Editing Canibus

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Short description|American rapper (born 1974)}}
{{distinguish|Cannabis (drug)|Cannabis}}
{{For|his debut album|Can-I-Bus}}
{{multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=February 2020}}
{{original research|date=February 2020}}
}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Canibus
| image             = Canibus at Amager Bio 4.jpg
| caption           = Canibus performing 2007
| birth_name        = Germaine Williams
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1974|12|9}}
| birth_place       = [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], Jamaica
| origin            = [[The Bronx]], [[New York City]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[East Coast hip hop]]|[[hardcore hip hop]]}}
| discography       = [[Canibus discography]]
| occupations       = {{hlist|Rapper|actor}}
| years_active      = 1996–present<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2016/09/lost-boyz-dogg-pound-canibus-music-makes-me-high-video/|title=Lost Boyz, Tha Dogg Pound & Canibus Had Heads High On The Music (Video)|publisher=Ambrosia For Heads|date=September 1, 2016|access-date=September 26, 2019}}</ref>
| label             = {{hlist|[[RBC Records|RBC]]|[[Universal Records (1995)|Universal]]|Archives Music|[[Babygrande Records|Babygrande]]|Gladiator|War Lab}}
| current_member_of = [[The Hrsmn]], [[Refugee Camp All-Stars]]
}}

'''Germaine Williams''' (born December 9, 1974), better known by his stage name '''Canibus''', is a Jamaican-American rapper. First having gained recognition for his [[freestyle rap|freestyling]] abilities, he signed with [[Universal Records (defunct record label)|Universal Records]] to release his debut studio album, ''[[Can-I-Bus]]'' (1998). He has since released 13 solo studio albums, and several collaborative projects with other rappers as a member of [[The Four Horsemen (rap group)|the Four Horsemen]], [[Refugee Camp All-Stars]], Sharpshooterz, Cloak N Dagga, the Undergods and one-half of T.H.E.M.

[[About.com]] placed him at number 32 on their list of the "Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees.htm#step20|title=Top 50 MCs of Our Time: 1987–2007 – 50 Greatest Emcees of Our Time|date=September 7, 2012|publisher=Rap.about.com|access-date=February 14, 2013|archive-date=November 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123105721/http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees.htm#step20|url-status=dead}}</ref> while in 2012 ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' placed him number 44 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisis50.com/forum/topics/the-source-s-top-50-lyricists-of-all-time-complete-list-inside?xg_source=activity |title=The Source's Top 50 Lyricists Of All Time |publisher=thisis50.com |date=July 7, 2012 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504085220/http://www.thisis50.com/forum/topics/the-source-s-top-50-lyricists-of-all-time-complete-list-inside?xg_source=activity |archive-date=May 4, 2014 }}</ref>

== Early life ==
Williams was born on December 9, 1974, in [[Kingston, Jamaica]]. He is of Jamaican descent.<ref name=amg>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p293559/biography|pure_url=yes}} allmusic ((( Canibus > Biography )))]. Allmusic. Accessed February 22, 2008.</ref><ref>Parker, Lyndsey (August 7, 2000). [http://music.yahoo.com/read/interview/12026742 Exclusive LAUNCH Artist Chat]. Yahoo! Music. Accessed February 22, 2008. {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> His father, [[Basil Williams (cricketer)|Basil Williams]], was a [[Jamaican cricket team|Jamaican]] and [[West Indian cricket team|West Indian]] [[cricket]]er.<ref>[http://www.riotsound.com/hip-hop/rap/interviews/canibus/index.php Canibus : Rap, Hip-Hop Interview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526072927/http://www.riotsound.com/hip-hop/rap/interviews/canibus/index.php |date=May 26, 2012 }}. Riot Sound. Accessed February 22, 2008.</ref> The family moved frequently, living in [[The Bronx]]; [[Newark, New Jersey]]; [[Washington, D.C.]]; [[Atlanta]]; [[Miami]]; [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]]; and [[London]]<ref name=daily>Millner, Denene (September 18, 1998). [http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1998/09/08/1998-09-08_the_canny_canibus____rapper_.html The Canndy Canibus Rapper's No Dope, As Rep Goes From Bad To Verser With Release of his First Solo Album] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410004523/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1998/09/08/1998-09-08_the_canny_canibus____rapper_.html |date=April 10, 2008 }}. The ''Daily News''. Accessed February 22, 2008.</ref> due to his mother's career requiring constant relocation.<ref name=amg /> Canibus stated that he was an [[extraversion and introversion|introverted]] child growing up.<ref name=phenomenon>Johnson Jr, Billy (February 16, 1999). [http://music.yahoo.com/read/interview/12048009 A World Wide Phenomenon]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Yahoo! Music. Accessed February 22, 2008.</ref>

After completing high school in 1992, he spent a year working for [[AT&T Corporation]] and another year as a [[data analyst]] for the [[U.S. Department of Justice]].<ref name=phenomenon /> He studied [[computer science]] at [[Georgia Perimeter College|DeKalb College]] in Atlanta.<ref name=daily /><ref name=nyt1998>Strauss, Neil (May 10, 1998). [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/10/arts/pop-jazz-a-rising-rap-star-puts-content-ahead-of-style.html POP/JAZZ; A Rising Rap Star Puts Content Ahead of Style]. ''The New York Times''. Accessed February 22, 2008.</ref>

== Career ==

=== Debut album (1997–1998) ===
Canibus' debut album ''[[Can-I-Bus]]'' was released on September 8, 1998. The song "[[Second Round K.O.]]", produced by [[Wyclef Jean]], was a success, with the video featuring Wyclef and a [[cameo appearance]] by [[boxing|boxer]] [[Mike Tyson]]. This song formed part of Canibus' famous beef with LL Cool J.

The album contained a lot of socially-conscious material, such as corruption within the U.S. government, [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]], and violence in modern America.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riotsound.com/hip-hop/rap/interviews/canibus/index.php |title=Canibus : Rap, Hip-Hop Interview |publisher=Riotsound.com |access-date=May 5, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526072927/http://www.riotsound.com/hip-hop/rap/interviews/canibus/index.php |archive-date=May 26, 2012 }}</ref>

Canibus had a feud with [[LL Cool J]] over a verse that Canibus gave on LL's track "[[4, 3, 2, 1 (LL Cool J song)|4,3,2,1]]" from his album ''[[Phenomenon (LL Cool J album)|Phenomenon]]''. The track featured Canibus, [[Method Man]], [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]], and [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]]. Canibus's verse began with the line "Yo LL, is that a mic on your arm? Let me borrow that," referring to the microphone tattoo on LL Cool J's arm which LL Cool J interpreted as Canibus insulting him. When the final cut of the song came out it featured LL Cool J's verse after Canibus's, mocking an unspecified person believed to be Canibus.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/canibus-questionable-lyrics-ll-cool-j-diss-1234736658/ | title=Canibus Clarifies Questionable Lyric in LL Cool J Diss Record, "2nd Round KO" | date=February 21, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.yahoo.com/ll-cool-j-takes-blame-144533591.html | title=LL Cool J Takes Blame for Canibus Beef: "I Wasn't There Yet Mentally" | date=May 11, 2023 }}</ref> 

=== ''For Whom the Beat Tolls'' (2007) ===
[[File:Canibus at Amager Bio 3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Canibus performing in 2007]]
When the record was originally announced in March, there was only one confirmed track – the third installment in Canibus' "[[Poet Laureate]]" series, "Poet Laureate Infinity". The track has 1,000 bars, in the form of five 200 bar verses, and is layered in such a way that "when you mix it and spread it throughout five channels, [you have the ability] to mix the track differently every time".<ref>Heinzelman, Bill (March 19, 2007). [http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=8450 Canibus My Life] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328174858/http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=8450 |date=March 28, 2007 }}. ''XXL'' magazine. Accessed March 24, 2008.</ref>

=== ''Melatonin Magik'' (2010) ===
In December 2009, it was announced that Canibus was in the process of releasing his 9th studio album ''[[Melatonin Magik]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ballerstatus.com/2010/01/05/canibus-set-to-return-with-new-album-melatonin-magik/ |title=Canibus Set To Return With New Album, Melatonin Magik |date=January 5, 2010 |publisher=BallerStatus.com |access-date=May 5, 2012}}</ref>

=== ''C of Tranquility'' (2010) ===
''[[C of Tranquility]]'' was released on October 5, 2010. Producers include [[DJ Premier]], [[Jake One]], [[Scram Jones]], [[Tha Bizness]] and [[J-Zone]].<ref>{{cite web|last=McDevitt |first=Michelle |url=http://www.hiphopsite.com/2010/08/11/canibus-to-release-c-of-tranquility-lp-on-october-5th// |title=Canibus To Release "C Of Tranquility" LP On October 5th » Canibus, Tranquility, Billboard, Can-I-Bus, Lauryn, Blak |publisher=HipHopSite.Com |date=August 25, 2008 |access-date=May 5, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415062225/http://www.hiphopsite.com/2010/08/11/canibus-to-release-c-of-tranquility-lp-on-october-5th/ |archive-date=April 15, 2012 }}</ref>

=== Canibus vs Dizaster (2012) ===
Canibus completed his first rap battle for [[King of the Dot]] on June 9, 2012. Canibus participated in the first two rounds before pulling out a notepad to read his bars during the third round, after admitting defeat and wishing to recite what he said were "30 pages of rhymes" that he had failed to memorize.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/06/12/canibus-uses-notebook-rap-battle/ |title=Canibus Uses A Notepad During Rap Battle |publisher=Rapfix.mtv.com |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013 |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005020808/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/06/12/canibus-uses-notebook-rap-battle/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://musikreform.com/blog4/2012/06/11/cannibus-line-of-twitter-disses-from-saigon-alchemist-freddie-gibbs-more/ |title=CANNIBUS' Line Of Twitter Disses |access-date=June 13, 2012 |archive-date=June 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619014638/http://musikreform.com/blog4/2012/06/11/cannibus-line-of-twitter-disses-from-saigon-alchemist-freddie-gibbs-more/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://musikreform.com/blog4/2012/06/11/cannibus-line-of-twitter-disses-from-saigon-alchemist-freddie-gibbs-more/ |title=Cannibus' Line Of Twitter Disses From SAIGON, ALCHEMIST, FREDDIE GIBBS, & More |publisher=Musikreform.com |date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013 |archive-date=June 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619014638/http://musikreform.com/blog4/2012/06/11/cannibus-line-of-twitter-disses-from-saigon-alchemist-freddie-gibbs-more/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref name="horowitz1">{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9KjsBIsr2g |title=Canibus Forfeits In Pay-Per-View Rap Battle &#124; Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=June 10, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Starbury |first=Allen |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9KjsBIsr2g |title=Canibus Forfeits In PPV Rap Battle, Pulls Out Notebook In Final Round |publisher=BallerStatus.com |date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name="youtube1">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9KjsBIsr2g] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801075805/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9KjsBIsr2g|date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> The battle was part of King of the Dot's Fresh Coast division in L.A.<ref name="horowitz1" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Starbury |first=Allen |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9KjsBIsr2g |title=Canibus To Headline Upcoming Los Angeles Rap Battle, 'Vendetta: Battle Royale' |publisher=BallerStatus.com |date=May 10, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Sydney Lace |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9KjsBIsr2g |title=Hip-Hop Rumors: Canibus Is Coming to Pay-Per-View |publisher=AllHipHop.com |date=May 10, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref>

A fake open letter, attributed to Canibus appeared on [[Tumblr]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/06/13/canibus-apology-notebook-freestyle/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616011531/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/06/13/canibus-apology-notebook-freestyle |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2012 |title=Canibus Issues Apology After Notebook Freestyle |publisher=Rapfix.mtv.com |date=June 13, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Sydney Lace |url=http://allhiphop.com/2012/06/13/hip-hop-rumors-canibus-apologizes-for-rap-battle-dizaster/ |title=Hip-Hop Rumors: Canibus Apologizes For Rap Battle "Dizaster" |publisher=AllHipHop.com |date=June 13, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ripperapology.tumblr.com/post/24985717845/canibus-apology-from-the-ripper |title=Ripper Apology : Canibus' Apology … from The Ripper |publisher=Ripperapology.tumblr.com |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref> though it was later debunked by his manager.<ref>{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.20086/title.canibus-manager-debunks-his-tumblr-apology-for-notepad-freestyle |title=Canibus' Manager Debunks His Tumblr Apology For Notepad Freestyle &#124; Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=June 13, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref> Canibus later released an official statement on his [[Facebook]] page. About the battle itself, Canibus commented that "Sometimes people need laughter and entertainment at the expense of others embarrassment but hip hop means so much to me I don't care."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.facebook.com/canibusmusic/ |title=Canibus Music |publisher=Facebook |access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xclusiveszone.net/2012/06/canibus-issues-an-apology-for-battle-with-dizaster/ |title=Canibus Issues An Apology For Battle With Dizaster |publisher=Xclusives Zone |date=June 14, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref>

== Army service ==
In 2002, Canibus signed up for the [[United States Army]]. In a 2005 interview, Canibus stated "I enlisted because I wanted to get away from the music... I wanted to do something that gave me a separate definition from what I had done all through my teens and twenties. I was 28 when I enlisted." In 2004, he was caught [[Cannabis smoking|smoking cannabis]] and was subsequently discharged.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rapartists.com/artists/canibus/biography |title=Canibus Biography |publisher=Rapartists.com |date=September 11, 2001 |access-date=May 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125090452/http://www.rapartists.com/artists/canibus/biography |archive-date=January 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Main|Canibus discography}}

=== Albums ===
'''Solo'''
* ''[[Can-I-Bus]]'' (1998)
* ''[[2000 B.C. (Before Can-I-Bus)]]'' (2000)
* ''[[C! True Hollywood Stories]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Mic Club: The Curriculum]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Rip the Jacker]]'' (2003) <small>(produced by [[Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind]])</small>
* ''[[Mind Control (Canibus album)|Mind Control]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Hip-Hop for Sale]]'' (2005)
* ''[[For Whom the Beat Tolls]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Melatonin Magik]]'' (2010)
* ''[[C of Tranquility]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Lyrical Law]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Fait Accompli (album)|Fait Accompli]]'' (2014)
* ''Time Flys, Life Dies... Phoenix Rise'' (2015) <small>(produced by Bronze Nazareth)</small>
* ''Kaiju'' (2021) <small>(produced by Body Bag Ben)</small>
* ''One Step Closer to Infinity'' (2022)

'''Collaborations'''
* ''[[The Horsemen Project]]'' (2003) <small>(with [[Killah Priest]], [[Kurupt]] & [[Ras Kass]], as [[HRSMN|The Four Horsemen]])</small>
* ''[[Def Con Zero]]'' (2005) <small> (with Phoenix Orion, as Cloak N Dagga)</small>
* ''In Gods We Trust – Crush Microphones to Dust'' (2011) <small>(with [[Keith Murray]], as The Undergods)</small>
* ''Scars n Stripes'' (2010) <small>(with Matt Maddox;)</small>
* ''[[Lyrical Warfare]]'' (2011) <small>(with Webb, as T.H.E.M.; recorded from 1993 to 1995)</small>
* ''The 2nd Coming'' (2013) <small>(with Bronze Nazareth, [[Cappadonna]], M-Eighty, Nino Grave & [[Planet Asia]], as Almighty)</small>
* ''The Last Ride'' (2021) <small>(with Killah Priest, Kurupt & Ras Kass, as [[HRSMN]])</small>
* ''Microphone Land'' (2021) <small>(with Jaximus)</small>
* ''Self Licking Ice Cream Cone'' (2023) <small>(with Johnny Slash)</small>

=== EPs ===
* ''Canibus & Keith Murray Are The Undergods'' (2009) <small>(with Keith Murray, as The Undergods)</small>
* ''Historic EP'' (2014) <small>(with Killah Priest, Kurupt & Ras Kass, as HRSMN)</small>
* ''Full Spectrum Dominance'' (2018)
* ''Full Spectrum Dominance 2'' (2018)
* ''Matrix Theory I'' (2018) <small>(with Marty McKay)</small>
* ''Full Spectrum Dominance 3'' (2019)
* ''Matrix Theory II'' (2019) <small>(with Marty McKay)</small>
* ''Full Spectrum Dominance: Repolarization'' (2019)
* ''Matrix Theory III'' (2019) <small>(with Marty McKay)</small>
* ''Matrix Theory IV'' (2020) <small>(with Marty McKay)</small>
* ''Matrix Theory V'' (2021) <small>(with Marty McKay)</small>
* ''C'' (2022) <small>(with [[Pete Rock]])</small><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/c/1619944097|title=Canibus & Pete Rock – C |publisher=[[Apple Music]] |accessdate= April 29, 2022}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
* ''Eyes on Hip Hop'' (1995) – self
* ''[[Bamboozled]]'' (2000) – Mo Blak
* ''[[Beef II]]'' (2004) – self
* ''The MC: Why We Do It'' (2005) – self

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{allmusic}}
* [http://conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-02-25T15_18_02-08_00/ Epic Canibus Interview (CWR Radio)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813230545/http://conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-02-25T15_18_02-08_00/ |date=August 13, 2011 }}

{{Canibus}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:American rappers of Jamaican descent]]
[[Category:20th-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:AT&T people]]
[[Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:Perimeter College at Georgia State University alumni]]
[[Category:Hardcore hip-hop artists]]
[[Category:Jamaican emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from the Bronx]]
[[Category:Rappers from the Bronx]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Underground rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:The Hrsmn members]]
[[Category:21st-century American male rappers]]