Too Short

  • Oakland, CA
    hometown
  • Hip-Hop/Rap
    genre
  • 1983
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About Too Short

Official Site: http://tooshortworld.com/ | facebook.com/pages/Six-Too-Short/130894126965588


Born in Los Angeles, but an Oakland resident by the age of 14, Too Short was the first West Coast rap star, recording three albums on his own before he made his major-label debut with 1988's gold album Born to Mack; his next four all went platinum. Anticipating much of the later gangsta phenomenon, he restricted his lyrical themes to tales of sexual prowess and physical violence, with the occasional social message track to mix things up. After the release of Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) in 1996, Too Short decided to retire, his status assured as one of the most successful solo rappers of the 1980s and early '90s, although that decision would prove short-lived.

Born Todd Shaw on April 28, 1966, Too Short grew up in L.A.'s South Central; soon after his family moved to Oakland in the early '80s, he began selling tapes out of the back of his car. Signed to the local label 75 Girls, in 1983 he released his first proper album, Don't Stop Rappin'. Three albums followed in the next two years, after which Too Short formed his own Dangerous Music label with friend Freddy B. He recorded Born to Mack in 1986, and sold more than 50,000 copies just by riding around the region. New York's Jive Records picked up on the buzz from across the country, and provided a national deal for the album one year later. With virtually no radio airplay, Born to Mack went gold and its follow-up, Life Is...Too Short, achieved platinum sales by 1989.

The immense success of Too Short during 1988-1989 made him much more viable for radio airplay, and "The Ghetto" -- from 1990's Short Dog's in the House -- made number 12 on the R&B charts, even enjoying a brief stay just outside the pop Top 40. He continued his hit track record with 1992's Shorty the Pimp and 1993's Get in Where You Fit In, both of which went platinum. By the time of 1995's Cocktails, however, Too Short began to be drowned out by a glut of similar-sounding West Coasters, and though Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) became his fifth platinum album, by late 1996 he decided to retire. Just three years later, however, he returned with the aptly titled Can't Stay Away, which debuted in the Top Ten and went gold. A series of follow-ups surfaced subsequently. In 2006 his high-profile album Blow the Whistle arrived with producers Jazze Pha and Lil Jon contributing. ~ John Bush, Rovi

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Music

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  • Upside Down featuring Trina, Too Short & Jack Tradez
    too-short
    Video
    Upside Down featuring Trina, Too Short & Jack Tradez
  • On My Level
    too-short
    Video
    On My Level
  • California
    too-short
    Video
    California
  • Trick
    too-short
    Video
    Trick
  • Can I Take Ya Picture
    too-short
    Video
    Can I Take Ya Picture
  • Top Down
    too-short
    Video
    Top Down
  • Money In The Ghetto
    too-short
    Video
    Money In The Ghetto
  • Cocktales
    too-short
    Video
    Cocktales
  • Top Down
    too-short
    Video
    Top Down
  • Independence Day
    too-short
    Video
    Independence Day

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • Old School Meets New School On 'RapFix Live'
    too-short
    video
    Old School Meets New School On 'RapFix Live'
  • 2 Chainz Calls Too $hort A 'Father Figure'
    too-short
    video
    2 Chainz Calls Too $hort A 'Father Figure'
  • Too Short Talks About His Independent Hustle
    too-short
    video
    Too Short Talks About His Independent Hustle
  • On The Definiton Of Crunk
    too-short
    video
    On The Definiton Of Crunk
  • On It's Not All About Sex
    too-short
    video
    On It's Not All About Sex
  • On From Rated G To Rated X
    too-short
    video
    On From Rated G To Rated X
  • On Deciding To Retire
    too-short
    video
    On Deciding To Retire
  • On The Bluprint For 'Freaky Tales'
    too-short
    video
    On The Bluprint For 'Freaky Tales'
  • On Making 6 Platinum Albums With No Airplay
    too-short
    video
    On Making 6 Platinum Albums With No Airplay
  • On His Influences
    too-short
    video
    On His Influences

Photos

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  • (L-R) Rappers Too $hort and Scarface perform onstage during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Too Short
    (L-R) Rappers Too $hort and Scarface perform onstage during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Scott Gries/Getty Images for Vh1
  • Rapper Too $hort performs onstage during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Too Short
    Rapper Too $hort performs onstage during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Scott Gries/Getty Images for Vh1
  • Too $hort (R) attends the 2008 Vh1 "Save The Music" Hip Hop Honors after party at Opera on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Too Short
    Too $hort (R) attends the 2008 Vh1 "Save The Music" Hip Hop Honors after party at Opera on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Frank Micelotta/Getty Images for Vh1
  • Mista Fab and Too $hort attend Too $hort's 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Party at Katra on October 1, 2008 in New York City.
    Too Short
    Mista Fab and Too $hort attend Too $hort's 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Party at Katra on October 1, 2008 in New York City.
    Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com
  • Lil Jon and Too $hort attend Too $hort's 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Party at Katra on October 1, 2008 in New York City.
    Too Short
    Lil Jon and Too $hort attend Too $hort's 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Party at Katra on October 1, 2008 in New York City.
    Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com
  • Too $hort and Danyel Smith attend Too $hort's 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Party at Katra on October 1, 2008 in New York City.
    Too Short
    Too $hort and Danyel Smith attend Too $hort's 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Party at Katra on October 1, 2008 in New York City.
    Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com
  • Too $hort attends his 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Party at Katra on October 1, 2008 in New York City.
    Too Short
    Too $hort attends his 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Party at Katra on October 1, 2008 in New York City.
    Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com
  • Too Short, Slick Rick and B-Real during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Too Short
    Too Short, Slick Rick and B-Real during the 2008 Vh1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City.
    Scott Gries/Getty Images for Vh1
  • Too Short appears on Yo! MTV Raps
    Too Short
    Too Short appears on Yo! MTV Raps
    Tamara Rafkin / Retna
  • Too Short
    Too Short
    Too Short
    Tamara Rafkin / Retna

News

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  • Too Short
    'Fifty Shades Of Grey' Locks In Director
    MTV News
    June 19, 2013
    Sam Taylor-Johnson will direct the big-screen adaptation of E.L. James' bestseller.
    Read More
  • Too Short
    Miley Cyrus' 'We Can't Stop' Music Video: Look By Look
    MTV Style
    June 19, 2013
    Photo: Courtesy of RCA Records Whew, it's FINALLY here, y'all! Miley Cyrus ' " We Can't Stop " music video just dropped, and we've been watching t...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    Kanye West's Yeezus: Album Review Roundup
    MTV RapFix
    June 19, 2013
    By Henna Kathiya Kanye West is one of the few artists who can do minimal promotion and still have one of the most anticipated and buzzworthy album...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    Kanye West's 'Yeezus' Is All Form, No Function
    MTV Hive
    June 19, 2013
    Don't let the title fool you, Kanye West stopped trying to emulate Jesus a long time ago. Peace and love can only take you to the periphery of the ...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    'Pretty Little Liars' Recap: 'Turn Of The Shoe'
    Hollywood Crush
    June 19, 2013
    Here's a " Pretty Little Liars " shocker: Ali is alive and well in Rosewood—at least that's what we learned in the second episode of season three, "Tu...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    How I Learned to Love Mac Miller
    MTV Hive
    June 18, 2013
    I was wrong about Mac Miller . Really wrong. Back in 2011, I was one of many music critics who slated the Pittsburgh-raised rapper's Blue Slide Par...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    E3 2013: Hideki Konno On The Secret Link Between A Classic Famicom Game And 'Super Mario 3D World'
    Multiplayer Blog
    June 18, 2013
    "Mario Kart 8" wasn't the only newly announced Mario game that Nintendo's longtime employee Hideki Konno had a hand in creating. Shown for the first ...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    VFiles' 'The Bling Ring' Collection Includes Shorts, Nail Wraps, And Ring Pops
    MTV Style
    June 17, 2013
    All the goods from'The Bling Ring' x VFiles capsule collection. Photo: Courtesy of VFiles Happy Monday, everyone! And no, we're not even being sar...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    Kleefeld's Fanthropology #14: Furries
    MTV Geek
    June 14, 2013
    As I was leaving the gym, I walked past the spot where a lot of free publications are left out for passers-by. Mostly apartment guides and auto trader...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    'The Virgin Suicides' Defines Sofia Coppola's Work Before 'The Bling Ring'
    Hollywood Crush
    June 14, 2013
    With " The Bling Ring " opening today (in limited release), it’s kind of crazy to believe that Sofia Coppola's feature directorial debut, " The Virgin...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    Too Short Death Rumors Are False, Rapper Tweets: 'I'm Not Dead'
    www.vibe.com
    Contrary to Internet rumors and tweets, West Coast rap veteran Too Short has not died. Earlier today rumors began to circulate that the rapper, known ...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    HBO Announces Premiere Dates for Eastbound and Down, Life’s Too Short
    Paste
    HBO has announced plans for the debut dates of a new sitcom, Life's Too Short, and the third season premiere of Eastbound and Down. Both shows will st...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    V Exclusive! Too Short Reveals Recording Dr. Dre Collabo "Man's Best Friend"
    www.vibe.com
    his core audience happy and still keep his mainstream appeal.One track that we don't hear on the LP came as a huge surprise when the OG revealed his s...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    New Videos: Wale ft. Lil Duval, D. Woods ft. Shanell & Kyle Lucas, Too Short, Travis Porter Ft. Tyga
    www.vibe.com
    Mind" from his latest LP Intimacy: Album III. 3. D. Woods Feat Shanell & Kyle Lucas "Foolish Dream" D.Woods brings along her sister Shanell for the vi...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    New Videos: John Legend, Gunplay, Kofi Black, Raekwon, Too Short, Emanny Jadakiss, Range
    www.vibe.com
    Check out the latest music videos. Preview: John Legend Feat. Ludacris "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" Gunplay "Jump Out" Kofi Black feat. Raekwon "I Lo...
    Read More
  • Too Short
    Too Short Officially Charged With Four Misdemeanors In Recent Arrest
    www.xxlmag.com
    Too Short will face four misdemeanor charges as a result of his recent DUI arrest. On Friday (April 5), the "Blow The Whistle" rapper was officially c...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • Jun 21 Friday
    Oakland, CA, US The New Parish
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 22 Saturday
    Indio, CA, US Riverside County Fairgrounds
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 6 Saturday
    Salem, OR, US Salem Armory Auditorium
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 12 Friday
    Stateline, NV, US Blu Nightclub - Montbleu Resort
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 13 Saturday
    Sacramento, CA, US Ace of Spades
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 20 Saturday
    Petaluma, CA, US Phoenix Theater
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 25 Thursday
    Palm Springs, CA, US Renaissance Palm Springs Resort
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 26 Friday
    Palm Springs, CA, US Renaissance Palm Springs Resort
    Buy Ticket
  • Sep 7 Saturday
    Greenwood Village, CO, US Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Sep 21 Saturday
    Indio, CA, US Riverside County Fairgrounds
    Buy Ticket

Discography

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  • No Trespassing (2012)
    Too Short
    No Trespassing (2012)
    EMI
  • After Party (2008)
    Too Short
    After Party (2008)
    Up All Nite
  • Get off the Stage (2007)
    Too Short
    Get off the Stage (2007)
    Jive
  • I Love the Bay (2007)
    Too Short
    I Love the Bay (2007)
    Up All Nite
  • American Pimps (2006)
    Too Short
    American Pimps (2006)
    101 Distribution
  • Blow the Whistle (2006)
    Too Short
    Blow the Whistle (2006)
    Jive
  • Gangsters & Strippers (2006)
    Too Short
    Gangsters & Strippers (2006)
    Up All Nite
  • Pimpin' Incorporated (2006)
    Too Short
    Pimpin' Incorporated (2006)
    Up All Night
  • Married to the Game (2003)
    Too Short
    Married to the Game (2003)
    Jive Records
  • What's My Favorite Word? (2002)
    Too Short
    What's My Favorite Word? (2002)
    Jive Records
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