T-Weaponz
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T-Weaponz
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About
Three is a mystical number, its significance fodder for philosophical musings since the beginning of time. Enter T-Weaponz, an explosive lyrical triumvirate hailing from the gritty streets of Brooklyn’s East New York. Composed of brothers IzReal and Arkitek and their neighborhood friend Psalmz, T-Weaponz exemplifies the power of three, representing rap’s past, present, and future. The wordsmiths first met as teens during a neighborhood rhyming cipher and came together under the moniker Tomorrow’s Weaponz, which they later shortened to T-Weaponz.
“The name came from a TIME magazine cover we saw,” Psalmz recalls. “They were covering futuristic Army weapons, and we started looking at ourselves and thinking about how we were living for today and hoping for a tomorrow. And, to get to that tomorrow, we’d have to use our own weapons which were our thoughts, our wits.”
Their first single, “Tomorrow’s Weaponz,” produced by Queens-bred hitmaker Ayatollah (Mos Def’s “Ms. Fat Booty” and Styles P’s “My Life,” featuring Pharoahe Monch), earned classic status in the underground rap community and was followed by a string of independent singles, including the dexterous “City Of The Gods.”
Audiences were impressed by the group’s intellectual lyrics, their ability to interweave street scenarios and anecdotes with historical and literary references. From Ark’s precise flow to Iz’s blunt lyrics and Psalmz’s flair for metaphors and wordplay, the MCs formed a perfect triangle, complementing one another and ushering in a new sound.
“Ark is a flow master and Psalmz is a true poet,” says Iz of his group mates. “I’m really blunt and to-the-point, so I balance them out. Together, we take whatever knowledge we have and make it relatable to everyone in the street.”
But even as their credibility in the underground soared, they struggled to earn the acceptance of local radio. Aside from the typical hurdles faced by up-and-coming rappers, T-Weaponz had to contend with the fact that, at the time, many viewed their ethnicity as a drawback. Latino rappers had yet to reach the visibility they enjoy today, and mainstream media seemed to resist the idea of a group so insistent on documenting the unique experiences of Latinos reared in the ‘hood.
Thankfully, any doubts were dispelled in 2003, with the release of the Alchemist-produced “Raised in the Slums.”
The song’s palpable frustration and sorrow struck a chord with audiences, propelling sales of the group’s independently distributed BlackOut EP. The EP, available on Apple’s iTunes store, sold over 10,000 units and solidified T-Weaponz’s status as ones to watch.
Building on the momentum, they went on to release four mixtapes, starting with 2004’s Survival Muzik, which The Source magazine featured in its “Best of the Best” mixtape review section.
The group’s already extensive fan base ballooned in 2005 with the release of the catchy bilingual anthem “Mira Mira,” which was introduced to the nation by Sirius Satellite Radio’s Cipha Sounds. The track became a favorite with DJ Camilo of NYC’s Hot 97 (97.1 FM) and DJ Felli Fel of LA’s Power 106 FM. Notch (formerly the lead singer of the group Born Jamericans) and Cuban rapper Pitbull both asked to appear on the son’s remix. In a matter of months, the song became an international hit, garnering over 15,000 spins nationally and surpassing 50,000 in digital download sales.
In December 2006, their bounce-laden single “Dem Boyz,” featuring Houston rapper Trae, debuted at No. 7 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, where it remained for six consecutive weeks.
Throughout the years, they’ve been lauded in a vast array of media outlets including the New York Post, Bridgez, The Source, Lowrider magazine, Sohh.com, Urban Latino, and AllHipHop.com. They’ve also shared the stage with such heavyweights as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Ludacris, DMX, Common, The Roots, and Paul Wall, and have appeared on TV shows like Mun2’s The Roof and One Nation Under Hip-Hop and VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors. In addition, they were featured characters in Vivendi Games’ 2006 video game Scarface: The World is Yours, which has sold over a million units domestically.
This summer, after years of waiting in the wings, the trio is poised to blaze into center stage and claim its spot in the limelight with its highly anticipated, full-length debut Just Begun…, which features production from Fingazz, Kemo, Traxx, and Dark Shadez.
“We’re like the tip of an iceberg,” Ark muses. “You see the tip, but you don’t know just big the iceberg real is. With T-Weaponz, we’re ushering in an entire movement of Latino rappers.”
Armed with an endless arsenal of rhymes, T-Weaponz is ready for the third part of their journey: the future. Like the triangle they encompass, they’ve got every angle covered.
Awards & Certifications
List awards received. Also list certifications like gold and platinum albums.
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Underground Music Award | Most Dynamic Group or Duo |
Chart Toppers
List here all chart topping singles. Please include what chart and year.
| Year | Title | chart... | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Dem Boyz | Debuted No. 7 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles | Just Begun... |
News
Announcements
Discography
September 25, 2007: "Just Begun..." 2003: "The Black Out" EP
Albums
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Singles
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| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The New Ish (The Nuevo) | Defiant Entertainment |
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Dem Boyz | Defiant Entertainment |
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Mira Mira feat. Pitbull and Notch | Defiant Entertainment |
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | City of the Gods | Defiant Entertainment |
Compilations & Live Releases
2003: City Of The Gods
2005: Mira Mira feat. Pitbull and Notch
2006: Dem Boyz
2007: The New Ish (The Nuevo)
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
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Trivia
.
