Webbie was born Webster Gradney in Baton Rouge in Louisiana. Webbie went through a traumatic childhood as he lost his mother due to cancer when he was just 8. At a very age he started writing rap rhymes and always wanted to pursue a career in music. He was massively inspired by Tupac Shakur and other West Coast rappers like Eazy-E and Snoop Dogg.

Webbie – The Gangsta Rapper

“First, Trill Entertainment dropped Lil Boosie’s solo album, and then they dropped a joint with me and him together. They dropped a couple of mixtapes (Trill Vol. I, II, & III). Me and Boosie dropped another joint album called “Gangsta Music”, and that’s what put us in the stores”. - Webbie

Early Life

Webbie was born Webster Gradney in Baton Rouge in Louisiana. Webbie went through a traumatic childhood as he lost his mother due to cancer when he was just 8. At a very age he started writing rap rhymes and always wanted to pursue a career in music. He was massively inspired by Tupac Shakur and other West Coast rappers like Eazy-E and Snoop Dogg. In 2001, he made a free style rap for his mother. The demo came to the attention of several radio jockeys and eventually he signed a record label contract with Trill Entertainment which was owned by rapper Pimp C. Webbie had just turned 17 that year!

The Rap Career

Initially the record label and mentor Pimp C got Webbie to work with another rapper Lil’ Boosie. The idea was to give him the right kind of experience before launching into a full fledged solo career. Lil’ Boosie and Webbie connected well together and started putting together a demo which would lead them to record their first album. The album “Ghetto Stories” was released in 2003 on Trill records which was also available on a digital download. The duo started working together to record the follow-up to the first album and released it in May 2004. “Gangsta Musik” featured the hit single “Give Me That” which peaked at No.29 on the Hot 100 singles chart and reached No.4 on the Rap charts. It would eventually be certified Gold.

Solo Launch

The hit created the right opportunity for Webbie to record his planned solo album. Released in 2005, “Savage Life” reached No.8 on the US charts and sold just below the Gold mark. After another collaborative album which featured all the Trill artists he released his second album “Savage Life 2” which featured his first solo No.1 rap song “Independent”. The album faired slightly better than the debut by peaking at No.4. on the US charts. However it would not be major seller and would stop short of the Gold certification.

He recorded a tribute song for his mentor Pimp C who died in 2007. Webbie has announced that he will release his third solo album tentatively titled “Mr. Savage Life” in the summer of 2010.

• Did You Know: Webbie collaborated with controversial female rapper Trina for the song “Bad Bitch!”

• Did You Know: Webbie samples Diana Ross’s classic Missing You on his single “Miss You”. Initially it created controversy regarding the credit given to the original writer such as Lionel Ritchie. Eventually Webbie and Asylum records gave credit to the original songwriter.

• Did You Know: Webbie is also has a duo rap project with Lil Boosie and the duo have released three albums since 2003

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