Los (rapper)

King Los
Birth nameCarlos Coleman
Also known asKing Los
BornBaltimore, Maryland, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active1999–present
Labels
  • After Platinum
  • 88 Classic
  • Bad Boy
  • Bloc Incorporated
Children2

Carlos Coleman, better known by his stage name King Los or simply Los, is an American rapper and songwriter from Baltimore, Maryland. He is best known for his affiliation with American rapper Puff Daddy, having frequently served as his ghostwriter and been signed to his label, Bad Boy Records from 2005 until 2008. Coleman re-signed to the label in February 2012, although he departed once more in March 2014. His debut studio album, God, Money, War (2015), was released by RCA Records and entered the Billboard 200; Puff Daddy executive produced the album.[1]

Career

[edit]

1999–2010

[edit]

As an 18-year-old high school student, Coleman started as a rapper with his main subject being the murder of his father. In 2002 Los auditioned for Diddy's Making the Band 2, but after being selected to appear on the show, he refused to sign any of the paperwork required so he was unable to appear on it.[2][3] Later, Coleman would end up signed to Bad Boy Records in 2005 through Da Bloc Incorporated, a local Baltimore record label. Da Bloc Incorporated eventually disbanded due to a legal issue and Los lost his deal in 2008 before he was able to release an album.[4]

In 2008 Los released a number of mixtapes and online freestyles. His first and second would be Guilty Until Proven Innocent and G5: Certified Fly, both released in 2008.[5] He followed that with G5.2 in May 2009.[6] His third mixtape Zero Gravity was released during April 2010.[7] Then, the mixtape was Welcome To Swaggsville was released on August 5, 2010.[8] His sixth mixtape Shooter was released on November 8, 2010.[9] It featured collaborations with Rick Ross and his After Platinum label-mate Cory Gunz.[10] On December 26, 2010, Los released his seventh mixtape The Louis Vuitton Gift Pack.[11] The mixtape was primarily composed of freestyles and featured a collaboration with Chris Brown.[12]

2011–2013: The Crown Ain't Safe and Becoming King

[edit]

On July 18, 2011, Los released a mixtape titled Worth the Wait, mostly made of tracks cut from his mixtape The Crown Ain't Safe.[13] On December 5, 2011, Los released The Crown Ain't Safe. The mixtape featured guest appearances by Lola Monroe, Jazze Pha, DMX, Kid Ink, Twista and XV.[14] Along with production by Jahlil Beats, Lifted, J. Oliver and Rick Steel, among others.[15] It was met with decent critical reception upon release.[16] On February 6, 2012, Diddy announced to MTV that his newest signee to Bad Boy Records was Los.[3][17] Right after the announcement Coleman began working on his debut mixtape for Bad Boy.[16]

Bad Boy released the mixtape Becoming King on April 25, 2013.[18] The mixtape featured all-original music and numerous guest artists. Production was handled by 1500 or Nothin', Harry Fraud, J. Oliver, Rob Holladay and Sonny Digital, among others.[19] Becoming King was met with generally positive reviews from music critics.[20][21][22] XXL gave the mixtape a positive review saying, "There are heartfelt tales touching on his family, love for music and the trials and tribulations of life. As usual, Los’ strongest asset is an ability to deliver vivid imagery through lyrics and a captivating flow[...] Lyrically...the mixtape is a continuation of the verbal assaults he's known for."[20]

2013–present: Departure from Bad Boy and signed to RCA

[edit]

Los was featured on labelmate French Montana's song "Ocho Cinco" also featuring labelmates Diddy, Red Cafe and MGK taken from the deluxe edition of Montana's album Excuse My French. On August 13, 2013, Los released a freestyle over the controversial "Control" song.[23] He was then featured on "No Option" by Kid Ink, a promotional single from Ink's second studio album My Own Lane.[24] On December 28, 2013, Los released Broken Silence a collaboration mixtape with rapper Mark Battles. The mixtape featured guest appearances from Wale among others.[25]

Following the announcement of the mixtape Zero Gravity II, on March 19, 2014, Los revealed that he was leaving Bad Boy Records and Interscope.[26] He later elaborated on the story to MTV saying, "I've chose to explore other endeavors just like my mentor; just like Puff."[27]

On March 24, 2014, Los released his twelfth official mixtape Zero Gravity II.[28] Following that, from April 1 to May 31, 2014, Los toured with collaborator Kid Ink as a supporting act on the My Own Lane concert tour.[29]

On October 23, 2014 Los made an appearance on HOT 97's Ebro in the Morning radio show and confirmed a new deal with RCA Records and 88 Classic, with the only details revealed being the announcement of P. Diddy being an executive producer for his pre-debut album, titled God, Money, War, with RCA and 88 Classic.[30] It was released June 23, 2015. On August 19, 2015, Los appeared on Why? with Hannibal Buress, performing the title track from God, Money, War. Los then went on to perform on the God, Money, War Tour along with fellow rapper Skate Maloley and others. He was one of many features on P. Diddy's mixtape MMM, Lil Wayne's mixtape No Ceilings 2 and later Wiz Khalifa's mixtape Cabin Fever 3.

On July 3, 2015 Los appeared in Damond Blue music video "Lemme Talk My Sh*t"[31][better source needed] In 2018, it was announced that Los would be his battle rap return with Rare Breed Entertainment. His opponent was originally slated to be the West Coast battle rap veteran, Daylyt. However a month before the event, Daylyt dropped out and was replaced by East Coast rapper and battle rap veteran, Head ICE. The battle with Head ICE took place in August 2018 with Los receiving widespread acclaim for his performance and lyricism from the battle rap community. In 2021 Rare Breed Entertainment held this delayed match between King Los and Daylyt at their Max Out 2 Battle Rap event. In November of the same year, Los appeared on the Ultimate Rap League's Volume 8 card, battling DNA.

Personal life

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The rapper's wife LoLa Monroe gave birth to a boy in March 2013.[32]

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
List of albums with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US US R&B US
Rap
God, Money, War[33]
  • Release: June 23, 2015
  • Label: After Platinum, RCA
  • Format: CD, digital download
 68 5 4

Mixtapes

[edit]
  • G5: Certified Fly (2008)
  • Welcome to Swaggsville (2009)
  • 2 Seconds From Greatness (2009)
  • G5.2 (2009)
  • Zero Gravity (2010)
  • G.U.S.A of America (2010)
  • Shooter (Hosted by DJ ill Will & DJ Rockstar) (2010)
  • The Louis Vuitton Gift Pack (2010)
  • Worth the Wait (2011)
  • The Crown Ain't Safe (Hosted by DJ ill Will & DJ Drama) (2011)
  • Becoming King (2013)
  • Broken Silence (with Mark Battles) (2013)
  • Zero Gravity II (2014)
  • G.O.A.T. Tape (2017)
  • Moor Bars (2017)
  • 410 Survival Kit (2018)
  • G.O.A.T. Tape 2 (2022)

EPs

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  • I Am Not A Industry Plant EP (2017)
  • 4 Peace Nugget (2021)

Singles

[edit]

As a lead artist

[edit]
List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Only One of Me" 2014 —
"War"
(featuring Marsha Ambrosius) 		2015 God, Money, War
"Can't Fade Us"
(featuring Ty Dolla $ign)
"Ghetto Boy"
"Glory to the Lord"
(featuring R. Kelly)
[edit]
List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"On This Side"
(Dirti Diana featuring Phreshy Duzit, Cory Gunz and Los) 		2013 R.I.P. To The Competition

Other charted songs

[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B
[34]
"Ocho Cinco"
(French Montana featuring Machine Gun Kelly, Diddy, Red Cafe and Los) 		2013 — 52 Mac & Cheese 3 and Excuse My French
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territories

Guest appearances

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "For King Los, a liberated but Uncertain future with Bad Boy". BaltimoreSun.com. March 24, 2014.
  2. ^ "Los Signs With Bad Boy Records. . .Again | Noise". Blogs.citypaper.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Exclusive: Diddy Adds Baltimore MC Los To Bad Boy Roster – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. February 6, 2012. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  4. ^ by C. Vernon Coleman II February 7, 2012, 10:57am (February 7, 2012). "Diddy Re-Signs Baltimore Rapper Los To Bad Boy Records". Hip-Hop Wired. Retrieved January 9, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Stovall, Calvin. "Los Credits 'Big Brother' Diddy for Bad Boy Return". BET. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  6. ^ "Los – G5.2 Hosted by Dj Wonda // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. May 27, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  7. ^ "LoS – Zero Gravity Hosted by Presented By After Platinum Records and The Aphilliates // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. April 26, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  8. ^ "Los – Welcome To Swaggsville [VeryHot!!!] // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Los – Shooter Hosted by DJ ill Will, DJ Rockstar // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  10. ^ Paine, Jake (November 4, 2010). "Los Explains Baltimore Influencing Raps, "Shooter" Mixtape | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  11. ^ "Los: The Louis Vuitton Gift Pack Mixtape (NEW MUSIC)". Global Grind. December 26, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "Los – The Louis Vuitton Gift Pack Hosted by After Platinum // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. December 26, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  13. ^ "Los Chats With TheSource.com On What's 'Worth The Wait'". TheSource. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  14. ^ "Mixtape: Los – The Crown Ain't Safe". TheSource. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  15. ^ "Los Drops New Mixtape The Crown Ain't Safe [Download Now] – XXL". Xxlmag.com. December 5, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  16. ^ a b Jake Crates (February 13, 2012). "Exclusive: Los: Bad Boy's Baltimore Billionaire in Training". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  17. ^ "Diddy Signs Los To Bad Boy Records". TheSource. February 6, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  18. ^ Case, Wesley (April 25, 2013). "Baltimore rapper Los releases 'Becoming King' mixtape – Baltimore Sun". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  19. ^ Los. "Los – Becoming King – Download & Stream". Djbooth.net. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Mixtape Review: Los, Becoming King – XXL". Xxlmag.com. May 10, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  21. ^ "Los 'Becoming King' (Mixtape Review)". Mimo.recordingconnection.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  22. ^ "Los, 'Becoming King' – Mixtape Review". Thedrop.fm. April 30, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  23. ^ Homie, Big (August 13, 2013). "New Music: Los "Control (Freestyle)" (Kendrick Response)". Rap Radar. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  24. ^ "Premiere: Kid Ink Featuring King Los "No Option" – XXL". Xxlmag.com. December 16, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  25. ^ Baker, Soren (December 30, 2013). "King Los & Mark Battles "Broken Silence" Release Date, Cover Art, Download & Mixtape Stream | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  26. ^ Emmanuel C.M. (March 19, 2014). "King Los Is Parting Ways With Bad Boy Records – XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  27. ^ "King Los Leaves Bad Boy: Was Diddy's 'Nobody' Rant The Reason?". MTV. March 19, 2014. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  28. ^ Diep, Eric (March 24, 2014). "King Los Releases New Mixtape, 'Zero Gravitiy II' – XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  29. ^ "Kid Ink Announces My Own Lane Tour With King Los & Bizzy Crook [PHOTO". Hip-Hop Wired. February 13, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  30. ^ "King los Signs with 88 Classic, RCA Records". BET.
  31. ^ Damond Blue (July 3, 2015), Damond Blue: Lemme Talk My Sh*t feat. King Los produced by Jay Oliver, retrieved July 7, 2018
  32. ^ Paine, Jake (March 15, 2013). "Lola Monroe & Los Release Photograph Of a new born babyNewborn Son | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  33. ^ "iTunes - Music - God, Money, War by King Los". Itunes.apple.com. October 19, 1992. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  34. ^ MGK – Chart history | Billboard
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