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Wordspit
Birth nameChristopher Dupree
BornEast New York, Brooklyn, New York, US
OriginEast New York, Brooklyn, New York, US
GenresRap, Hip Hop, Rap Rock, Stadium Rap
OccupationRapper
InstrumentVocals
Years active2008-present
Labelsunsigned
Websitewww.wetheillest.com


Christopher Dupree, better known by his stage name WordSpit, is an American rapper born in East New York, Brooklyn, New York, USCite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).. By developing his style and strength in performances, he developed his band The ILLest. Collectively, Wordspit and the ILLest garnered more attention for themselves as winners of the 2011 The Bamboozle, and semi-finalists/fan-favorites of America's Got Talent Season 7[1]. They continue to gain recognition from major platforms such as BET[2], Mc Donald's[3] and Rocawear[4]


WordSpit is currently working on two new projects for 2015: a follow-up solo album and an EP with The ILLest.



Early Life

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WordSpit was born and raised in East New York of Brooklyn, New York City. He is the son of mother, Alice Dupree and father, Funk Musician, Gasper “G-Funk” Francis. Originally under the care of his maternal grandmother, his young mother regained custody of him and his sister at the age of 11, but it wasn't until his high school years when he began to delve into the world of hip-hop.[5] Both WordSpit's mother and grandmother are credited with broadening his taste in music, exposing him at an early age to musical greats such as The Beatles, James Brown, Michael Jackson, B.B. King, and Stevie Wonder. His father, a hustling musician, also had a recording studio that became the impetus of his musical curiosity.

In his early teen years, WordSpit began to take on his identity as an artist, floating through different names and styles. “When I was doing a whole bunch of stuff in the street, I took on ‘Word from the Street' because [it] felt like I was not only dictating my life, but the lives of the people I was interacting with. As that progressed, I just started taking a more lyrical approach and just getting more in depth with the rhymes . And my brother came in one day was like ‘yo, Word— you spit!’ And from then on I was like ‘yeah i like that’— WordSpit”[6]

WordSpit attended High School of Graphic Communication Arts in Manhattan for Drawing & Illustration but did not graduate. Realizing his enthusiasm for drawing was fleeing, he was often found in the hallway rapping with other school mates before dropping out. In 2011, WordSpit received his GED. WordSpit cites his influences range from Canibus, Rakim, Kanye West, Nas, and Lupe Fiasco to Coldplay, Linkin Park, Nirvana, and N.E.R.D among others.[7]

Musical Career

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2009-2010: setting the foundation

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WordSpit began buzzing in 2009 around the New York underground music circuit through open mics, solo shows, and random freestyle sessions anywhere people wanted to perform or listen to Hip Hop music.[8] In August of 2009, WordSpit released his first mixtape/EP, The Coolest BBoi Stance, and began a year-long promotional campaign. It was also around this time that many began to associate him with his uncanny hairstyles— often floating from a blowout, cornrows, box-braids and the unforgettable doobie wrap.[9]

With the help of Joe & Dollar Van Demos[10], WordSpit found himself with the rare opportunity of staring in the new Mc Donald's commercials (TV & radio) ushering in the new Dollar Menu at breakfast.[11]. Also in 2009, He worked in collaboration with The Source Magazine as correspondent at the 2010 SXSW Music Festival. Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). for his talents and drive to success.

2011-2012: 'The Bamboozle', 'America's Got Talent'

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2011
Early Spring 2011, WordSpit's long-time friend and photographer, Dirty South Yankee[12], landed a photography gig working for clothing brand, Artful Dodger. Creative Director 'Just C’, (also of Rocawear), was introduced and impressed enough by Wordspit and The Illest that he offered Artful Dodger brand as a sponsor for the regional round of The Break Contest[13].

In April 2011, WordSpit and The Illest emerged victorious in the Crazy Donkey regional finals for The Break Contest— a contest that rewards the winners with a slot to perform on the main stage of The Bamboozle music festival.[14] Later that month, the group fell short by one point in the finals, but were obliged to humbly take the second place consolation: preforming on the Spitter’s Stage in Giant’s Stadium alongside leading acts Pusha T, Big Sean, Freddie Gibbs, and Lil B The Based God to name a few.[15]

At that same time, Wordspit and The ILLest were invited to perform in the “That’s Rocawear” campaign, a relaunch of The Rocawear Brand in 2011 alongside Kendrick Lamar and Affion Crockett.[16]

On September 26th, 2011, WordSpit and The Illest held a concert for a cause titled “Rise of the Illest,” in pursuit of raising money and awareness for the continued prevention of HIV/AIDS worldwide. With sponsorship from Rocawear and in partnership with MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation, it was held at NYC’s legendary SOBs venue.[17] In November, WordSpit and the ILLest were chosen as a featured artist for BET's annual Music Matters campaign for 2011. And soon after was invited as a featured artist on 106 & Park’s Exclusive Follow Friday segment.[18]


2012
In May, 2012, WordSpit and The ILLest! auditioned for NBC’s Season 7 of America’s Got Talent reality television competition. WordSpit and the ILLest introduced themselves as a “ fusion” of genres, creating "backpack pop-culture arena rap."[19] WordSpit and the ILLest!'s audition in Episode 703 consisted of performing Wordspit's "Poet's Haiku" mixed with Phil Collins' "In The Air.” Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel all voted "Yes," sending the act to the Vegas Round.[20] WordSpit and the ILLest! was one of the Standby Acts in the Vegas Round. It was sorted into the "Bands" category. Its performance in Episode consisted of performing its own version of "New York, New York". Its audition was strong enough for the judges to send it to the Quarterfinals along with The All Ways and The Distinguished Men of Brass.[21] WordSpit and the ILLest!'s Quarterfinals performance in Episode 718 finished them in either fourth or fifth place in America's Vote. In the Judges' Choice, although Howard Stern voted for them, Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel objected, eliminating the band from the competition in Episode 719.[22] However, the band left the show known as one of the favorites that got away. The song greatly impressed the crowd, but the judges weren't sure it was the right strategy to perform their original song, “Lights, Cameras, Flashing” as a band. "You made the most disastrous choice by doing an original song," Mandel explained. Osbourne concurred. Stern, however, vehemently disagreed. "I loved it!" he said. "The musicianship is off the charts!”[23]

2013 - Present

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2013
In May 2013, WordSpit re-emerged with a new single “Tough Luck”[24] just weeks before debuting his national commercial jingle in a Reese’s Puffs commercial ad alongside Nickelodeon’s Ryan Potter of Supah Ninjas.[25]


2015 - Present
WordSpit is currently working on his follow-up projects, including a solo album and an EP alongside his band, The ILLest; both set to drop in 2015.

References

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  1. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Got_Talent_(season_7)
  2. ^ http://www.bet.com/video/musicmatters/season2011/mm-wordspit.html
  3. ^ http://smnr.akamediainc.com/mcdonalds-breakfast-dollar-menu/
  4. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5dkcxN9E6s
  5. ^ http://tharealbizness.com/2010/08/31/whos-the-illest/
  6. ^ http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/ti50-wordspit-talks-about-his-mcdonald-s-commercial-where-his
  7. ^ http://www.behindthehype.com/blog/music-reviews/hip-hop-review/not-a-joke-this-year-one-on-one-with-wordspit
  8. ^ http://www.theblastbydigiwaxx.com/2012/11/05/independent-artist-sptlight-wordspit/
  9. ^ http://allhiphop.com/2009/10/09/breeding-ground-wordspit/
  10. ^ www.dollarvandemos.com/
  11. ^ http://smnr.akamediainc.com/mcdonalds-breakfast-dollar-menu/
  12. ^ http://dirtysoufyankee.com/
  13. ^ http://thebreakcontest.com/
  14. ^ https://wetheillest.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/bamboozle2011-wordspit-vlog/
  15. ^ http://ynotmydream.net/2011/05/05/wordspit-live-bamboozle-video/
  16. ^ http://www.hiphoppress.com/2011/08/wordspit-the-illest-for-thats-rocawear-campaign
  17. ^ http://youheardthatnew.com/2011/10/video-wordspits-rise-of-the-illest-event-recap/
  18. ^ http://www.bet.com/video/106andpark/followfriday/followfriday-wordspit-s1.html
  19. ^ http://realitytv.about.com/od/americas-got-talen1t-alpha/ig/AGT-7-Talents/wordspit-the-illest.html
  20. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Got_Talent_(season_7)
  21. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Got_Talent_(season_7)
  22. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Got_Talent_(season_7)
  23. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/americas-got-talent-recap-untouchables-20120718#ixzz3PVkWyfb6
  24. ^ http://genius.com/Wordspit-the-illest-tough-luck-lyrics#note-3604778
  25. ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.24479/title.wordspit-lends-his-voice-to-new-reese-s-puffs-cereal-commercial-
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