Antwon

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Antwon

| image = Antwon performing cropped.jpg

| caption = Antwon performing in 2014

| birth_name = Antonio Paul Williams

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|10|25}}

| birth_place = Key West, Florida, U.S.

| origin = San Jose, California, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| genre = Hip hop

| occupation = Rapper

| instrument =

| years_active = 2011–present

| label = {{hlist|Ormolycka|Suicide Squeeze|Bella Union|Greedhead|UNIF|Nature World|Anticon}}

| associated_acts = Secret Circle{{cite web|url=http://archive.massappeal.com/secret-circle-lil-ugly-mane-keep-it-low/|title=Secret Circle (Lil Ugly Mane, Wiki, Antwon) "Keep It Low"|work=Mass Appeal|first=James|last=Johnson|date=June 9, 2016|access-date=November 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229172357/http://archive.massappeal.com/secret-circle-lil-ugly-mane-keep-it-low/|archive-date=December 29, 2018|url-status=dead}}

| website = {{URL|https://antwon.bandcamp.com}}

}}

Antonio Paul Williams{{cite web|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/at-the-zoo-with-antwon/Content?oid=2949550|title=At the Zoo With Antwon|work=SF Weekly|first=Ian S.|last=Port|date=May 7, 2014|access-date=June 26, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/914033399 |title=JUDO |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=November 26, 2024}} (born October 25, 1986),{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/42012890-61a5-4c58-a97b-b93ef26effd3|title=Antwon|work=BBC Music|access-date=May 7, 2019}} better known by his stage name Antwon, is an American rapper based in San Jose, California.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17838-antwon-in-dark-denim/|title=Antwon: In Dark Denim|work=Pitchfork|first=Ian|last=Cohen|date=March 6, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2015}} In 2013, he was included on Complex{{'}}s "15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW" list.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/15-unsigned-rappers-who-should-get-a-deal-after-sxsw/antwon|title=15 Unsigned Rappers Who Should Get a Deal After SXSW - Antwon|work=Complex|first1=David|last1=Drake|first2=Ernest|last2=Baker|date=March 16, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2015}} He was also included on Complex{{'}}s "25 New Rappers to Watch Out For in 2014" list.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/08/25-new-rappers-to-watch-out-for-in-2014/antwon|title=25 New Rappers to Watch Out For In 2014 - Antwon|work=Complex|first=Chris|last=Mench|date=August 2, 2014|access-date=June 26, 2015}}

Biography

Born in Key West, Florida,{{cite web|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/2013-03-06/music/hip-hop-artistantwon-on-sex-rap-punk-vibes-and-kid-rock/|title=Antwon's Twisted Vision: Sex Rap, Punk Vibes, and Kid Rock|work=SF Weekly|first=Phillip|last=Mlynar|date=March 6, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2015}} to an African-American father and a Filipino mother, Antwon grew up in Sunnyvale, California.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/first-dates-antwon/|title=A First Date With... Antwon|work=Vice|first=Tish|last=Weinstock|date=March 17, 2014|access-date=June 26, 2015}} He was a member of the Philadelphia-based hardcore band Leather,{{cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/2013/06/antwon_genre_benders.php|title=Antwon: genre benders|work=Paper|first=Eli|last=Schmitt|date=June 27, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2015}} as well as the pop punk bands Sour Patch and How to Summer.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/getting-to-know-you-white-lungs-mish-way-x-antwon/|title=Getting to Know You: White Lung's Mish Way x Antwon|work=Vice|first=Mish|last=Way|date=August 16, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2015}}

Antwon's first mixtape, Fantasy Beds, was released in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/antwon-on-the-fringe/Content?oid=3487495|title=Antwon on the Fringe|work=East Bay Express|first=Whitney|last=Phaneuf|date=March 13, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2015}} In that year, he also released My Westside Horizon.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbg.com/2012/09/11/dream-90s|title=Dream of the '90s (1/2)|work=San Francisco Bay Guardian|first=Emily|last=Savage|date=September 11, 2012|access-date=June 26, 2015}}

In 2012, Antwon released a mixtape, End of Earth.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1112412/download-antwon-end-of-earth-mixtape/mp3s/|title=Download Antwon End Of Earth Mixtape|work=Stereogum|first=Tom|last=Breihan|date=August 2, 2012|access-date=June 26, 2015}} SF Weekly included it on the "10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012" list.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2012/12/21/the-10-best-bay-area-hip-hop-records-of-2012|title=The 10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012|work=SF Weekly|first=Rachel|last=Swan|date=December 21, 2012|access-date=June 26, 2015}} In 2013, he released a mixtape, In Dark Denim.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2013/02/14/download-antwons-in-dark-denim-mixtape|title=Download Antwon's In Dark Denim Mixtape|work=The Fader|first=Duncan|last=Cooper|date=February 14, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2015}} It was listed as Spin{{'}}s "Rap Release of the Week".{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2013/02/rap-release-of-the-week-antwons-in-dark-denim/|title=Rap Release of the Week: Antwon's 'In Dark Denim'|work=Spin|first=Brandon|last=Soderberg|date=February 20, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2015}}

His first official studio album, Heavy Hearted in Doldrums, was released on UNIF and Nature World in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmj.com/reviews/antwon-heavy-hearted-doldrums/|title=Antwon - Heavy Hearted In Doldrums|work=CMJ|first=Lizzie|last=Plaugic|date=May 13, 2014|access-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109233513/http://www.cmj.com/reviews/antwon-heavy-hearted-doldrums/|archive-date=January 9, 2015|url-status=dead}} In 2016, he released an EP, Double Ecstasy, on Anticon.{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/02/top-10-songs-of-the-week-219/10/|title=Top 10 Songs of the Week (2/19): 01. Antwon – "Luv"|work=Consequence of Sound|first=Karen|last=Gwee|date=February 20, 2016|access-date=April 20, 2016}} In 2017, he released a mixtape, Sunnyvale Gardens.{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/antwon-sunnyvale_gardens_mixtape|title=Antwon 'Sunnyvale Gardens' (mixtape)|work=Exclaim!|first=Josiah|last=Hughes|date=October 6, 2017|access-date=May 19, 2018}} Red Bull placed it at number 20 on the "20 Best Hip-Hop Mixtapes of 2017" list.{{cite web|url=http://www.redbull.com/us-en/20-best-hip-hop-mix-tapes-of-2017|title=20 Best Hip-Hop Mixtapes of 2017|work=Red Bull|first=Yu-Cheng|last=Lin|date=December 15, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2018}}

Style and influences

Spin described Antwon as "an affable guy who might have one of rap's biggest, best-sounding voices, which he usually focuses on goofy jokes and surprisingly sweet bedroom raps."{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2012/07/first-spin-antwon-slow-jams-apocalypse-new-album-end-earth/|title=First Spin: Antwon Slow Jams The Apocalypse On New Album, 'End Of Earth'|work=Spin|first=Brandon|last=Soderberg|date=July 31, 2012|access-date=June 26, 2015}} He has often been compared to The Notorious B.I.G.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2013/03/14/san-jose-rapper-antwon-breaks-through-a-hellish-set-at-sxsw|title=San Jose Rapper Antwon Breaks Through a Hellish Set at SXSW|work=SF Weekly|first=Ian S.|last=Port|date=March 14, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aux.tv/2014/01/qa-california-rapper-antwon-does-things-the-punk-way/|title=Q&A: California rapper Antwon does things the punk way|work=Aux|first=Mish|last=Way|date=January 18, 2014|access-date=June 26, 2015}} His texts mainly revolve around sex.{{Cite web |last=Ottavi |first=Marie |title=Antwon en solitaire à Paris |url=https://www.liberation.fr/musique/2014/03/07/antwon-en-solitaire-a-paris_984723/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Libération |language=fr}}

During his youth, he listened to Biohazard and thrash metal. He has also quoted Kid Rock and Prince among his influences.

Controversy

In 2016, Antwon formed Secret Circle along with Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/secret-circle-wiki-antwon-and-lil-ugly-mane-break-up/|title=Secret Circle (Wiki, Antwon, and Lil Ugly Mane) Break Up|work=Pitchfork|first1=Matthew|last1=Strauss|first2=Noah|last2=Yoo|date=May 18, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2019}} Since then, the group released several tracks and played live performances across North America.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/05/18/lil-ugly-mane-secret-circle-break-up-album|title=Lil Ugly Mane: "Secret Circle is a wrap"|work=The Fader|first=Jordan|last=Darville|date=May 18, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2019}} In 2018, Lil Ugly Mane announced the breakup of the group, not initially indicating a specific reason for the breakup.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1997391/secret-circle-break-up/news/|title=Antwon, Wiki, And Lil Ugly Mane Release Statements After Secret Circle Break Up|work=Stereogum|first=Tom|last=Breihan|date=May 22, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2019}} Antwon posted a statement on Twitter, alluding to unnamed allegations.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/wiki-and-lil-ugly-mane-indicate-secret-circle-broke-up-over-antwons-treatment-of-women/|title=Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane Indicate Secret Circle Broke Up Over Antwon's Treatment of Women|work=Pitchfork|first=Matthew|last=Strauss|date=May 21, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2019}} Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane subsequently indicated that the allegations mentioned in Antwon's statement, including abusive treatment of women, were the impetus for the breakup.