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Meek Mill was born Robert Rihmeek Williams[2] on May 6, 1987[1] in South Philadelphia, the son of Kathy Williams. He has an older sister, Nasheema Williams. Kathy grew up in poverty and her mother died when she was young. Meek's father was killed when

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meek was five years old, apparently during an attempted robbery. His uncle, Robert, described Meek Mill's father as a "black sheep of the family". After her husband's death, Kathy moved with Meek and his sister to North Philadelphia, where they lived in a three-

 

bedroom apartment on Berks Street. Their financial condition was poor and she started cutting hair and doing other jobs to support the family. She also sometimes stole products from supermarkets and sold them.

 

At home, Meek Mill was shy and rarely spoke. As a kid, he became acquainted with another of his dad’s brothers, Grandmaster Nell, who was a pioneering disc jockey (DJ) in the late-1980s Philadelphia hip-hop scene and influenced Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Meek's interest in hip-hop grew. He was also influenced by the independent hip-hop artists Chic Raw and Vodka, whom he used to emulate by watching their DVDs.[3][4]

During his early teenage years, Meek Mill often took part in rap battles, under the pseudonym Meek Millz. He’d often stay up well past midnight filling notebooks with phrases and verses that he’d later draw on. Later he and three friends formed the rap group, The Bloodhoundz. They bought blank CDs and jewel cases at Kinko's, encouraging friends to burn them with the group's songs and distribute them. When he was 18, while walking to a corner store armed, Meek Mill was arrested for illegally possessing a firearm and was beaten up by the police.

 

Because of the beating, his lips and both eyes became swollen and one of his braids was ripped out. He was charged with assaulting the police after two black cops gave a statement against him in the case, saying he chased them down with a gun and tried to kill them. He was then put on probation.[3][4][5]

 

Music career

2003–10: Career beginnings

The Bloodhoundz lasted long enough to release four mixtapes.[6] In 2008, Mill released his fourth solo mixtape, Flamers 2: Hottest in tha City, which spawned the promotional singles "I'm So Fly," "Prolli," and "Hottest in the City." Flamers 2 caught the attention of Charlie Mack, founder and President of 215 Aphillyated Records. Mack was so impressed with Mill that he immediately signed him to his management company. During that same year, Meek Mill also met the founder and owner of Grand Hustle RecordsAtlanta-based rapper and record executive T.I.[7] T.I. was also impressed by Mill and offered him an opportunity to travel, to meet with him and Warner Bros. Records; within a week both record companies offered him a deal.

 

Although he was offered other record deals, Mill felt collaborating with T.I. was "an opportunity of a lifetime" and thus chose his label. However, a setback occurred: Mill was arrested, charged with gun and drug possession, and ordered to serve seven months in prison. He was released in early 2009.[6]

Under Grand Hustle, Mill formed a work relationship with the label's resident disc jockeyDJ Drama. Mill and Drama teamed up to release the third edition of Mill's Flamers series. The mixtape, titled Flamers 3: The Wait Is Over, was released on March 12, 2010 and is helmed as a "Gangsta Grillz mixtape".[8][9][10] The mixtape features his promotional single "Rosé Red", which was later remixed with additional verses from fellow American rappers T.I., Rick Ross and Vado.

 

[8] Rick Ross contributed his verse after he was visiting Philadelphia and asked his Twitter followers who he should collaborate with; Meek Mill was the overwhelming response.[8] The remix was included on Mill's following mixtape, Mr. Philadelphia.[11] Due to Mill's and Grand Hustle label-boss T.I.'s respective legal troubles, Mill was never able to release an official album under Grand Hustle and they parted ways in 2010.[12]

2011–12: Dreams & Nightmares

Although he was offered other record deals, Mill felt collaborating with T.I. was "an opportunity of a lifetime" and thus chose his label. However, a setback occurred: Mill was arrested, charged with gun and drug possession, and ordered to serve seven months in prison. He was released in early 2009.[6]
Under Grand Hustle, Mill formed a work relationship with the label's resident disc jockey, DJ Drama. Mill and Drama teamed up to release the third edition of Mill's Flamers series. The mixtape, titled Flamers 3: The Wait Is Over, was released on March 12, 2010 and is helmed as a "Gangsta Grillz mixtape".[8][9][10] The mixtape features his promotional single "Rosé Red", which was later remixed with additional verses from fellow American rappers T.I., Rick Ross and Vado.

ANASTASIA   KVITKO

At home, Meek Mill was shy and rarely spoke. As a kid, he became acquainted with another of his dad’s brothers, Grandmaster Nell, who was a pioneering disc jockey (DJ) in the late-1980s Philadelphia hip-hop scene and influenced Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Meek's interest in hip-hop grew. He was also influenced by the independent hip-hop artists Chic Raw and Vodka, whom he used to emulate by watching their DVDs.[3][4]

During his early teenage years, Meek Mill often took part in rap battles, under the pseudonym Meek Millz. He’d often stay up well past midnight filling notebooks with phrases and verses that he’d later draw on. Later he and three friends formed the rap group, The Bloodhoundz. They bought blank CDs and jewel cases at Kinko's, encouraging friends to burn them with the group's songs and distribute them. When he was 18, while walking to a corner store armed, Meek Mill was arrested for illegally possessing a firearm and was beaten up by the police.

 

Because of the beating, his lips and both eyes became swollen and one of his braids was ripped out. He was charged with assaulting the police after two black cops gave a statement against him in the case, saying he chased them down with a gun and tried to kill them. He was then put on probation.[3][4][5]

 

Music career

2003–10: Career beginnings

The Bloodhoundz lasted long enough to release four mixtapes.[6] In 2008, Mill released his fourth solo mixtape, Flamers 2: Hottest in tha City, which spawned the promotional singles "I'm So Fly," "Prolli," and "Hottest in the City." Flamers 2 caught the attention of Charlie Mack, founder and President of 215 Aphillyated Records. Mack was so impressed with Mill that he immediately signed him to his management company. During that same year, Meek Mill also met the founder and owner of Grand Hustle RecordsAtlanta-based rapper and record executive T.I.[7] T.I. was also impressed by Mill and offered him an opportunity to travel, to meet with him and Warner Bros. Records; within a week both record companies offered him a deal.

 

Although he was offered other record deals, Mill felt collaborating with T.I. was "an opportunity of a lifetime" and thus chose his label. However, a setback occurred: Mill was arrested, charged with gun and drug possession, and ordered to serve seven months in prison. He was released in early 2009.[6]

Under Grand Hustle, Mill formed a work relationship with the label's resident disc jockeyDJ Drama. Mill and Drama teamed up to release the third edition of Mill's Flamers series. The mixtape, titled Flamers 3: The Wait Is Over, was released on March 12, 2010 and is helmed as a "Gangsta Grillz mixtape".[8][9][10] The mixtape features his promotional single "Rosé Red", which was later remixed with additional verses from fellow American rappers T.I., Rick Ross and Vado.

 

[8] Rick Ross contributed his verse after he was visiting Philadelphia and asked his Twitter followers who he should collaborate with; Meek Mill was the overwhelming response.[8] The remix was included on Mill's following mixtape, Mr. Philadelphia.[11] Due to Mill's and Grand Hustle label-boss T.I.'s respective legal troubles, Mill was never able to release an official album under Grand Hustle and they parted ways in 2010.[12]

2011–12: Dreams & Nightmares

Although he was offered other record deals, Mill felt collaborating with T.I. was "an opportunity of a lifetime" and thus chose his label. However, a setback occurred: Mill was arrested, charged with gun and drug possession, and ordered to serve seven months in prison. He was released in early 2009.[6]
Under Grand Hustle, Mill formed a work relationship with the label's resident disc jockey, DJ Drama. Mill and Drama teamed up to release the third edition of Mill's Flamers series. The mixtape, titled Flamers 3: The Wait Is Over, was released on March 12, 2010 and is helmed as a "Gangsta Grillz mixtape".[8][9][10] The mixtape features his promotional single "Rosé Red", which was later remixed with additional verses from fellow American rappers T.I., Rick Ross and Vado.

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