Gillie da Kid

You may remember Gillie Da Kid as one of the founding members of the group “Major Figgas” who smashed onto the music scene with their single “Yeah That's Us” but make no mistake about it, Gillie Da Kid IS the King of Philly (K.O.P.). Believe that. No stranger to hip hop, the King of Philly has been holding it down for the Philly Hip Hop Movement for quite some time and has no intention of letting go of his crown anytime soon.

In early 1997, Gillie Da Kid began making waves in his hometown with his first single “Love For Gillie” which began firing up the Streets of Philly on the underground scene unlike anything the streets of Philly had ever seen up until that point. Creating such a huge buzz, he was soon after signed by Suavehouse Records (based out of Houston, TX) to a lucrative solo deal. Recording with such legends as Eightball and MJG as well as Ice Cube, Gillie began creating a name for himself in the hip hop community as well as being recognized as a respected rapper who brought so much swagger and confidence to the microphone that you couldn't help but sit up and take notice. A few months later with preparations under way to drop a solo album, unfortunate circumstances changed the direction of Gillie Da Kid's career when Suavehouse Records lost distribution with their parent distributor forcing Gillie's 1st album to be placed on the back burner and Gillie to seek out a new situation. Choosing to focus on putting out an album with his click “Major Figgas” rather than his solo effort, In late 1999-2000, Gillie and Major Figgas were approached by Rocafella Records who were interested in picking up the group and reuniting them with their friend Beanie Siegel who had achieved some success on Rocafella Records. Declining the offer due to financial reasons, Gillie and Major Figgas decided to take the album to Warner Brothers. Although their debut single “Yeah That's Us” reached the status of being the 2 song in the United States for 16 weeks, the lack of album sales forced Gillie Da Kid to once again reinvent his career and focus on a solo effort to finally put himself “on the map,” a place where he always belonged. Enter Cash Money Records. In 2002, after a chance meeting with the CEO of Cash Money Records, Baby, backstage at a Cash Money concert they were performing at in Gillie's hometown of Philadelphia, Gillie Da Kid was immediately recognized and approached about becoming a member of Cash Money Records. Placing an offer on the table that Gillie couldn't refuse, Gillie Da Kid became the first East Coast Hip Hop member of Cash Money Records. Gillie Da Kid was finally on his way, or so it seemed. Focusing on rebuilding his buzz and releasing his first solo effort, Gillie released six mixtapes of one year. Although at the time, Gillie had no idea that he would be forced to play the background as a ghostwriter to the rest of the Cash Money Millionaires due to his failure to share his publishing royalties with the label, Gillie remained a Cash Money artist behind the scenes, penning some of Cash Money's biggest hits, not to mention writing for such artists as Lil Wayne and Baby, In 2004, after realizing that Cash Money would never allow Gillie Da Kid to play the forefront artist that he truly was and always has been, Gillie Da Kid decided that it was in his best interest to leave Cash Money Records and return home setting the streets of Philly on fire once again as a free agent.

With the streets of Philadelphia behind him, the swagger of a champion and the heart of a lion determined to bring the City of Brotherly Love back to the forefront as if it never left, Gillie Da Kid has finally achieved the respect he has worked so hard for. Not only carrying the Streets of Philly on his back as the self proclaimed “King of Philly” (and dares anybody to prove him otherwise), the North Philly representative and Philadelphia legend he has become in his hometown and seemingly now across the country has been one of a champion fighter well liked and respected by all. Always spittin truth with no consequence, the confidence Gillie brings to the microphone, coupled with the attention he commands by the ladies as well as the love he gives and receives from the streets, this time around, there is no stopping the King of Philly and his quest to grab the hip hop crown. He will soon be recognized as not only the pen and pad behind Cash Money but as the certified “best rapper alive since the best rapper retired.

Discography

Mixtape albums

Gillie da K.I.D.
Release Date: August 30, 2006

Validation
Release Date: October 31, 2006

The Truth Hurts
Release Date: December 1, 2006

A degree of controversy has arisen surrounding Lil Wayne's lyrics, mostly due to another rapper, Gillie Da Kid, claiming that he has written some of Lil Wayne's material. This has neither been confirmed nor disproven, although both Wayne and Gillie remain firm in their views. Lil Wayne wore one of Gillie's diamond-studded pendants in one of his music videos, although this does not necessarily have any correlation with the ghostwriting issue. Wayne addresses Gillie on multiple tracks on Da Drought 3.