In 2007, Crooked I launched his “Hip Hop Weekly” series—a 52-week run of freestyles over notable instrumentals that were sometimes picked by his fans via MySpace. Now, after a Top 5 debut on Nielsen’s SoundScan report in 2012 with Slaughterhouse’s welcome to: Our Houseand a solo album in 2013, Crooked I has found new life for his “Hip Hop Weekly” series.
“I’m working on a book right now, based on lyricism and my weekly series,” Crooked I said during an exclusive interview with HipHopDX at the “Respect the West” showcase, sponsored by adidas and Cashmere Agency. “I haven’t even thought of the title. I just started working on the book, and it’s based on bringing lyricism to the forefront of Hip Hop…I don’t know what I’m gonna name it yet, and that’s how I write my music. They’re just songs, and then I sit back and say, ‘OK, this song should be named that.’ It’ll be out next year for sure. I’m going hard, so it’ll definitely be out.”
When the year-long “Hip Hop Weekly” series concluded in 2007, the Long Beach, California emcee found himself on the 2008 edition of XXL magazine’s “Freshman Class” with Lupe Fiasco, Lil Boosie and Joell Ortiz. Crooked I and Ortiz have since both become members of Slaughterhouse.
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As Slaughterhouse, Joe Budden, Royce Da 5’9, Joell Ortiz and Crooked I released a self-titled album with Koch/E1 Entertainment in August of 2009. Two years later, in January of 2011, Eminem announced he was bringing both Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf to his Shady Records label.
While he’s currently touring with Slaughterhouse, Crooked I also revealed that the group’s third album is “90% done” and will also see a 2014 release. Crooked did not provide a name for the album.
Additional reporting by Janice Llamoca
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