Videos: Charles Hamilton

Brooklyn Girls

Charles Eddie-Lee Hamilton, Jr. (born November 10, 1987) is an American musician and record producer, born in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mainstream popularity came from being featured on the cover of the Freshmen 09' XXL, along with Asher Roth, B.o.B and Wale.[1] Hamilton is notorious for his favoritism with the color pink and his obsession with Sonic the Hedgehog - having the character being featured on a majority of his mixtape covers. He also is the cousin of famous rapper MC Lyte.

Raised in Harlem, New York, Charles Hamilton was exposed to music at an early age. "My mother was an entertainment journalist for the Cleveland Call and Post, so she would take me with her to events when I was just a baby." Hamilton stated his mother always made sure he had an instrument around him. His mother put different kinds of instruments in the basement of their Cleveland home, but he naturally gravitated to the keyboard. Hamilton has stated, "At first, I was just playing the rhythm of the songs I would hear... The older I got, the more proficient I got at hearing the notes." For most of his life, Hamilton was self-taught, picking up the lead and bass guitar in his teenage years, as well as the drums and harmonica. Hamilton has stated that listening to other genres of music, being exposed to different cultures and experiencing life helped mold his musical sound. Utilizing a studio built in the Frederick Douglass Academy, Charles Hamilton has spent countless hours in the studio, developing his craft and his own signature sound. Hamilton stated, "The Lab (FDA's studio) means so much to me, because when I literally didn't have anywhere else to go in the world, I can just go into my beloved alma mater and purge myself creatively." The studio in the Frederick Douglass Academy is where most of Charles Hamilton's music is made. Hamilton has also stated, regarding FDA's studio, that "[I] can do my thing in other studios. It's just something about home that makes my music breathe."[3]
[edit] 2008-2009: Interscope Records & J Dilla controversy

In 2008, Hamilton stated that his debut solo digital album, The Pink Lavalamp, is his way of illustrating his ideas for the future of music.[4] The Pink Lavalamp was later released on December 8, 2008 online as a free download.

Hamilton was to be releasing his first studio album on Interscope, titled This Perfect Life, in 2009. According to Hamilton's blog at the time, the album was to be released digitally on June 23, 2009,[5] and the physical copy in stores on August 25, 2009. [6] The album was supposed to be Hamilton's major labor debut and the first album distributed by a major record label for free download on Charles Hamilton's own website. There was also a physical copy of the album that would have to be purchased in stores that included a DVD of animated videos to help the listener get a better feel for the music. Hamilton caused some controversy when the album covers were released and the deceased producer, J Dilla, was named as executive producer.[7] A handful of Dilla’s closest associates through Hip-Hop began speaking out against Hamilton's use of the name and its connection to his music. Hamilton later stated he was wishing to financially help J Dilla's mother who had thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, the same illness that took J Dilla's life. J Dilla's name was later removed from the album artwork due to legal reasons.[8] After months of speculation, the album was never released as a result of Hamilton getting dropped from Interscope on September 19, 2009 for unknown reasons.[9] But it was still released digitally as a leak on various websites.[10]
[edit] 2010-present: NewCo Music, arrest and trials

On March 25, 2010, Charles Hamilton released his mixtape entitled The Binge Vol. 3 - Charles Hamilton's Last Mixtape.[11] Although he announced that The Binge Vol. 3 would be his last mixtape, Hamilton, along with fellow rapper B.o.B, released a video trailer on March 29, 2010 to promote the song "Paperboy".[12] In the video, B.o.B hinted that the two may possibly be making a mixtape together. The single "Paperboy" ended up being released on May 21, 2010.[13] Also in March, Hamilton dedicated a song called "Choices (A Wave to Alex)" in honor of a friend who died after getting in the car with a drunk driver."[14] Hamilton released a new single called "Gauchos" on May 4, 2010.[15] On July 3, 2010, Hamilton released six mixtapes entitled Well This Isn't Awkward (Winner Takes All), Autumn Harvest, Gynophobia, Atlantis and A..., 10 Things I Hate About Me and The L Word II (INcomplete).[16]

On December 10, Charles Hamilton was embarking on a cross-country journey to Los Angeles to work on new music with the record label, NewCo. Along the way, Hamilton decided to stop in Cleveland, Ohio, his city of birth, and the erratic behavior many have witnessed over the years was on full display. There are reports that Hamilton was being disruptive and screaming at restaurant goers and employees before the police were deployed to apprehend the 23-year-old rapper. In an ensuing scuffle, Hamilton allegedly struck an officer in the face and was immediately taken to jail.

It was revealed via the "Where Is Charles Hamilton?" blog that Hamilton's bail is, in all actuality, facing a total of 6 charges. Hamilton is facing 2 counts of assault, 1 count of grand theft and 2 counts of aggravated theft. Hamilton could potentially face up to 26 months in prison or, possibly, 14 months minimum. On May 19th, Charles Hamilton was referred to a psych clinic, presumably as a precaution to see whether or not Hamilton is fit for trial or not. The pre-trial hearing was held and the judge granted a continuance on it. No information on Hamilton's June 2nd trial has been released. [17]
[edit] Discography
Main article: Charles Hamilton discography

Studio albums

2009: This Perfect Life
2011: My Heart