Fat Tony

Representing Houston’s Third Ward, rapper Fat Tony weaves thoughtful and creative rhymes atop inspired production like André 3000, Murs, and Vince Staples. Born Anthony Lawson Jude Ifeanyichukwu Obiawunaotu (and sometimes known simply as Anthony Jude Obi), the Nigerian-American MC grew up influenced as much by E-40, Lil' Flip, and A Tribe Called Quest as the Ramones, Black Flag, and Bikini Kill. After winning the Houston Press Music Award for Best Underground Hip-Hop three years in a row, he released his debut full-length, RABDARGAB, in 2010. Produced by frequent collaborator Tom Cruz (Supreeme), the album received the chopped-up remix treatment the following year on SCREWDARGAB. He later appeared as a guest on tracks by A$AP Rocky (“Get Lit”) and Das Racist (“Luv It Mayne”), the latter also appearing on his debut with a verse from Murs. In 2012, Tony teamed up with Cruz for the joint effort Double Dragon (Young One Records). His sophomore LP arrived a year later. Written and recorded in less than a week, Smart Ass Black Boy included the singles “BKNY” and “Hood Party” with Kool A.D. and Despot. In the following years, he focused on releasing singles, starting with “No More” b/w “Love Me” in 2014 and “H-Town to L.A.” and “Sushi” with Asher Roth in 2015. Look, a three-track EP recorded with producer P. Morris, was issued in 2016. Tony’s third full-length, MacGregor Park, was released in the summer of 2017. ~ Neil Z. Yeung