Fat Tony is the recording name of Anthony Lawson Jude Ifeanyichukwu Obiawunaotu, a rap artist from Houston, Texas. He is associated with hip hop, but his work also draws on indie pop, hardcore punk, thrash and other styles. His music is described as experimental, subversive, humorous and highly technical, with a strong interest in changing form from release to release.

Background

Fat Tony grows out of Houston’s Third Ward, a historically Black neighbourhood with a strong political and cultural history. He is raised around a wide range of music, including country, classical, rock, soul, gospel, King Sunny Adé and Jimmy Cliff, and later becomes influenced by independent artists such as E-40, Bikini Kill and Bad Brains, as well as Texas rap figures including UGK and Scarface. As a teenager, he begins recording and distributing his own music.

He also starts organising live shows in Houston at a time when there is little of a scene for young artists. He books bands from different backgrounds, makes his own flyers and distributes them through addresses taken from a Carnegie Vanguard High School student directory.

Career

Fat Tony builds a large discography over more than six LPs and many shorter releases and collaborations. He works with artists including Das Racist and Bun B, and appears on the first A$AP Rocky mixtape. His music is known for shifting between regional rap, more indie-leaning material and harder punk-influenced sounds.

Beyond recording, he hosts shows on Viceland and Super Deluxe, and co-founds a DIY culture magazine. He also tours widely and performs at rap events across the United States.

Recognition

Fat Tony wins Houston Press Music Awards for Best Underground Hip Hop Artist in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013. His music receives praise from Pitchfork, The Fader and Noisey.

Later releases

He releases Exotica on Carpark Records, an album presented as a storytelling-focused project that adds another chapter to his restless and changeable catalogue.