WORD$

My name is Derek Grimes... but you can call me "WORD$"! A name that didn't mean much 12 years ago when I first decided to write my first rhyme. A name that didn't mean much when mentioned to the general public when speeking of the underground music industry. But, in those 12 years I have come a long way. I have done mixtapes with DJ Joey Fingaz, and opened up for major artists in concert such as Paul Wall, MIMS, and Young Buck just to name a few. I am well known for my raw delivery, cunni...

My name is Derek Grimes... but you can call me "WORD$"! A name that didn't mean much 12 years ago when I first decided to write my first rhyme. A name that didn't mean much when mentioned to the general public when speeking of the underground music industry. But, in those 12 years I have come a long way. I have done mixtapes with DJ Joey Fingaz, and opened up for major artists in concert such as Paul Wall, MIMS, and Young Buck just to name a few. I am well known for my raw delivery, cunning swag, rediculous metaphors, and deep southern voice! "The full package", some say. With authentic stories of hustling, life experiences, manic money mentality, backed by ultimate lyricism. Known as the "diverse" rapper! Some one who can make the club song, the love song, the street song, the deep song, and never miss a beat! Currently rated at #1068 in the world in hip hop music on NumberOneMusic.com from my latest single "Stuntin Is A Hobby"... my plan is to get #1. But with a lot of negativity on Cleveland artists, racism, and not enough resources and funds... everyday is a struggle to get found! I was born on March 19th,1984 at Fairview hospital in Cleveland Ohio. My childhood was like most... father was in and out the picture, and mom worked two, sometimes three jobs to support us! I always was a creative kid growing up. Drawing building stuff, etc... Moving place to place every 6 months or so, whether it be a hotel or a friends house because my parents were fighting because of my fathers drug habits. My parents got divorced when I was around 10 or 11. But, around 13 is when my life really started! We moved back to Cleveland from P.A. after 2 years. My cousin Will was always a huge influence in my life. He basically lived with us until I was about 9. So when I moved back I was always with him. He introduced me to the drug game! Before that I never seen cocaine or fiends or 8o thousand dollars cash in person! So I was automatically from then on like "I want to be like him"! I began sneaking in his car where he kept some dope stashed in the horn of his steering wheel and taking stones to sell. Or making fake crack with shaved walnuts that been soaking in ambesol, just to try to pass it off and make a couple dollars! After a while I was taking chore money, lunch money, and change I found to buy stuff from a close friends brother too. I thought I was cool. But with weekly hurrasments from detectives and my mother threatining to kick me out... I quit! But that wasn't the last time! When I was 14, me and my brother Doc, were at home bored on a Friday night and decide to try writing a song! After spittin' the songs we wrote to eachother, from that night on I knew I wanted to be in the music industry. The way it made me feel was better than any pill I took, or blunt I smoked... I felt free of mind and worry... in a zone! The writing turned into 7 hour freestyle sessions in my basement nightly on a tape deck boombox with a built in mic by the speaker. Recording and listening to both sides of the tape 5 times before the night was over. As time passed, things on the home front weren't good. Getting kicked out for not following my mothers rules, still hustling here and there, friends were getting killed... I became emotionally rich in thought yet blocked and distracted! So a 45 minute writing session that I usually pumped out 2 or 3 full songs turned into a 45 minute session of only a few bars! After my uncle was murdered I slipped into this innerbody coma. Month straight drinking binges, and smoking weed till I passed out was just another day! Money and sleep was my only objectives at 16. 18 is when I really got serious about music on a recording level. Me and my now wife had our first child and moved out on our own. I was going to a friends house and recording on his make shift studio in his basement with some close friends. We called ourselves "CCG"... Cleveland City G's! From that moment I turned into a local celebrity. Everyone in the neighborhood knew my name and had my mixtape! It felt good... but I wanted more! About 2 years later we fell out with one another and I saved up to get my own equiptment. I ended up recording 3 mixtapes my first year of having my own setup. I was in the studio so much it was affecting my relationship with my girl and daughter. But with everyone pushing me and telling me how good I was, I kept on keeping on; and I have been since! About 2 years ago, I was recruited by Mean Mugz Entertainment. My manager was booking me shows(which I never had the chance to do),getting me slots and interviews on college radio and I finally had industry ready tracks on my my space after having a music page for 3 years! So about 5 months ago I decided to part ways and do my own thing. With my first major mixtape release"TRAP-a-DEMIC", outwith more than 2 thousand units in the streets... my buzz is still growing. I am currently working on my new mixtape to be releasedafter the first of the year "One Man Army", and continue to spread my name everyday as much as I can!