Squala Orphan
BornLondon, England, UK
GenresHip hop, jazz rap
Occupation(s)Rapper, political activist
Years active1990–Present
LabelsIll Kid Records (1995–2005)
Mama Walbuk$ (1995–Present)

Squala Orphan is a New York City-based rapper who got his start in the 90s when he joined the Gang Starr Foundation.[1] He is primarily known for being an opening act on Linkin Park's 2004 Projekt Revolution Tour with M.O.P. and Korn[2], for appearing on his mentor Guru's Baldhead Slick & da Click[3], and for his collaborations with other hardcore rap acts like Royce Da 5'9", Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, M.O.P., The Heatmakerz, Papoose, Product G&B, Hell Rell, Afu Ra, Sa-Roc, The Alchemist, Erick Sermon, DJ Boogie Blind, and Rock of Heltah Skeltah.[4]

Biography

edit

Early years

edit

Squala was born in the UK in 19xx. He was raised by a woman named Zzz who famously ran an orphanage in yyyyyy.

Musical career

edit

Guru, the leader, and founder of Gang Starr, mentored Squala Fron at the age of XX.

Squala first appeared on vinyl on the song

A studio session with Tupac Shakur was scheduled for

His group A-Mob

Squala toured with

 
Guru with Gang Starr, Germany 1999


In the 2000’s Squala was the first CD seller to go through the work of getting a Tax ID and a vendor’s license, which separated him immediately from everyone else who had ever practiced this trade.

In the 2010s Squala became known for performing regularly at events centered around social activism and community empowerment. He performed regularly at the NYC Cannabis Parade and


Squala’s music was featured on a limited edition tour CD sold during Mef and Red’s 2014 “420 Tour” run. This mini-tour of sorts concluded with a rare appearance by Redman at the 2014 NYC Cannabis Parade.

Fatherhood

edit

Squala had a son in 20xx. From an early age, his son was always adamant about going into the booth with his father during recording sessions. Once in there, he also strongly insisted on rapping along with his father. Nobody could stop him, and one such recording session yielded the finished song xxyyzzabcd. Since then, his son, known as Bar-Boy, has appeared on numerous tracks and even in the documentary For The Children: 25 Years of Enter The Wu-Tang — 36 Chambers.

Discography

edit
Gang Starr albums are listed in the group's main article.

Note to self: replace these with more modern syntax for proper discography.

Albums

edit
Album information
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1
  • Released: May 18, 1993
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #94
  • UK chart position: #58
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #15
  • Singles: "Trust Me", "Loungin'", "No Time To Play" & "Le Bien, Le Mal"
Guru Presents Ill Kid Records
  • Released: 1995
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: -
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality
  • Released: July 18, 1995
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #71
  • UK chart position: #12
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #16
  • Singles: "Watch What You Say" & "Livin' In This World"
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul
  • Released: October 3, 2000
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #32
  • UK chart position: #74
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #8
  • Singles: "Keep Your Worries", "Lift Your Fist", "Certified" & "Supa Love"
Baldhead Slick & da Click
  • Released: September 25, 2001
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #122
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #22
  • Singles: "Where's Our Money?!/In Here" & "Cry/Pimp Shit"
Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures
  • Released: May 10, 2005
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #54
  • Singles: "Cave In", "Step In The Arena 2" & "Hood Dreamin"
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future
  • Released: June 5, 2007
  • Billboard 200 chart position: N/A
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #45
  • Singles: "State Of Clarity"
The Timebomb: Back To The Future Mixtape
  • Released: July 31, 2007
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: -
The Best of Guru's Jazzmatazz
  • Released: February 12, 2008
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: -
Guru 8.0: Lost and Found
  • Released: May 19, 2009
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: "Divine Rule", "Fastlane", "Ride", "After Time & "No Gimmick Sh*t"

Guest appearances

edit

Filmography

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Che Broadway's description of Episode 68 of Classic Storm Radio: "For this special show, we invited 2 artists who knew Guru, ran with Gang Starr, and recorded at the famed D&D Studios (which Premier purchased in 2003 and renamed it HeadQCourterz), Squala Orphan and Absaloot. We chopped it up with them about how they linked with the legendary group and the amazing journeys and experiences they had as a part of the famed Gang Starr Foundation." (April 23rd, 2010). Squala was a part of The Foundation before many more famous/publicized members. Retrieved from [1] on July 21, 2017.
  2. ^ DJ Ninocarta. "Korn and Squala Orphan on the Linkin Park Tour" (February 23, 2005). Retrieved from [2] on April 27, 2015.
  3. ^ AllMusic. "Review by Matt Kantor" (September 25, 2001). Retrieved from [3] on April 27, 2015.
  4. ^ "DJ Premier's D&D Studios Closes". HipHopDX. 8 January 2015.
  5. ^ "In Memory of Keith Elam aka Guru". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
edit

Category:1961 births Category:2010 deaths Category:African-American male rappers Category:Chrysalis Records artists Category:Deaths from cancer Category:DJ Premier Category:Fashion Institute of Technology alumni Category:Five percenters Category:Morehouse College alumni Category:Rappers from Boston Category:Virgin Records artists Category:People from Roxbury, Boston