayed with Willie D until he passed away. Also, in 1991, Willie D used his first big music paycheck to buy a four-bedroom house for his mother. He was still living in an apartment himself at the time.
On September 3, 1994, Willie D married Bridget Bonier. She is a mechanical engineer. They had a private wedding on a yacht in Clear Lake City, Texas. They have two children: a daughter named Caen, born in 1995, and a son named Blake, born in 1999. They divorced in 2010. Willie D has four siblings: Karen Williams, Warren Vann, Ernestine Dennis, and Isaac Dennis.
Return to Boxing
Willie D started boxing at age 11 and won the Golden Gloves in Texas in 1985. He chose to be a rapper instead of a professional boxer. However, he did return to boxing in the 1990s.
He won his first professional fight in 1992. He accidentally knocked out Melle Mel at a charity boxing event. This happened after their heads bumped in the first round. Willie D had two more fights between 1999 and 2000. He beat Charles Aguilera in October 1999 and John Tarmon in June 2000. He also had a draw with John Washington in August 2000. In his last professional fight in October 2000, he lost to Yameen Muhammad.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Controversy (1989)
- I'm Goin' Out Lika Soldier (1992)
- Play Witcha Mama (1994)
- Loved by Few, Hated by Many (2000)
- Unbreakable (2003)
See also
- Thug Life – A 2001 American crime drama film where Willie D appeared.
Images for kids
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Willie D in 2017
