Obie Trice, real name no gimmicks. Where have you heard that before? On Eminem’s “Without Me” of course. That was Obie Trice’s way of increasing his popularity. Since then, Obie Trice has done much more than just a simple one-liner. He is now more than a rapper, he’s also a movie star. In 2002, Trice appeared as a rapper in 8 Mile in the parking lot scene. He’s also featured in Life Goes On, as Big Pimpin’, which premiered at the Cannes film festival in 2006.
His career took off from Detroit, just as Eminem’s did, and as per Trice, they hit it off as soon as they met because of their common love for the music. It is said that Eminem was impressed not only by his love of music but also for his work ethics and wanted him as a part of the Shady unit. So much so that a freestyle by Obie was recorded and added to D-12’s double platinum debut album, ‘Devil’s Night’.
Trice tasted success with songs like “Respect”, “Dope Jobs Homeless”, and “The Well Known Asshole” before signing with Eminem. He released his debut album, ‘Cheers’, in 2003, produced by none other than Eminem himself. On this album he collaborated with Dr Dre, Timbaland, Nate Dogg, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and many others. His first single, “Got Some Teeth”, is a comical and light-hearted track from the album. 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks of G-Unit are featured on the more deep “We All Die One Day”.
In 2005, while driving on the Lodge Expressway b Wyoming in Detroit, Obie Trice was shot twice. One of the bullets was lodged into his head and doctors are still not sure whether it’s safe to operate. Trice aimed to release his next album, ‘Second Round’s On Me’, by end 2005, but ultimately released it in August 2006 and it reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200. After he lost his friend Proof to a shootout, he released “Ride Wit Me” and made an impassioned speech at his funeral pleading fellow black men to stop killing each other over nothing. However, ‘Second Round’s On Me’ doesn’t seem much different from the usual machismo. “Cry Now” is dedicated to his mentor Eminem’s retirement. “Jamaican Girl”, his third single, has had its video released and has also been featured in HBO’s original series Entourage. Trice and Akon also recently made an appearance on CSI and performed “Snitch”. “Wanna Know” was featured on the soundtrack to EA Sports Flight Night Round 3.