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 ==

=== Early career (1992–1996) ===
He began rhyming in the early 1990s and by 1992 under the name ''Canibus Sativa'', and formed a duo called T.H.E.M. (The Heralds of Extreme Metaphors) with Atlanta rapper Webb (now called C.I., also known as Central Intelligence). In 1996, T.H.E.M. split and Canibus teamed with businessman Charles Suitt. That same year Charles Suitt introduced Canibus to platinum producer [[Frankie Cutlass]] and the two collaborated on a song. Canibus also appeared on the [[Music Makes Me High]] remix by the [[Lost Boyz]] featuring [[Tha Dogg Pound]] making it Canibus' first official appearance on a record.

In December 1997, Canibus first publicly discussed a verbal confrontation with LL Cool J in an interview with Tourè for ''[[The Village Voice]]''. Also attending the interview were [[John Forté]], DMX, [[Big Pun]], [[Mos Def]] and Mic Geronimo. The roundtable discussion was recorded by Kurt Nice and featured in Shades of Hip Hop compilation ''Hot 2 Def'' in 1998 and re-released in 2004 on ''Shades of Hip Hop: The Cypher''.

=== 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> 

=== Wyclef feud, second album (1999–2000) ===
Because Wyclef produced the majority of the tracks on ''Can-I-Bus'', Williams blamed him for the general dissatisfaction with ''Can-I-Bus'' and cut ties with him, going as far as to diss Wyclef on the title track of his second album ''[[2000 B.C. (album)|2000 B.C.]]'' ("You mad at the last album? I apologize for it / Yo, I can't call it, motherfucking Wyclef spoiled it!"). 

''2000 B.C.'' featured the first collaboration between Canibus and [[Kurupt]], [[Ras Kass]] and [[Killah Priest]], a rap [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] collectively known as [[The Hrsmn]] (referring to the [[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]]), on the track "Horsementality". Though following ''2000 B.C.'''s release it had been announced that the group would be releasing an album, these plans never materialized, with only an [[Extended play|EP]] of [[outtake]]s from 2001 entitled ''[[The Horsemen Project]]'' released by Killah Priest's management in 2003. Since 2000, however, the members of the group have worked together on various songs and rumors of a full-length HRSMN album have persisted and include speculation about collaborations with [[Pharoahe Monch]], [[Common (rapper)|Common]] and [[Rakim]], among others.

Wyclef Jean would respond to Canibus's earlier remark on the track "However You Want It" from his album, ''[[The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book]]''.

Though much bitterness between Canibus and Wyclef Jean remained for a period of time, the two artists finally settled their differences at the end of 2004; they have since worked together on two [[remix]]es of the [[Machel Montano]] song "Carnival Survivors". In an interview with HipHopsite.com conducted in November 2005, Williams claimed that he had recorded five songs with Wyclef and [[Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis]] at Platinum Studios in New York for an upcoming Fugees reunion album.

=== ''C True Hollywood Stories'' (2001) ===
In 2001, Canibus released his third album, ''[[C True Hollywood Stories]]''. It was released on Archives Music, an [[independent label]] owned by Williams' future business partner, Louis Lombard III.

In an interview conducted in 2005, Williams' former promoter, Pak-Man, who worked on over half of the album with the rapper, spoke on the record, with his explanation leaning toward the album being intended as satire: "At that time Canibus was in the studio recording a lot of songs and [I] mean a lot, but he didn't want to make the fans wait no more so he did'' C True Hollywood Stories ''and he wanted to have fun wit, so thats what we did we had fun wit". In an interview on AllHipHop.com posted on April 8, 2005, Williams was asked what direction he was trying to take with that album; in his response, he stated "That album depicts the state of affairs in my life at the time – nothing more, nothing less".

=== ''Mic Club: The Curriculum'' and ''Rip the Jacker'' (2002–2003) ===
His fourth full-length album ''[[Mic Club: The Curriculum]]'' was released in 2002. Although the production was handled almost entirely by little-known producers, some of them from [[Europe]], the record proved to be a greater critical success than the previous year's release. ''Mic Club'' also saw Canibus return to a more complex rapping style, with a number of concept tracks and few songs with a [[refrain|chorus]]. The album was released on Mic Club Music, Canibus' own label, but failed to chart, selling relatively few copies.

Following the release of ''Mic Club: The Curriculum'', it was announced that Williams decided to join the [[United States Army]]. Before commencing his work with the military, however, he recorded a number of tracks which he intended to be released on his next album, entitled ''[[Rip the Jacker]]''. [[Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind]] was given the task of producing the entire record, equipped solely with Canibus' pre-recorded vocals. Due to his military obligations, Canibus himself only managed to review the album after having acquired a copy.

Upon release, ''Rip the Jacker'' received rave reviews from the majority of critics, who noted that Williams' largely scientific lyrics and distinctive, rough delivery was finally matched by equally fine production, as Canibus had a history of working with badly selected producers. Unlike ''Mic Club'', ''Rip the Jacker'' charted on both ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'''s R&B/hip-hop charts and the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], peaking at #34 and #197.

Critics highlighted various aspects of ''Rip the Jacker'''s originality, both in terms of beats and lyrics; Stoupe had employed a large number of samples from often obscure compositions, while Canibus himself undertook a variety of topics from various perspectives. Of note was the inclusion of "Poet Laureate II", a song exceeding seven minutes in length and lacking a chorus, with several changes of beat throughout; the track was frequently singled out as one of the strongest in Canibus' career and the album as a whole convinced listeners and the industry alike that the rapper had not lost his potential.

=== ''Mind Control'', Cloak n Dagga and ''Hip-Hop for Sale'' (2005–2006) ===
Following ''Rip the Jacker'' and Canibus' subsequent discharge from the army, an album entitled ''[[Mind Control (Canibus album)|Mind Control]]'' (2005) was released to negative reviews. Canibus had never planned for it to be compiled as a separate record, but agreed to release it through the independent Gladiator Music label as part of a contractual agreement; most of the vocals for ''Mind Control'' had been recorded prior to the release of ''C True Hollywood Stories''. A collection of previously recorded material (with only three of the songs being unreleased) produced entirely by Mark Sparks, the album failed to chart and is rarely considered an official Canibus release by the rapper's fans.

Also in 2005, a collaboration between Williams and [[underground hip hop|underground rapper]] Phoenix Orion, who had also been known for scientific lyrics, yielded the album ''[[Cloak and Dagga: Def Con Zero|Def Con Zero]]'', released on the independent Head Trauma Records label, owned by [[K-1]] kickboxer [[Dewey Cooper]]. The record featured guest appearances from [[Kool G Rap]], [[K-Solo]], and former [[106 & Park]] host [[Free (rapper)|Free]], among others. As Cloak N Dagga, the duo briefly toured the United States promoting the release.

The following month, after numerous delays, Canibus' seventh solo album, ''[[Hip-Hop for Sale]]'', was released, but was panned by critics, who dismissed it as yet another failed attempt to gain mainstream recognition. Additionally, due to the earlier release of ''Mind Control'' and the leaking of most of the material in the form of a [[mixtape]] entitled ''The Vitruvian Man'', the release date had been pushed back to November, the original date having been May. The production on ''Hip-Hop for Sale'' was handled in part by [[Virginia]]-based producer [[Nottz]], with several relatively unknown producers handling the remaining tracks after Nottz had cut ties with Canibus due to the appearance of ''The Vitruvian Man''. The day of ''Hip-Hop for Sale'''s release, ''Mic Club Master Volume One'', a separate mixtape, appeared in stores, many of the songs receiving more praise than those present on the full-length album.

=== ''For Whom the Beat Tolls'' (2007) ===
[[File:Canibus at Amager Bio 3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Canibus performing in 2007]]
In January 2007, it was announced that Canibus would release new material in 2007 exclusively on his own imprint, Mic Club Music, in a joint venture with Legion Entertainment and distributed via his former major label, [[Universal Music Group]]. A pair of mixtapes, titled ''Nothing to Prove'' and ''Nothing to Lose'', were slated for release in March 2007, but were eventually scrapped; instead, Canibus decided to use the best material from each mixtape to create a new full-length album entitled ''[[For Whom the Beat Tolls]]''.

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>

"For Whom the Beat Tolls" was originally set for release in May 2007, but was pushed back one month, and a released on June 12, 2007 (though it was not distributed by Universal as previously reported). The album has 16 tracks and includes contributions from [[Killah Priest]] and [[Vinnie Paz]], among others, and featured two personally made mixes of the "Poet Laureate Infinity" track ("Poet Laureate Infinity v003" and "Poet Laureate Infinity v004").

Following the release of "For Whom the Beat Tolls", Canibus went on a sporadic tour in the U.S. to promote the record. In August 2007, Canibus made an announcement on his Myspace page that he had cut ties with his business partner Louis Lombard: "''To my friends, family and fans, Just wanted everybody to know I no longer do business with Louis Lombard, III & Mic Club Music''.

=== ''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> ''Melatonin Magik'' was released on February 9, 2010, to relatively positive reviews, being regarded as one of his most focused efforts yet. The album included several guest appearances (DZK~PR~ & Warbux), a marked contrast to many of his previous albums in which he kept features at a minimum.

=== ''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> Originally recorded in 2008, it was sent to [[Interdependent Media]] for track mastery and release. Many of the beats were changed, and a few of the tracks were shortened.

=== ''Lyrical Law'' (2011) ===
Originally intended to be a Melatonin Magik remix album, as more and more guests were invited to feature, Canibus decided to also record new material for the album, and it quickly evolved into an official solo album. In April 2011, it was announced that he would be selling the album through his new website, canibuscatalogue.com in order to have more control over promotion and sale.

A track entitled "Spring Training" was released by Joe Budden two days after "Lyrical Law VS Joey Cupcakes" containing lines directed towards Canibus. To many, the track appears to be a response. This is untrue however, as the track was recorded prior to having a conflict with Canibus. As of June 2011, an official response from either Royce or Budden (aside from brief messages on Twitter) has yet to surface.

=== 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]]