Fat Tony

Representing Houston's Third Ward, rapper Fat Tony crafts thoughtful and inventive rhymes over inspired beats reminiscent of André 3000, Murs, and Vince Staples. Born Anthony Lawson Jude Ifeanyichukwu Obiawunaotu and sometimes credited simply as Anthony Jude Obi, the Nigerian-American MC absorbed formative influences from E-40, Lil' Flip, and A Tribe Called Quest alongside the Ramones, Black Flag, and Bikini Kill. After claiming the Houston Press Music Award for Best Underground Hip-Hop in three straight years, he issued his debut album RABDARGAB in 2010. Frequent collaborator Tom Cruz of Supreeme produced the project, which received a chopped-and-screwed remix the next year titled SCREWDARGAB. Guest appearances followed on A$AP Rocky's "Get Lit" and Das Racist's "Luv It Mayne," the latter also appearing on his debut with a verse from Murs. In 2012 Tony rejoined Cruz for the joint release Double Dragon on Young One Records. His sophomore LP arrived the following year. Written and recorded in less than a week, Smart Ass Black Boy contained the singles "BKNY" and "Hood Party" with Kool A.D. and Despot. Subsequent years saw him concentrate on standalone tracks, opening with the 2014 double A-side "No More" b/w "Love Me" and continuing with "H-Town to L.A." plus the Asher Roth collaboration "Sushi" in 2015. Look, a three-track EP cut with producer P. Morris, appeared in 2016. Tony's third full-length, MacGregor Park, reached listeners in the summer of 2017.