POT BELLI, A.K.A., D-RUSS STARTED OUT IN THE CHOIR IN GONZALES, TEXAS AS A CHILD! HIS MOTHER JOSEPHINE RUSSELL PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLL IN HIS DEVELOPMENT AS A MUSICIAN. HIS FATHER, TOMMY RUSSELL WAS BLESSED WITH A GIFT OF PLAYING MUSIC BY EAR, WITH NO FORMAL TRAINING AT ALL. THIS GIFT WAS PASSED DOWN TO HIM. AFTER COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL, POT BELLI ATTENDED COLLEGE IN SAN ANGELO, TEXAS. MID WAY THROUGH SCHOOL HE OPTED OUT FOR THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, BEING ATTATCHED TO THE ELITE GREEN BERET/SPECIAL FORCES UNIT. AFTER COMPLETING HIS OBLIGATION TO UNCLE SAM, HE DECIDED TO ATTEND THE ART INSTITUTE OF HOUSTON, TEXAS WHERE HE WOULD STUDY VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS. HIS GOAL WAS ALWAYS A CAREER IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. WHILE IN HOUSTON, HE MADE A FEW KEY CONTACTS. HOUSTON WASN'T HIS SPEED SO HE WOULD MAKE A PIVITOL MOVE TO AUSTIN, TEXAS THAT WOULD CHANGE HIS DIRECTION FOREVER!
ONCE IN AUSTIN, HE MET HIS MENTOR CASSIUS CLAYMOE, AND PRODUCER BORNE PHAT! CLAYMOE WOULD BE INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING HIS MUSICAL DIRECTION. WHILE DOING SHOWS AROUND AUSTIN, AND CRAFTING HIS SKILLS IN THE STUDIO WITH CLAYMOE AND PHAT HE WOULD RUN INTO OTHER KEY PEOPLE. ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW PEOPLE TO WORK WITH POT BELLI RAN INTO COURTNEY, A LOCAL INDY RECORD LABEL OWNER. THEY CLICKED RIGHT AWAY AND GOT TO WORK ON MUSIC. POT BELLI VENTURED OUT TO FIND MUSIC FOR HIS UP COMING PROJECT. WHILE DOING SO, HE RAN INTO 8-TRACK, ANOTHER UP AND COMING PRODUCER HERE IN AUSTIN! 8-TRACK HAS A GROUP HE WAS WORKING WITH, THEY WAS ALRIGHT, BUT THOSE BEATS WAS KNOCKING YOU SEE, AND HE HAD TO GET HIS HANDS ON THEM. IT WORKED OUT, BUT LITTLE DID 8-TRACK KNOW, POT BELLI HAD OTHER THINGS IN MIND, NAMELY MAKING HIS OWN MARK AS A PRODUCER! POT BELLI SPLIT WAYS WITH COURTNEY AND UNITED FRONT RECORDS CAUSE, WELL...THEY WAS FRONTING, BUT THEY DID TEACH HIM A LOT SO RESPECT DUE! J-HUNT WAS A D.J., AT THE HISTORICAL 88.7 RADIO STATION IN AUSTIN. POT BELLI AND HUNT BECAME A TWO MAN TEAM, HUNT DID THE BLENDING, POT BELLI DID THE SCRATCHING. ONE NIGHT WHILE DIGGING, (LOOKING THROUGH RECORDS) AT HUNT'S PLACE, POT BELLI HEARD A BEAT COMING FROM THE BEDROOM. IT TURNED OUT TO BE SYCAMORE, A.K.A., SHANKA. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT. POT BELLI STOPPED D.J.ing, CONENTRATED ON THE RAPS AND THE MUSIC. WITH THE RAPS, HE FROMED A GROUP WITH CHILD HOOD FRIEND, MEL-GRAPH, CALLED SOUTHERN INFLUENCE. THE PRODUCTION FOR S.I., WAS FOR THE MOST PART HANDLED BY 8-TRACK, WITH POT BELLI COMING UP WITH MUSIC AS WELL. SO SOUTHERN INFLUENCE HOOKED UP WITH SYCAMORE AND MIKE BOOGIE WHO AT THAT TIME WAS KNOWN AS "HARD COPY", THEY FORMED THE SUPER GROUP, "ONE BODY", ONE BODY EVENTUALLY TURNED INTO THREE BODIES, SYCAMORE, MIKE BOOGIE, AND D-RUSS, A.K.A. POT BELLI! THREE BODIES EVENTUALLY TURNED INTO TWO BODIES, SYCAMORE AND D-RUSS, WHO TURNED INTO SHANKA D-RUSS. SHANKA A.K.A., SYCAMORE ALSO DID SOME PRODUCING! SHANKA DID TEACH POT BELLI A GREAT DEAL ABOUT ARRANGING MUSIC AND MELODIES AND SO FORTH, AND IN THE END, GAVE BIRTH TO POT BELLI MUSIC! THERE IT IS IN A NUT SHELL! DEVELOPING HIS OWN UNIQUE STYLE IN MAKING WHAT HE CALLS "SCORES"! MUSIC YOU CAN FEEL, RELYING ON PIANOS, STRINGS, AND A LOVE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR INSPIRATION!!! QUICKLY DEVELOPING A REPUTATION FOR CROWD MOVING, THOUGHT PROVOKING MUSIC, POT BELLING IS ETCHING OUT HIS OWN PIECE OF HIP-HOP HISTORY. HE BELIEVES MUSIC IS SUPPOSE TO SAY SOMETHING AND CHANGE LIVES AND THAT'S WHAT HE IS SETTING OUT TO DO! BRACE YOURSELF FOR THE WHIRLWIND THAT IS ABOUT TO HIT!!!! WHAT'S THAT SOUND YOU ASK? IT'S POT BELLI MUSIC! ARE YOU LISTENING?
AYE! thanks for the add!! Dont be a stranger! fucks with me!
Rx..
PS. besides being a rapper i just hopped into the Dj'n scene as well.. check out the free mixtape i just posted and hit me back!! thanks.. http://www.oneofakindrecords.com
WHATS CRAK'N FAMZ??? CHECK IT OUT I POSTED A ROUGH DRAFT ON MY PLAYLIST AND I NEED A REAL MOTHA FUKA SPITT'N SOME "G" BARZ TO FT ON THIS TRACK SO THAT BEING SAID IF U GOT A HARD 30BARZ TO LAY DOWN OR KNOW OF SOME ONE GET AT ME...BOOGIE B...CHECK IT OUT AND GET BACK AT ME...CHEAHHHH...OH YEAH AND THE ROUGH DRAFTS TITLED ROUGH DRAFT...S.'.W
Whut It Dew, This ya boy Lil Bit dropping by to show ya page some love and to also let you know that the new mixtape is available for FREE download. You can get "May's Very Own" from "DatPiff.com(Membership Required), zshare.net, Mixtapepass.com. Drop by and check out the tracks and if you like what you hear be sure to get the full copy.
Thanks For Your Support, Lil Bit, President of Knoxville
WHATS GOOD FAMZ ...WE JUST DROPED ANOTHER JOINT OFF MY HOMIE M.I.C MIXTAPE "UNDERESTIMATED" CHECK THAT SHIT OUT IT GOTS TWO FEATUREZ FROM ME BOOGIE AND THE HOMIE CAM THE TRACKS TITLED "SPECTACULAR YES" LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AND WHY UR ON MY PLAYLIST MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE TRACKS WE ON SOME DIRTYSOUTH WESTCOAST SHIT...CHEA ...BOOGIE
POT BELLI MUSIC Just an Update to my Fans and Friends, thanks on the Luv and support.. I got a lil Video for you from the kid.. Check it out and Check out the Music. Tell me how you Like it.. Dont' forget to sign my guestbook on the page. Its Starting to feel alot like Christmas.... Hope ya Ready.. This Year is about to come to a close...
Ya it wasent really Mixxed do u wanna give it a shot? I'd be down for that man like.. shit I'd pay u when i make some money off it on I tunes.. and such.. alotta people like it i'd be really happy.. and if i ever make it big.. I promise. id give back to u like a partnership deal ya know? i want somone to mix/master stuff I got the lyrics they flow easy tho and the beats