Vyshonn King Miller (born June 18, 1975), better known by his stage name Silkk the Shocker (formerly Silkk), is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. The brother of Master P,[1] Miller signed with his record label No Limit Records, an imprint of Priority Records to release his debut studio album, The Shocker (1996). Despite unfavorable critical reception, his second and third albums—Charge It 2 da Game (1998) and Made Man (1999)—were both met with minor critical inclines and received platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); the latter debuted atop the Billboard 200.
Silkk the Shocker | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Vyshonn King Miller |
| Also known as |
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| Born | June 18, 1975 |
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | |
| Children | 3 |
Music career
edit1996–1998: The Shocker and Charge It 2 Da Game
editSilkk the Shocker rose to fame in the mid-late 1990s. After striking a deal with Priority, No Limit Records released Silkk's debut album The Shocker in August 1996, produced by Beats By The Pound, DJ Daryl, K-Lou and T-Bone. After changing his name to Silkk the Shocker, he went on to appear on numerous albums from TRU's Tru 2 da Game, Mia X's Unlady Like, and Mystikal's Unpredictable.[2] He used the Shocker alias on a few No Limit albums in 1997. Silkk would appear on Master P's 1997 hit "Make 'Em Say Uhh!" which is featured on Master P's 1997 album Ghetto D, which became a massive hit in the U.S. Continuing on the success of the hit single, Silkk would release his next single with labelmate Mystikal called "It Ain't My Fault". It Ain't My Fault gained popularity and became one of the trademark songs for Silkk the Shocker. He released another single, "Just Be Straight with Me", featuring Destiny's Child. The same year Silkk was featured on the hit single "Movin' On", a song from Mya's self-titled debut album Mýa. Charge It 2 Da Game became a big success over time, staying on the Billboard album charts for over a year. It was certified platinum after a few months.
1999: Made Man
editHis second solo album was released in January 1999. The singles It Ain't My Fault 2 (feat. Mystikal) and Somebody Like Me (feat. Mya) were regularly played on MTV and BET and became two of Silkk's biggest ever hits. Despite selling over a million copies, it failed to garner critical success and acclaim due to fans and critics becoming tired of the typical No Limit tropes and sound around this time.
2001–2004: My World, My Way and Based on a True Story
editIn 2001, Silkk released My World, My Way. He released the singles "That's Cool" featuring Trina and "He Did That" feat. Mac, which made it to #13 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles and Tracks. Based on a True Story, which was released in 2004 on New No Limit/Koch Records, didn't' garner much popularity.
2010–present: Incredible
editOn June 3, 2010, a video of Silkk freestyling over DJ Khaled's "All I Do Is Win" was posted to YouTube.[3] Silkk released his first mixtape called All I Do Is Win on August 21, 2010, the mixtape marks Silkk's return to hip-hop.[4] It was confirmed that Silkk signed with his nephew Romeo's new record label, No Limit Forever Records, and is working on his sixth studio album called Incredible.[5] Some of the producers on this album are Manny Streetz, Marvz, Mike Bangum of Da Beat Kadetz and JoJo Ryder. In 2010 Silkk the Shocker went on a tour with his brother Master P and nephew Romeo Miller. The tour was entitled "No Limit Forever International".[6]
On November 5, 2013, Silkk announced on his Twitter account that he was still working on his upcoming sixth studio album Incredible.[7] On April 24, 2014, Silkk released the first single off Incredible entitled "Don't Give Up".[8] On May 15, 2014, Silkk released a music video on his Vevo channel for "Don't Give Up".[9] On May 19, 2014, Miller would release the second single off Incredible entitled "We Ain't Even Trippin".[10][11]
On March 2, 2015, Silkk announced via his official YouTube channel that his new single entitled "Business" featuring No Limit Forever in-house producer BlaqNmilD would be released later in March and his album Incredible would be released later the same year along with a movie of the same name starring himself.[12] On August 24, 2015, Miller would release the music video for his second single entitled "We Ain't Even Trippin"; it would be directed by T. Church.[13][14] On September 4, 2015, Miller would release the third single off Incredible entitled "Business" featuring No Limit Forever in-house producer BlaqNmilD.[15][16][17]
Other ventures
editSilkk was featured on World Wrestling Entertainment's WWE Wreckless Intent album, which was released on May 23, 2006. The song he performed on the album, "I'm Comin'", has since been used as the theme song for WWE Smackdown wrestler Montel Vontavious Porter until his release in late 2010. Silkk also performed former SmackDown! wrestler Orlando Jordan's theme song "Do It Big".
Acting career
editIn 1999, Silkk acted as the lead role in the major No Limit Records film Hot Boyz.
In 2007, Silkk, along with comedians Lil Duval and Michael Blackson, were cast as the lead actors in the Six Five film More Money, More Family; the film was produced by Silkk the Shocker and Tracy McGrady and shot on location in Orange, California, using film students from nearby Chapman University, originally intended for DVD release in Wal-Mart, but the film had yet to find a distributor.[18][19][20] On October 2, 2015, Silkk would announce via his Instagram that film production companies Grindstone Entertainment and Lionsgate Films would be distributing the movie and its release date would be November 3, 2015.[21][22][23]
In 2011, Silkk co-starred in the horror film Reservation produced by Sedona Studios.
Personal life
editSilkk is the younger cousin of Mo B. Dick. His older brother, Kevin Miller, was killed during a robbery in 1990. Rappers C-Murder and Master P are also his older brothers.[24] He has three children, two sons and a daughter. He is married to Junalyn "JuJu" Pattugalan, who is also the sister of Cymphonique Miller's mother.
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- The Shocker (1996)
- Charge It 2 da Game (1998)
- Made Man (1999)
- My World, My Way (2001)
- Based on a True Story (2004)
- It Will All Make Sense Later (2018)
Filmography
edit- Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | I'm Bout It | Vito "Silk" McKnight | Support role |
| 1998 | I Got the Hook Up | T-Lay's Friend 4# | Cameo role |
| 1998 | MP da Last Don | D.J. | Support role |
| 1999 | Corrupt | M.J. | Main role |
| 1999 | Hot Boyz | Kool | Main role |
| 1999 | No Tomorrow | Himself | Cameo role |
| 2002 | Undisputed | Gat Boyz Rapper 2 | Cameo role |
| 2003 | Honey | Himself | Cameo role |
| 2004 | Still 'Bout It | Vito "Silk" McKnight | Support role |
| 2006 | God's Gift | Man | Support role |
| 2006 | Little Girl Blue: What's Become of You? | Ace Capone | Support role |
| 2010 | Reservation | Drez England | Support role |
| 2015 | Incredible | Himself | Biography |
| 2015 | More Money, More Family | Shawn | Main role |
| 2019 | I Got the Hook Up 2 | Shawn | Cameo role |
| 2021 | Kingz of the Castle | Montez | Suppert role |
| 2022 | My Perfect Wedding | Himself | Cameo role |
- Video games
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Street Hoops | Himself | Vocals |
References
edit- ^ "7 Times Silkk the Shocker Couldn't Find the Beat". Complex.com. September 2015.
- ^ Village Voice review Retrieved May 3, 2021
- ^ "Silkk The Shocker – All I Do Is Win (Freestyle) – HIPHOPNEWS24-7.COM". YouTube. July 18, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ "Silkk The Shocker - All I do is win Mixtape!!!! Download here - TruTankSoldiers.com - Master P, No Limit Records, TRU & More". October 27, 2010. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010.
- ^ Arnold, Paul W (March 31, 2012). "Silkk The Shocker Reacts To Mystikal's Cash Money Signing, Compares C-Murder's Case To Trayvon Martin | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHopdx.com. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
- ^ "NO LIMIT FOREVER INTERNATIONAL TOUR - COMING IN 2011! UGHHH! Ft Master P, Silkk, Rome & more! - TTS - Master P, No Limit Records, TRU & No Limit Forever Records". January 26, 2011. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Silkk The Shocker on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "iTunes – Music – Don't Give Up – Single by Silkk the Shocker". iTunes. April 24, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Silkk The Shocker – Don't Give Up (Artist Commentary) | TruTankSoldiers.com - No Limit Forever Records". August 12, 2014. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014.
- ^ "We Ain't Even Trippin – Single by Silkk the Shocker on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. May 19, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "We Ain't Even Trippin – Single (Single) by Silkk the Shocker". Rhapsody.com. May 20, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "Silkk The Shocker "THE RETURN" 2015 Promo Trailer". YouTube. March 23, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "AllHipHop.com: Hip-Hop News, Rumors, Music & Videos » Silkk The Shocker – "We Ain't Even Trippin"". Allhiphop.com:80. August 24, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "Silkk The Shocker – We Aint Even Trippin". YouTube. August 28, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "Business (feat. Blaqnmild) – Single by Silkk the Shocker on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. September 4, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "Silkk The Shocker: Business (feat. Blaqnmild) – Single – Music on Google Play". September 4, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "Business (feat. Blaqnmild) – Single (Single) by Silkk the Shocker". Rhapsody.com. August 21, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "More Money More Family Official Trailer". YouTube. November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "More Money – More Family". YouTube. June 9, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "STORY". April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "More Money More Family DVD 2014". Best Buy. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ "More Money More Family (DVD + Digital Copy) (Widescreen)". Walmart.com. July 29, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ Strauss, Neil (May 13, 1998). "How a Gangsta Rapper Turns Entrepreneur; At 28, Master P Has Created One Of the Biggest Independent Labels". The New York Times.