Tek (rapper)
Encyclopedia
El-Amin after converting to Islam
(born Tekomin B. Williams) better known by his stage name
Tek, is an American
rapper, famous as a member of the duo Smif-N-Wessun
, and the Hip Hop
collective Boot Camp Clik
. Tek debuted on Black Moon
's 1993 album Enta Da Stage
with his rhyming partner Steele
. In 1994, Smif-N-Wessun
released their debut single "Bucktown", which became a Billboard Hot 100
hit, and gave Brooklyn
the nickname "Bucktown, home of the original gun clappers". Smif-N-Wessun
dropped their debut album Dah Shinin'
in early 1995, a release that is now hailed as a classic underground Hip Hop album. Later in 1995, the duo was sued by the Smith & Wesson
firearms company, forcing them to change their name of Smif-N-Wessun
to the Cocoa Brovaz. Tek recorded a group album with the Boot Camp Clik
in 1997, For the People
, then followed in 1998 with a Cocoa Brovaz album, The Rude Awakening
. Though not as widely heralded as their debut, the album received moderate sales, led by the single "Black Trump". After Tek's label Duck Down Records
was dropped from their Priority Records
distribution deal, the Cocoa Brovaz released a single titled "Super Brooklyn", utilizing a sample from Super Mario Bros.
The attention received from the single landed them a record deal with popular independent label Rawkus Records
. The duo never released an album on the label, and they returned home to Duck Down Records
to record another Boot Camp Clik
album in 2002, The Chosen Few. In 2005, the Cocoa Brovaz returned with the name Smif-N-Wessun
and released their third album Smif 'N' Wessun: Reloaded. Later that year, Tek released a street album titled It Is What It Is. Tek and the Boot Camp Clik
released their third group album, The Last Stand
, on July 18, 2006. Tek's voice appears in the cartoon Three Thug Mice http://threethugmice.com (2008)
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
(born Tekomin B. Williams) better known by his stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Tek, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper, famous as a member of the duo Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-n-Wessun is a hip hop duo consisting of members Tek and Steele . Smif-n-Wessun comprise two-fifths of the Brownsville, Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik, with Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C...
, and the Hip Hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
collective Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik is an American hip hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York, which is composed of Buckshot , Smif-N-Wessun, also known as Cocoa Brovaz , Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C....
. Tek debuted on Black Moon
Black Moon (band)
Black Moon is an American hip hop group, consisting of members Buckshot, 5 ft and DJ Evil Dee . The group were most notable for their debut album Enta da Stage, and their affiliation with the Boot Camp Clik.-Biography:...
's 1993 album Enta Da Stage
Enta Da Stage
Enta da Stage is the debut album of American East Coast hip hop group Black Moon, released on October 19, 1993 through Nervous Records. The album was produced by DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz...
with his rhyming partner Steele
Steele (rapper)
Steele is an American rapper, famous as half of the underground rap duo Smif-N-Wessun, and as a member of Hip Hop supergroup Boot Camp Clik. Steele and Smif-N-Wessun partner Tek made their debut on Black Moon's classic 1993 album Enta Da Stage on the tracks "Black Smif-N-Wessun" and "U Da Man"...
. In 1994, Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-n-Wessun is a hip hop duo consisting of members Tek and Steele . Smif-n-Wessun comprise two-fifths of the Brownsville, Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik, with Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C...
released their debut single "Bucktown", which became a Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
hit, and gave Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
the nickname "Bucktown, home of the original gun clappers". Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-n-Wessun is a hip hop duo consisting of members Tek and Steele . Smif-n-Wessun comprise two-fifths of the Brownsville, Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik, with Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C...
dropped their debut album Dah Shinin'
Dah Shinin'
Dah Shinin' is the debut album from Brooklyn Hip Hop duo Smif-N-Wessun. Members Tek and Steele made their debut previously on Black Moon's classic 1993 album Enta Da Stage. Dah Shinin has become one of the most heralded New York Hip Hop albums from the mid-'90s, famous for its hardcore lyrical...
in early 1995, a release that is now hailed as a classic underground Hip Hop album. Later in 1995, the duo was sued by the Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
firearms company, forcing them to change their name of Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-n-Wessun is a hip hop duo consisting of members Tek and Steele . Smif-n-Wessun comprise two-fifths of the Brownsville, Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik, with Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C...
to the Cocoa Brovaz. Tek recorded a group album with the Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik is an American hip hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York, which is composed of Buckshot , Smif-N-Wessun, also known as Cocoa Brovaz , Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C....
in 1997, For the People
For the People
For The People is the debut album from Hip Hop collective Boot Camp Clik, consisting of Buckshot from Black Moon, Cocoa Brovaz, formerly known as Smif-N-Wessun, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. The crew officially organized in 1995, with all eight members appearing on the song "Cession At Da Doghillee"...
, then followed in 1998 with a Cocoa Brovaz album, The Rude Awakening
The Rude Awakening
The Rude Awakening is the second album from rappers Tek and Steele, their first under the name Cocoa Brovaz. The duo was forced to drop their original name, Smif-N-Wessun, after they were sued by the Smith & Wesson firearms company. The album received moderate reviews and sales. The lead single...
. Though not as widely heralded as their debut, the album received moderate sales, led by the single "Black Trump". After Tek's label Duck Down Records
Duck Down Records
Duck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 16 year existence, the Company has released over 40 Albums and sold more than 3 million...
was dropped from their Priority Records
Priority Records
Priority Records is an American record label, owned and operated by EMI, which has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop, pop and world...
distribution deal, the Cocoa Brovaz released a single titled "Super Brooklyn", utilizing a sample from Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros.
is a 1985 platform video game developed by Nintendo, published for the Nintendo Entertainment System as a sequel to the 1983 game Mario Bros. In Super Mario Bros., the player controls Mario as he travels through the Mushroom Kingdom in order to rescue Princess Toadstool from the antagonist...
The attention received from the single landed them a record deal with popular independent label Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records is an American hip-hop record label known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus started in 1996 with initial releases ranging from hip-hop to drum and bass...
. The duo never released an album on the label, and they returned home to Duck Down Records
Duck Down Records
Duck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 16 year existence, the Company has released over 40 Albums and sold more than 3 million...
to record another Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik is an American hip hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York, which is composed of Buckshot , Smif-N-Wessun, also known as Cocoa Brovaz , Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C....
album in 2002, The Chosen Few. In 2005, the Cocoa Brovaz returned with the name Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-N-Wessun
Smif-n-Wessun is a hip hop duo consisting of members Tek and Steele . Smif-n-Wessun comprise two-fifths of the Brownsville, Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik, with Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C...
and released their third album Smif 'N' Wessun: Reloaded. Later that year, Tek released a street album titled It Is What It Is. Tek and the Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik is an American hip hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York, which is composed of Buckshot , Smif-N-Wessun, also known as Cocoa Brovaz , Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C....
released their third group album, The Last Stand
The Last Stand
The Last Stand is the third group album from Hip Hop collective Boot Camp Clik, released on July 18, 2006. The group consists of Black Moon's Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun's Tek and Steele, Heltah Skeltah's Rock and Sean Price, and O.G.C.'s Starang Wondah, Louieville Sluggah and Top Dog. The album marks...
, on July 18, 2006. Tek's voice appears in the cartoon Three Thug Mice http://threethugmice.com (2008)
Smif-N-Wessun/Cocoa Brovaz albums
- Dah Shinin'Dah Shinin'Dah Shinin' is the debut album from Brooklyn Hip Hop duo Smif-N-Wessun. Members Tek and Steele made their debut previously on Black Moon's classic 1993 album Enta Da Stage. Dah Shinin has become one of the most heralded New York Hip Hop albums from the mid-'90s, famous for its hardcore lyrical...
(1995) - The Rude AwakeningThe Rude AwakeningThe Rude Awakening is the second album from rappers Tek and Steele, their first under the name Cocoa Brovaz. The duo was forced to drop their original name, Smif-N-Wessun, after they were sued by the Smith & Wesson firearms company. The album received moderate reviews and sales. The lead single...
(1998) - Smif 'N' Wessun: Reloaded (2005)
- Smif-n-Wessun: The AlbumSmif-n-Wessun: The AlbumSmif-n-Wessun: The Album is the fourth album by Hip hop duo Smif-n-Wessun, of the supergroup Boot Camp Clik, released on October 23 through Duck Down Records. The album comes two years after the duo's last effort, 2005's Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded. The Album features guest appearances from Rock of...
(2007) - 24kt Smoke (Smif-n-Wessun Presents Tek) (August 2010)
Boot Camp Clik albums
- For the PeopleFor the PeopleFor The People is the debut album from Hip Hop collective Boot Camp Clik, consisting of Buckshot from Black Moon, Cocoa Brovaz, formerly known as Smif-N-Wessun, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. The crew officially organized in 1995, with all eight members appearing on the song "Cession At Da Doghillee"...
(1997) - The Chosen Few (2002)
- The Last StandThe Last StandThe Last Stand is the third group album from Hip Hop collective Boot Camp Clik, released on July 18, 2006. The group consists of Black Moon's Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun's Tek and Steele, Heltah Skeltah's Rock and Sean Price, and O.G.C.'s Starang Wondah, Louieville Sluggah and Top Dog. The album marks...
(2006) - Casualties of WarCasualties of War (album)Casualties of War is the fourth album by Hip Hop supergroup Boot Camp Clik, released on August 14, 2007 through Duck Down Records. The album is compiled of leftover tracks recorded for the group's 2006 album The Last Stand...
(2007)
Mixtapes
- It Is What It Is The Street Album (2003)
- I Got This (2006)
- Underground Prince (2009)
External links
- Smif N Wessun Official Fan Forums.
- Duckdown Records Official Website.
- Tek Interview at altrap.com