User:2ewgunnciz
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2ew Gunn Ciz, born Courtney Lamar Carroll on September 6, 1980 at Osteopathic Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an emcee who has gained considerable recognition during his brief career.
Early Life
Born to Rhonda V. Jones and Courtney H. Carroll in the rough urban [[North Philadelphia]] section of the city, Ciz had a first hand look at the plight of urban neighborhoods such as his growing up. The introduction of crack cocaine had drug use and violence at an all time high during his formidable years and his 2300 block of Cleveland Street was affected greatly. His father disappeared from his life at the age of three, falling victim to drug addiction. He was raised in a household with his mother, grandmother Theresa Jones, aunts Beverly and Lydia, and cousins Shaquinna and Cedric.
School Years
School was his only escape from the madness that existed around him. He attended Anna B. Pratt-Arnold public school for kindergarten and first grade. He then moved on to Fitler Academics Plus school for 2nd grade and remained there, graduating from the 8th grade in 1994. He received all A's in his subjects and all D's in behavior. He was talkative and mischievous, often ending up in detention. He was accepted to Central High School (Philadelphia), a prestigious school of secondary education with many famous alumni including Bill Cosby, Kal Rudman, Cassidy and DJ Drama, just to name a few. Ciz played football and ran on the 1998 Public League Champion outdoor track team. He was also a member of the African American Student Union. Upon graduation in 1998 he left Philadelphia for North Carolina Wesleyan College. He attended Wesleyan for his freshman year He was active in Student Life and executive leadership, winning awards for his abilities as a student leader. He was also courted by the English department head to major in English due to his superb writing in his English courses. Towards the end of the academic year Ciz got into a major altercation with another student and was placed on probation and banned from all student activities. Unable to receive the school's blessing to transfer he went home for the summer disoriented and unsure about his future.
Military Years
He worked three jobs that summer and met a recruiter from the United States Navy. He scored almost perfect on the ASVAB exam (military entrance exam) and entered the Navy. He attended boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois and entered the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program as an Electrician's Mate. He attended Naval Nuclear "A" School for Electricians and went on to Nuclear Power School where he graduated and received orders to the Navy's Nuclear Prototype Plant in Ballston Spa, NY. Upon graduation he received orders to the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in Norfolk, Virginia. He served on the Enterprise and made the 2001 Mediterranean cruise which included stops in Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Bahrain, and Dubai. U.A.E. During this cruise. The uneventful day of September 11 changed his life and the life of the world forever. The Enterprise ran the first set of bombing runs on targets in Afghanistan and arrived home in Norfolk, Virginia 6 weeks later than scheduled. Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Carroll became disgruntled with the Navy and its way of life.
The Virginia Years
After sometime in the shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, he believed himself to be under the scrutiny of his mostly white division of Nuclear officers and enlisted persons and decided to take an unauthorized absence from the Navy when his superior denied him permission to be present for the birth of his first son, Roman Alexander Orsborn in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He left for his family home in Richmond, Virginia in August of 2002 where he remained until rejoining the military in February of 2003. Given the option of remaining in the Navy he chose to leave and take an other than honorable discharge, feeling that he was not suited for military life. During his time in Richmond another dream of his unfolded. He began to spend large amounts of time writing rhymes as he had done since the age of 10.
With Navy life behind him and an uncertain future ahead of him, he penned his first actual songs. His girlfriend at the time introduced him to a friend of hers named Seneca who had a few connections locally and was looking for artists with hopes of starting a label. He would also meet LaToya Warren also known as Giacana and later known as Gigi Broadway, a female emcee from Henrico County, who he would befriend and collaborate with on many songs in the future. Seneca arranged for studio time and Ciz went in and recorded his first track ever titled "What's The Reason". He went on to record his first demo cd. Life in Virginia as an artist wasn't moving at the pace he hoped. He worked odd office jobs during the day and worked on his music at night, but he longed to return home to his beloved city of Philadelphia.
Back Home
He finally returned home for good on New Years Eve of 2003, packing a few things and purchasing a Greyhound ticket. He stopped in Maryland to visit his younger brother before he landed back in his North Philadelphia neighborhood. He moved in with his aunt and uncle while job searching. He would spend the majority of his days in the Fairhill section of North Philly at his cousins house on 7th Street, which would eventually land him in trouble with the law. He endured legal troubles and a short stint in the county prison system. During his year of going back and forth to court he recorded new songs with his independent label, YBME (Young Black Mature Entrepreneurs) in the studio of his godfather and local hip hop aficionado Doctor Shock, and started performing. With another baby on the way and a new job lined up, he expected to receive probation, but the judge had other plans. He was sentenced to two six to twelve month sentences. During his time in prison he penned rhymes and battled in the yard and on the cell block, keeping his skills up to par and readying himself to get back on the scene upon his release. He was released in May of 2005 just in time for the birth of his second child and first daughter, Aiyana Vanny Anonda Tran-Carroll. In three months time he was back on his feet working in a Philadelphia suburb for a prominent real estate company and back in the studio doing what he loved.
Music
While recording in the studio with a Philly hip hop legend, The Man They Call Lux, he reconnected with a high school friend, Cise. Cise told Ciz about a showcase in New York City called Bonafide Emcees and put him in contact with two promoters named Jason Hadshian or "J Hatch" and Ace of Spades. He developed a friendship with both after traveling to New York City almost religiously to compete in various competitions. They introduced him to a variety of talented artists and other business minded individuals including Don DiNapoli and Antwan Carr, who later became his business partners in a company called iStandard. The hustle grew as Ciz continued his 9 to 5 in Philly, performances in shows in New York City and talent scouting and eventually heading the Philly division of iStandard. He release his first mix tape entitled "Pay 2ew Play: The Mix tape Scandal Continues" hosted by DJ Bedtyme 357, former tour DJ for Hip hop icon CL Smooth and DJ for Remy Ma. It received critical acclaim nationwide on various underground hip hop websites and was well received. Even though a lot of the content was previously recorded during his time in Virginia and around Philly studios with a small amount of funding, people knew that lyrically Ciz was a force to be reckoned with. Big Chew of Rapmullet.com said "Peep Drop It Like Its Hot"; this was the track where Ciz's sound came together. Tempo is perfect for his laid back flow and he stay with a witty punchline. I like that Ciz got that balance in his content. He can def pitch it from the block ("2ew Gunn") but he'll be quick to tell you that's no where to be at, especially if you're a young cat."
Ciz quickly made his mark as an emcee with lyrics, street credibility and positive messages. He has rocked the stage at several well-known Philadelphia spots such as Pontiac Grille, The Five Spot, Fluid, and Deco, and is definitely making his mark on the Philadelphia music scene. Ciz recently rocked the Remote Lounge and Temple in New York, New York. He was the May 2K6 winner of Music Notes Magazine's Monthly Showcase. He still travels frequently (sometimes 4 times a week) to New York City for shows via train, china bus, or any other way possible and performed over 40 shows in the Big Apple from April to December of 2006. His hit song "Here We Go Again" has been featured along with "Do What I Want To" on Hate Money Radio on 1.FM Jamz Internet radio, which has one of the largest listening audiences on internet radio as apart of the regular rotation. He was inducted into the Project Co-Sign family which includes such notable up and coming artists such as Esso, Nina B, Big Lou, Gage (DTF) and Torae. He has recently ventured into the business side of things under the watchful eye of some of the industry's hardest working executives and A&R's scouting talent from Philadelphia's large pool of talented artists for showcases and various other opportunities. He hosted Industry Wednesdays at Club Diesel in Philly and connected with the city's hottest up and coming artists. He has been featured on Video City, Hiphopdx.com, Infinite Magazine, Rapmullet.com, 215hiphop.com, Theflowlive.com, Music Notes Magazine and Philly Musick Magazine. He won the Faces In the Crowd showcase, which has assisted four artists in receiving major record deals including Chrisette Michele of The Island Def Jam Music Group, in January of 2007. He has been featured on several mix tapes and compilations including "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" from High Intentions Records, DJ Bedtyme 357's Concealed Weapons, Legend's "This is Why They Hate Me" hosted by AC, "Veteran's Day" hosted by Torae the Young Veteran and "Back to the Basics" hosted by Termanology.
He is currently working on a new project entitled "Tailgating: The 3 Second Rule" which will feature original production from established producers, Buckwild (DITC) , Amadeus, Buda da Future, Khari Mateen of Noveau Riche and The Roots crew, Drawzilla of Inasirkl Music Group, XL and up and coming producers Shizz Beats of 16 Levels, Brizzo, Hundred Grand of Ear Kandy Entertainment, Zilla Rocca of Beat Garden Entertainment, and Kush Shalimar of Greenlyte Beets.
| Album Cover | Album Information |
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| Image:Pay2ewplaycover.jpg | Pay 2ew Play: The Mix Tape Scandal Continues
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2ew Gunn Ciz's myspace page [1]
2ew Gunn Ciz's youtube page [2]
