Curren$y
Background information
Birth name	Shante Scott Franklin
Also known as	Spitta
Born	(1981-04-04) April 4, 1981 (age 31)
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper
Years active	2000–Present
Labels	Jet Life Recordings, Warner Bros. Records
Associated acts	Wiz Khalifa, The Alchemist, Ski Beatz, Dom Kennedy, Pharrell, Styles P, Raekwon, Prodigy, Fiend, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Jay Electronica
Website	www.currensyspitta.com

Shante Scott Franklin, April 4, 1981, better known by his stage name Curren$y is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is from the 3rd Ward in New Orleans.

Music career [link]

Career beginnings [link]

In 2002, Curren$y signed to Master P's No Limit Records and was a member of the 504 Boyz. The Song "Get Back" by 504 Boyz made it to the Malibu's Most Wanted soundtrack. Curren$y appeared on 5 songs in Master P's Good Side, Bad Side album, released in 2004.^{[citation needed]} Even though he was signed with No limit he represented C-Murders TRU label. Curren$y has several songs with incarcerated friend C-Murder, and was featured on the late Soulja Slim's album, Years Later.

Later on in 2004, Curren$y signed with Cash Money Records and Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. He featured in Lil Wayne's Dedication 1,Dedication 2,Suffix and several unreleased songs while with Young Money. He released a mixtape entitled 'Welcome Back,' in 2004. He was featured in Lil Wayne's "Grown man" on the Carter 2 and on the "Grown man remix" with Boo. He remained in Young Money until late 2007. While still at Young Money, Curren$y created Fly Society with skateboarder Terry Kennedy, first as a clothing company, then expanding to release music. He released the song, "Where da Cash At" as the lead single for his Young Money debut, Music To Fly To, in 2006, but had to deal with several push-backs and lack of promotion. Also in 2006, he released G Series with Young Money members, Mack Maine and Lil Wayne. In 2007, another mixtape was released entitled "Life at 30,000 Feet". Curren$y decided to leave the label and venture off to do business on his own.

For several months throughout 2008, Curren$y released a series of mixtapes. Though he then had the co-sign of one of the top hip hop magazines, Curren$y was still overlooked by major labels. Curren$y reached a milestone in his rapping career with appearances on MTV for his music video "Address", and for a track titled "Breakfast", which was produced by Mos Def. After he took on the music industry by himself, Curren$y recently gained significant recognition via fellow musician Wiz Khalifa, whom he released the mixtape "How Fly" in collaboration with in 2009. His fan base continues to expand due to his original, laid-back flow which is accompanied by his soothing, spacey beats.

[edit] 2009: This Ain't No Mixtape and Jet Files

Curren$y signed with Amalgam Digital to release his debut album, This Ain't No Mixtape, in 2009.^[1] This album was entirely produced by Monsta Beatz. Curren$y also released his second album, Jet Files, through Amalgam Digital in 2009.^[2] Amalgam Digital finally released physical copies of This Ain't No Mixtape and Jet Files on May 31, 2010.

[edit] 2010: Pilot Talk and Pilot Talk II

Curren$y's third album, Pilot Talk, was released on July 13, 2010. The album featured guest appearances by Snoop Dogg, Big K.R.I.T. and Mos Def, amongst others, with most of the songs produced by Ski Beatz. Prior to the album's release, there was news of Pilot Talk being released under a newly relaunched Roc-A-Fella Records.^[3] However, Curren$y stated in interviews with both XXL and Complex Magazine that the album would be released under Damon Dash's DD172 record label division, BluRoc Records^[4][4][5][6] and distributed through Def Jam Recordings. He was signed to the label after being recommended by Dame Dash's nephew; Dame Dash asked who was hot at the time, because he was about to go back into the music industry. Curren$y made numerous appearances on labelmate Ski Beatz' debut studio album, 24 Hour Karate School, which was released on September 21, 2010. Curren$y's fourth album, Pilot Talk II, was released on November 22, 2010,^[7] which featured Fiend and Raekwon, among others, with many of the songs produced by Ski Beatz.^[8] 2010 also saw the release of mixtape Smokee Robinson with DJ Don Cannon.

[edit] 2011: Weekend at Burnie's

On February 1, 2011, it was announced that Curren$y signed a label deal with Warner Bros. Records for his imprint, Jet Life Recordings.^[9] Covert Coup was his first project on his Jet Life Recordings imprint under Warner Bros. Released for free via Curren$y's official website on April 20, the album contains ten songs completely produced by The Alchemist.^[10] He released his sixth album, Weekend at Burnie's on June 28, 2011, featuring his Jet-Life anthem "#JetsGo", which was produced by Rahki. The rest of the album was produced by frequent collaborator Monsta Beatz.^[11] Mixtape Verde Terrace was well-received by Curren$y's fanbase and gained 49,696 downloads in part of 204,427 views within 24 hours of its release. In 2011, Curren$y and his Jet Life crew released the album Jet World Order, under Jets International / iHipHop. Every track on this album features Young Roddy and Trademark da Skydiver. Frequent collaborators of Curren$y are also featured on this album, including Smoke DZA, The Cool Kids' Mikey Rocks, Cornerboy P, Fiend, Street Wiz, and Nesby Phips. Curren$y himself appears on 3 tracks.

[edit] 2012-present: Muscle Car Chronicles and The Stoned Immaculate

On November 10, 2011, Curren$y announced through Twitter the release of a new album. Muscle Car Chronicles, a 2-Disc set, was released on February 14, 2012. Curren$y also plans on releasing Pilot Talk III in 2012, and mentioned the possibility of it being a free album. An album entirely produced by Chuck Inglish called Puff Daddy is set to be released this year, as well as another titled The Stoned Immaculate. Curren$y and The Alchemist also intended on releasing the sequel to Covert Coup, Re-conversionalize in April 2012, the project has not yet been released. In February 2012, Curren$y released the EP Here..., and a few days later released another EP #The1st28 with Styles P.

On April 21, 2012 the track listing for "The Stoned Immaculate" was released. ^[12]

Jet Life Recordings [link]

On February 1, 2011, Curren$y signed a label deal with Warner Bros. Records for his imprint Jet Life Recordings.^[13]

Current artists [link]

• Currensy (CEO)
• Trademark The Skydiver
• Young Roddy
• Street Wiz
• Smoke DZA
• Sir Michael Rocks (a.k.a. Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids)
• Nesby Phips
• DeeLow
• Corner Boy P
• Fiend

Producers [link]

• Monsta Beatz
• Fiend

Legal Issues [link]

In March 2012, news surfaced of legal action being taken against Damon Dash by Curren$y. In the lawsuit, the rapper claimed that he never legally signed to Dash's DD172 label, and the record executive released the pair of albums (Pilot Talk I and II) as well as Muscle Car Chronicles without authorization. Curren$y is demanding that Dash immediately stop releasing his music for profit, and is seeking $1.5 million in damages. A ruling has yet to be decided in the case.^[14]

Discography [link]

Studio albums

• Pilot Talk (2010)
• Pilot Talk II (2010)
• Weekend at Burnie's (2011)
• Muscle Car Chronicles (2012)
• The Stoned Immaculate (2012)

Independent albums

• This Ain't No Mixtape (2009)
• Jet Files (2009)

Collaboration albums

• Jet World Order (with Jet Life Recordings)

References [link]

External links [link]

• Curren$y on Myspace
• Curren$y at Twitter
• Curren$y at Facebook
• Curren$y at MTV
• Curren$y at Allmusic