Editing U-God

{{Short description|American rapper (born 1970)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image             = U-God in Paris, 2013 (cropped).jpg
| image_upright     = 
| caption           = U-God performing in 2013
| birth_name        = Lamont Jody Hawkins
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1970|11|10}}
| birth_place       = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], U.S.
| origin            = [[Staten Island]], New York City, U.S.
| alias             = Golden Arms{{middot}}Universal-God
| genre             = [[East Coast hip-hop]]
| years_active      = 1991–present
| label             = [[Wu-Tang Records|Wu Tang]]{{middot}}[[Babygrande Records|Babygrande]]
| current_member_of = [[Wu-Tang Clan]]
}}

'''Lamont Jody Hawkins''' (born November 10, 1970),<ref name="Allmusic" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|last=Hsu|first=Hua|title=The Unexpectedly Moving Story of U-God, the Least-Loved Member of the Wu-Tang Clan|url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-unexpectedly-moving-story-of-u-god-the-least-loved-member-of-the-wu-tang-clan|access-date=November 18, 2020|magazine=The New Yorker|date=March 28, 2018|language=en-us|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109030744/https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-unexpectedly-moving-story-of-u-god-the-least-loved-member-of-the-wu-tang-clan|url-status=live}}</ref> better known by his stage name '''U-God''', meaning Universal-God, is an American [[Hip-hop|rapper]] and member of the [[Hip-hop culture|hip hop]] collective [[Wu-Tang Clan]].<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |last=Huey |first=Steve |title=U-God > Biography |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p278759/biography|pure_url=yes}}|work=Allmusic|date=May 20, 2008|access-date=April 19, 2010}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for his deep voice and rhythmic flow that can alternate between gruff and smooth.

== Early life ==
Hawkins was born in [[Brownsville, Brooklyn|Brownsville]], [[Brooklyn]], on November 10, 1970.<ref name=":0" /> He moved to [[Staten Island]] as a youth.<ref name=":0" /> He was originally a beatboxer for [[Cappadonna]], and was friends with future members [[Method Man]], [[Inspectah Deck]] and childhood friend of [[Raekwon]]. Sometime before the members united, U-God was mentored in rap by Cappadonna. He soon became friends with [[RZA]] and [[Ghostface Killah]], and he began rhyming under the alias Golden Arms, based on the Kung-Fu movie ''[[Kid with the Golden Arm]]''. Later on he changed his name to U-God (which is short for his [[Five-Percent Nation]] righteous name "Universal God Allah").<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4GBEARaH30 |title=Rise of a Fallen Soldier – The story of U-God (part1) |publisher=YouTube |access-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504144959/http://www.youtube.com//watch?v=D4GBEARaH30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-06-20T09_28_59-07_00 |title=PodOmatic &#124; Best Free Podcasts he is u god |publisher=Conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com |access-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-date=July 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722211450/http://conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-06-20T09_28_59-07_00 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Career ==

=== ''Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'' / ''Wu-Tang Forever'' ===
U-God was convicted on the grounds of [[Illegal weapons trade|firearm]] and [[drug possession]] charges on April 17, 1992, and was paroled in January 1993. His incarceration prevented him from attending the group's debut album ''[[Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)]]'' recording sessions for the most part, his input on the seminal LP consisting of only a short [[bridge (music)|bridge]] on the group's debut single "[[Protect Ya Neck]]" as well as the fan-favorite opening verse of "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'". Nevertheless, after his release, he quickly became known to fans for his rugged flow and bass-like voice on Wu tracks such as "Winter Warz", "Knuckleheadz", "Investigative Reports", and "Black Jesus". He was featured heavily on the group's second album ''[[Wu-Tang Forever]]'', on which he was one of only four of the group to get a solo track – "Black Shampoo" (the others being [[Inspectah Deck]] with "The City", [[RZA]] with "Sunshower" and [[Ol' Dirty Bastard]] with "Dog Shit").

=== ''Golden Arms Redemption'' ===
U-God was the eighth member of the group to record a solo album, releasing ''[[Golden Arms Redemption]]'' in 1999 on Priority Records, which displayed a wide variety of sounds from gritty [[blaxploitation]] [[funk]] to urgent string sections, and featured guest appearances from several Wu-Tang members and affiliates. It had two singles in "Dat's Gangsta" and "Bizarre". The song "Rumble" was used as the main song for the video game ''[[Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style]]''. Bizarre debuted #7 on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Rap Singles]], but soon after Priority Records was on the verge of shutting down. Still, the album managed to go Gold in sales. Based on the initial success, U-God was able to open his own label, Suppa Nigga Productions. He released his second album ''[[Mr. Xcitement]]'' in 2005.

=== ''Dopium'' and ''The Keynote Speaker'' ===
[[File:U-God performing in Atlanta.jpg|thumb|U-God performing in Atlanta, 2007]]
In 2009, U-God released the album ''[[Dopium]]'' and had the lead single "Wu-Tang" featuring [[Method Man]]. The album featured guest appearances by [[Sheek Louch]], [[Jim Jones (rapper)|Jim Jones]], [[Raekwon]], [[Ghostface Killah]], [[GZA]], [[Cappadonna]], [[Killah Priest]] and Scotty Wotty with production by Bloody Beat Roots, Felix Cartel and [[Large Professor]]. In 2013 U-God announced a new album ''[[The Keynote Speaker]]'' with production by [[RZA]] who also served as the albums executive producer. The album was released on July 23, 2013, by RZA's [[Soul Temple Records]] with guest appearances from [[Styles P]], [[Kool Keith]], [[Method Man]], RZA, [[GZA]] and [[Inspectah Deck]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soultemplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-keynote-speaker |title=The Keynote Speaker &#124; Soul Temple Music |publisher=Soultemplemusic.bandcamp.com |access-date=July 11, 2013 |archive-date=July 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709055325/http://soultemplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-keynote-speaker |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== ''Venom'' and autobiographical book ===
On December 13, 2016, U-God released through Babygrande Records' [[SoundCloud]] account a song "Venom" and announced that his new album, also called ''[[Venom (U-God album)|Venom]]'', would be released soon.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=U-God Releases Fiery New Track 'Venom,' Announces New Album: Exclusive|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7624334/u-god-venom-song-album|magazine=Billboard|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-date=May 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517133122/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7624334/u-god-venom-song-album|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 25, 2017, he added a [[Twitter|tweet]] in which he announced that he had finished his [[autobiography]] entitled ''[[Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang]]'' and it would be released along with his new album in March 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=U-God Announces New Memoir 'RAW: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang'|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/music/u-god-announced-memoir-raw-journey-wu-tang-clan.html|website=Okayplayer|access-date=February 5, 2018|date=September 25, 2017|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073526/http://www.okayplayer.com/music/u-god-announced-memoir-raw-journey-wu-tang-clan.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 2, 2018, he released a free mixtape ''Bring Back God II'' through [[DatPiff]] platform.<ref>{{cite web|title=U-God Delivers New Mixtape 'Bring Back God II' – XXL|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/02/u-god-bring-back-god-mixtape/|website=XXL Mag|date=February 2, 2018 |access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206002522/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/02/u-god-bring-back-god-mixtape/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Venom'' was released on March 30, 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/03/u-god-venom-album-release-date/|title=U-God Shares Release Date and Tracklist for 'Venom' Album – XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=March 6, 2018 |language=en|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409231839/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/03/u-god-venom-album-release-date/|url-status=live}}</ref> and debuted at #34 on the U.S. Rap Albums Chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-albums/2018-04-07|title=Rap Music: Top Rap Albums Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-date=May 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519022203/https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-albums/2018-04-07|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Main|U-God discography}}

=== Studio albums ===
* ''[[Golden Arms Redemption]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Mr. Xcitement]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Dopium]]'' (2009)
* ''[[The Keynote Speaker]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Venom (U-God album)|Venom]]'' (2018)

=== Collaboration albums ===
* ''[[UGodz-Illa Presents: The Hillside Scramblers]]'' <small>with The Hillside Scramblers</small> (2004)

== Personal life ==
Around the time of ''Wu Tang Forever'', his two-year-old son Dontae (now a hip-hop artist as iNTeLL) was struck by a stray bullet while on his way to a birthday party, suffering permanent damage to his kidneys and hands,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hsu|first=Hua|date=March 28, 2018|title=The Unexpectedly Moving Story of U-God, the Least-Loved Member of the Wu-Tang Clan|url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-unexpectedly-moving-story-of-u-god-the-least-loved-member-of-the-wu-tang-clan|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814060055/https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-unexpectedly-moving-story-of-u-god-the-least-loved-member-of-the-wu-tang-clan|archive-date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=New Yorker}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bono|first=Sal|date=May 16, 2020|title=Shot at 2 Years Old and Feared Paralyzed Forever, Son of Wu Tang Clan Rapper Now Walking in Dad's Footsteps|url=https://www.insideedition.com/shot-at-2-years-old-and-feared-paralyzed-forever-son-of-wu-tang-clan-rapper-now-walking-in-dads|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718152925/https://www.insideedition.com/shot-at-2-years-old-and-feared-paralyzed-forever-son-of-wu-tang-clan-rapper-now-walking-in-dads|archive-date=July 18, 2020|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=[[Inside Edition]]}}</ref> an ordeal U-God documented on the Wu-Tang Clan track "A Better Tomorrow".

== Bibliography ==
*{{Cite book|last=U-God|url=|title=Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang|date=2018|isbn=978-1-250-19116-8|edition=|location=New York|oclc=1001859919|publisher=Picador}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|id=1295273 |name=U-God}}
*[https://www.npr.org/2018/03/02/589928021/u-god-the-wu-tang-clan-story NPR interview, March 2018]

{{U-God}}
{{Wu-Tang Clan}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:African-American male rappers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:American people convicted of drug offenses]]
[[Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:Five percenters]]
[[Category:Rappers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:People from Brownsville, Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Priority Records artists]]
[[Category:Wu-Tang Clan members]]