Germaine Williams (born December 9, 1974), better known by his stage name Canibus, is a Jamaican-American rapper. First having gained recognition for his freestyling abilities, he signed with

Universal Records Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...

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, Refugee Camp All-Stars, Sharpshooterz, Cloak N Dagga, the Undergods and one-half of T.H.E.M.

About.com Dotdash Meredith (formerly The Mining Company, About.com and Dotdash) is an American digital media company based in New York City. The company publishes online articles and videos about various subjects across categories including health, hom ...

placed him at number 32 on their list of the "Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)", while in 2012 ''

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 ...

'' placed him number 44 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.

Early life

Williams was born on December 9, 1974, in

Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long spit (landform), sand spit which connects the town of Por ...

. He is of Jamaican descent. allmusic ((( Canibus > Biography ))) Allmusic. Accessed February 22, 2008. His father, Basil Williams, was a Jamaican and

West Indian A West Indian is a native or inhabitant of the West Indies (the Antilles and the Lucayan Archipelago). According to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED''), the term ''West Indian'' in 1597 described the indigenous inhabitants of the West In ...

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

er. The family moved frequently, living in

The Bronx The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...

;

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...

;

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

;

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

;

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

; Buffalo; and

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

Millner, Denene (September 18, 1998)
The Canndy Canibus Rapper's No Dope, As Rep Goes From Bad To Verser With Release of his First Solo Album
. The ''Daily News''. Accessed February 22, 2008. due to his mother's career requiring constant relocation. Canibus stated that he was an introverted child growing up.Johnson Jr, Billy (February 16, 1999)
A World Wide Phenomenon
Yahoo! Music. Accessed February 22, 2008. After completing high school in 1992, he spent a year working for

AT&T Corporation AT&T Corporation, an abbreviation for its former name, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, was an American telecommunications company that provided voice, video, data, and Internet telecommunications and professional services to busi ...

and another year as a

data analyst Data analysis is the process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, e ...

for the

U.S. Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the U.S. government that oversees the domestic enforcement of federal laws and the administration of justice. It is equi ...

. He studied

computer science Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation. Computer science spans Theoretical computer science, theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to Applied science, ...

at DeKalb College in Atlanta.Strauss, Neil (May 10, 1998)
POP/JAZZ; A Rising Rap Star Puts Content Ahead of Style
''The New York Times''. Accessed February 22, 2008.

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 Nel Ust Wyclef Jean ( ; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, singer, and record producer. Born in Haiti, Jean emigrated to the Northeastern United States, United States as a child. He gained fame as a founding member of the Fugees, a Ne ...

, was a success, with the video featuring Wyclef and a

cameo appearance A cameo appearance, also called a cameo role and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief guest appearance of a well-known person or character in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking on ...

by boxer

Mike Tyson Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1985 and 2024. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "the Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson i ...

. 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,

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 ...

, and violence in modern America. Canibus had a feud with

LL Cool J James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip ho ...

over a verse that Canibus gave on LL's track " 4,3,2,1" from his album ''

Phenomenon A phenomenon ( phenomena), sometimes spelled phaenomenon, is an observable Event (philosophy), event. The term came into its modern Philosophy, philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon, which ''cannot'' be ...

''. The track featured Canibus,

Method Man Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), known professionally as Method Man, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. He is a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, and is half of the hip hop duo Method Man & R ...

, Redman, and 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.

''For Whom the Beat Tolls'' (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, ou have the abilityto mix the track differently every time".

''Melatonin Magik'' (2010)

In December 2009, it was announced that Canibus was in the process of releasing his 9th studio album '' Melatonin Magik''.

''C of Tranquility'' (2010)

'' C of Tranquility'' was released on October 5, 2010. Producers include

DJ Premier Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966), known professionally as DJ Premier (also known as Preemo), is an American record producer and DJ. He has been frequently lauded as one of hip hop's greatest producers by publications such as '' ...

Jake One Jacob Brian Dutton (born May 11, 1976), known professionally as Jake One, is an American record producer and songwriter.Palermo, Thomas (2008)Jake One Readies New Album, XLR8R, September 5, 2008Matos, Michaelangelo (2004)Rocketship Blowing Up", ...

, Scram Jones, Tha Bizness and J-Zone.

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.
The battle was part of King of the Dot's Fresh Coast division in L.A. A fake open letter, attributed to Canibus appeared on

Tumblr Tumblr (pronounced "tumbler") is a microblogging and Social networking service, social networking website founded by David Karp in 2007 and is owned by American company Automattic. The service allows users to post multimedia and other content ...

, though it was later debunked by his manager. Canibus later released an official statement on his

Facebook Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...

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."

Army service

In 2002, Canibus signed up for the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

. 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 smoking cannabis and was subsequently discharged.

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) (produced by

Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind Kevin Baldwin, better known by his stage name Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind or simply Stoupe, is an American hip hop producer, DJ, and member of the underground hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. Stoupe has worked with only a limited number of artists ...

) * ''

Mind Control Mind control may refer to: Psychology and neurology * Brainwashing, the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques * Brain–computer interface * Hypnosis * Neuroprosthetics, the technology of cont ...

'' (2005) * '' Hip-Hop for Sale'' (2005) * '' For Whom the Beat Tolls'' (2007) * '' Melatonin Magik'' (2010) * '' C of Tranquility'' (2010) * '' Lyrical Law'' (2011) * ''

Fait Accompli Many words in the English vocabulary are of French language, French origin, most coming from the Anglo-Norman language, Anglo-Norman spoken by the upper classes in England for several hundred years after the Norman conquest of England, Norman ...

'' (2014) * ''Time Flys, Life Dies... Phoenix Rise'' (2015) (produced by Bronze Nazareth) * ''Kaiju'' (2021) (produced by Body Bag Ben) * ''One Step Closer to Infinity'' (2022) Collaborations * '' The Horsemen Project'' (2003) (with

Killah Priest Walter Reed (born August 16, 1970), better known by his stage name Killah Priest, is an American rapper, a member of Sunz of Man, and a Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is known for his intensely spiritual ...

Kurupt Ricardo Emmanuel Brown (born November 23, 1972), better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he formed Tha Dogg Pound in 1992 along with Daz Dillinger; the rap duo has releas ...

Ras Kass John R. Austin II (born September 26, 1973), better known by his stage name Ras Kass, is an American rapper. He is a member of the hip hop Supergroup (music), supergroup The Hrsmn, along with Canibus, Killah Priest, and Kurupt in 2014. He is als ...

, as The Four Horsemen) * '' Def Con Zero'' (2005) (with Phoenix Orion, as Cloak N Dagga) * ''In Gods We Trust – Crush Microphones to Dust'' (2011) (with Keith Murray, as The Undergods) * ''Scars n Stripes'' (2010) (with Matt Maddox;) * '' Lyrical Warfare'' (2011) (with Webb, as T.H.E.M.; recorded from 1993 to 1995) * ''The 2nd Coming'' (2013) (with Bronze Nazareth,

Cappadonna Darryl Hill (born September 18, 1969), better known by his stage name Cappadonna, is an American rapper. He is a member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan and is a member of the hip hop group Theodore Unit together with Ghostface Killah. ...

, M-Eighty, Nino Grave &

Planet Asia Jason Green (born October 24, 1976), better known as Planet Asia, is an American rapper from Fresno, California. He is prominent for being one half of the now reunited Hip Hop duo the Cali Agents and is currently a member of the groups Gold Cha ...

, as Almighty) * ''The Last Ride'' (2021) (with Killah Priest, Kurupt & Ras Kass, as HRSMN) * ''Microphone Land'' (2021) (with Jaximus) * ''Self Licking Ice Cream Cone'' (2023) (with Johnny Slash)

EPs

* ''Canibus & Keith Murray Are The Undergods'' (2009) (with Keith Murray, as The Undergods) * ''Historic EP'' (2014) (with Killah Priest, Kurupt & Ras Kass, as HRSMN) * ''Full Spectrum Dominance'' (2018) * ''Full Spectrum Dominance 2'' (2018) * ''Matrix Theory I'' (2018) (with Marty McKay) * ''Full Spectrum Dominance 3'' (2019) * ''Matrix Theory II'' (2019) (with Marty McKay) * ''Full Spectrum Dominance: Repolarization'' (2019) * ''Matrix Theory III'' (2019) (with Marty McKay) * ''Matrix Theory IV'' (2020) (with Marty McKay) * ''Matrix Theory V'' (2021) (with Marty McKay) * ''C'' (2022) (with

Pete Rock Peter O. Phillips (born June 21, 1970), better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapping, rapper. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time, and is often mentioned along ...

)

Filmography

* ''Eyes on Hip Hop'' (1995) – self * ''

Bamboozled ''Bamboozled'' is a 2000 American satirical black comedy-drama film written and directed by Spike Lee about a modern televised minstrel show featuring black actors donning blackface makeup and the resulting violent fallout from the show's succe ...

'' (2000) – Mo Blak * '' Beef II'' (2004) – self * ''The MC: Why We Do It'' (2005) – self

References

External links

*
Epic Canibus Interview (CWR Radio)
{{Authority control 1974 births American rappers of Jamaican descent 20th-century American male rappers AT&T people East Coast hip-hop musicians Perimeter College at Georgia State University alumni Hardcore hip-hop artists Jamaican emigrants to the United States Living people Male actors from the Bronx Rappers from the Bronx United States Army soldiers Underground rappers 21st-century American rappers 21st-century American male musicians The Hrsmn members 21st-century American male rappers