Mez (rapper)
{{short description|American rapper}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Notability|Biographies|date=January 2020}}
{{Autobiography|date=January 2020}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Mez
| birth_name = Morris W. Ricks II
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|04|19}}
| birth_place = Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States
| origin = Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
| alias = King Mez
| genre = Hip hop
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|producer|songwriter|music video director}}
| years_active = 2010–present
| website = {{URL|http://heirs.us/}}
| associated_acts = Dr. Dre, J. Cole
}}
Mez,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mez-comes-through-with-dope-mf-g-visuals-new-video.45099.html|title=Mez Delivers Some Dope "MF+G" Visuals|website=HotNewHipHop|access-date=April 1, 2019}} formerly known as King Mez, (born Morris W. Ricks II) is an American rapper, producer, songwriter and music video director. He is perhaps best known for his work with Dr. Dre and on the 2019 rap album Revenge of the Dreamers III. He was born on a military base in Fort Campbell, KY and grew up in Southeast Raleigh, NC.{{cite web |url=http://www.shufflemag.com/king-mez-taking-the-throne/ |title=King Mez: Taking The Throne | Shuffle Magazine |website=Shufflemag.com |date=September 7, 2012 |accessdate=February 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911202158/http://www.shufflemag.com/king-mez-taking-the-throne/ |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.bet.com/topics/k/king-mez.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110131421/http://www.bet.com/topics/k/king-mez.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |title=King Mez |publisher=BET |date=November 5, 2012 |accessdate=February 5, 2016}}{{cite web|author=David Turner |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/5068-get-hip-to-dr-dre-s-new-favorite-rapper-king-mez |title=Get Hip to Dr. Dre's New Favorite Rapper: King Mez |publisher=Inverse |date=August 4, 2015 |accessdate=February 5, 2016}}
Musical career
The Los Angeles Times stated: "Mez has dropped a few acclaimed mixtapes including his most recent, "Long Live the King," but he most recently appeared on Dr. Dre's Compton, which arrive during "Darkside/Gone," "Satisfiction" and "Talk About It. He also wrote on 14 of the 16 songs. He is the majority writer after Dr. Dre himself."{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-dr-dre-compton-a-soundtrack-roster-20150806-story.html#page=2 |title=Dr. Dre's new album "Compton: A Soundtrack": The cast of characters |newspaper=LA Times |date=August 6, 2015 |accessdate=February 5, 2016}} Mez has also collaborated with fellow North Carolinians J. Cole, Rapsody, and Drique London, as well as producers 9th Wonder and Khrysis in the past."{{cite web|author=Timmhotep Aku |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/08/04/429341486/dr-dres-compton-who-are-the-albums-new-artists |title=Dr. Dre's 'Compton': Who Are The Album's New Artists? : The Record |publisher=NPR |date= |accessdate=February 5, 2016}} Mez appeared on the song with Daniel Day on the Lecrae song "Lost My Way" on the Church Clothes 2 mixtape.{{cite web|title = Lecrae Releases Church Clothes 2 Tracklisting|url = http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/38-backstage/7284-lecrae-releases-church-clothes-2-tracklisting|website = Rapzilla|access-date = January 20, 2016|language = en-US}}{{cite web|title = Lecrae – Church Clothes 3|url = http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2608/title.lecrae-church-clothes-3|website = HipHopDX|access-date = January 20, 2016}} His first official co-sign from Dr. Dre came about during the airing of 'The Pharmacy' on Beats 1, via a [https://web.archive.org/web/20160306164616/https://itunes.apple.com/us/post/idsa.a84a3e14-31a9-11e5-bb37-589e750b7213 freestyle] Mez rapped over a beat produced by Cardiak, with Dr. Dre on the ad-libs.{{cite web|last=Kreps |first=Daniel |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/dr-dre-praises-j-dilla-talks-n-w-a-biopic-on-pharmacy-20150705#ixzz3iHe7hIz5 |title=Dr. Dre Praises J Dilla, Talks N.W.A Biopic on 'Pharmacy' |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=July 5, 2015 |accessdate=February 5, 2016}}
Discography
- The King's Khrysis EP {{small|(with Khrysis)}} (2011)
- My Everlasting Zeal (2012)
- Long Live The King (2014)
- Data Plan .001 (2018)
- Data Plan .002 (2018)
- Data Plan .003 (2019)
- The Loading EP (2024)
Filmography
= Music Videos =
- J.Cole - "a m a r i"
- J.Cole – "Middle Child"
- Dreamville - "Sleep Deprived"
- Sir - "Mood"
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mez, King}}
Category:Rappers from North Carolina