Maurice "Marcellus" James McCarver, better known by his stage name Celly Cel, is an American rapper from

Vallejo, California Vallejo ( ; ) is a city in Solano County, California, United States, and the second largest city in the North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area), North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, Bay Area. Located on the shores of San Pablo Bay, the ci ...

. He released his first single, "Lifestyle of a Mack", on his independent record label Realside Records in 1992. He released his debut studio album, '' Heat 4 Yo Azz'', in 1994, and released a second album, ''

Killa Kali ''Killa Kali'' is the second solo studio album by American rapper Celly Cel. It was released in 1996 through Sick Wid It/Jive Records. Recording sessions took place at K-Lou Studios in Richmond and at the Mob Shop in Vallejo. Production was ha ...

'', two years later. In 1996, he appeared on the

Red Hot Organization ''Red Hot Organization'' (RHO) is a non-profit, 501(c) 3, international organization with goals to promote diversity through equal access to healthcare through pop culture. Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors ...

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

, America is Dying Slowly, alongside

Biz Markie Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer who gained prominence during hip hop's golden age. He was particularly recognized for ...

Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop collective formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, O ...

, and

Fat Joe Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper. He began recording as a member of Hip-hop, hip hop group D.I.T.C., Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) in 1992, and pursued a sol ...

, among many other prominent hip hop artists. The album, meant to raise awareness of the

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

epidemic among African American men, was heralded as "a masterpiece" by

The Source The Source may refer to: Film and television * ''The Source'' (1918 film), 1918 American drama directed by George Melford * ''The Source'' (1999 film), a 1999 documentary film about the Beat generation * ''The Source'' (2002 film), a 2002 scienc ...

magazine. His next appearance wasn't until 1998, with his third album: '' The G Filez''. '' Deep Conversation'' followed in mid-2000. Celly has collaborated with fellow

Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose. The Association of Bay Area Governments ...

rappers

E-40 Earl Tywone Stevens (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper. Stevens is a founding member of the rap group The Click (band), The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. He has released 27 stud ...

and

B-Legit Brandt Jones , better known by his stage name B-Legit, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. Career Before he started his music career, he went to Grambling State University. He became a member of The Click, a rap group formed by his ...

on several occasions. allmusic ((( Celly Cel > Biography )))/ref>

Discography

Studio albums

Collaboration albums

* '' Criminal Activity'' with Criminalz (2001) * ''Bad Influence'' with The Hillside Stranglaz (2006) * ''Bay Waters Run Deep'' with San Quinn (2018)

Compilation albums

* '' The Best of Celly Cel'' (1999) * ''Live From the Ghetto'' (2001) * '' Song'z U Can't Find'' (2002) * '' The Wild West'' (2006) * '' The Gumbo Pot'' (2006) * ''Cali Luv'' (2007) * '' Best of Celly Cel 2: Tha Sick Wid It Dayz'' (2007) * ''The Lost Tapes'' (2016)

Extended plays

* ''Big Faces EP'' (2012)

Soundtrack appearances

Guest appearances

External links

Celly Cel
on

Myspace Myspace (formerly stylized as MySpace, currently myspace; and sometimes my␣, with an elongated Whitespace character#Substitute images, open box symbol) is a social networking service based in the United States. Launched on August 1, 2003, it w ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cel, Celly Living people 21st-century American rappers African-American male rappers 20th-century American male rappers 21st-century American male rappers Gangsta rappers G-funk artists Hip-hop record producers Jive Records artists Rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area Musicians from Vallejo, California 21st-century African-American musicians 1970 births