Theo Martins

Theophilus Martins III is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, actor, DJ, and fashion designer.[1][2][3] Known for his personal style,[4][5] he has been described as, "[a man that] marches to the beat of his own drum".[6] His EP, You Can't Do That on Television, received major attention, drawing praise from AOL, GQ magazine and The Washington Post.[7][8] Martins began his early career as a child actor landing a role in Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-nominated film,[9] Amistad.[10]

Theo Martins
Background information
Birth nameTheophilus Martins III
BornProvidence, Rhode Island, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, Singer, songwriter, Record Producer, designer
LabelsGood Posture Audio
Websitehavegoodposture.com

In 2015 Martins founded Good Posture, a media venture that encompasses entertainment, music, fashion, and art. As a multimedia creative collective and record label the company serves as an umbrella for all of Martins’ endeavors.[11][12]

In 2017 Martins opened Cereal & Such, a breakfast cereal bar in the Virgil Village area of Los Angeles.[13][14] He created The Theo Show, an Instagram web series told through the experiences of a modern-day first-generation Nigerian-American.[15]

Career

During his freshmen year of high school, Martins purchased his first set of turntables. Through this purchase he later gained local fame traveling as a tour DJ for Chris Brown, Rakim, Lloyd banks, Cassidy and others. After minor success as a DJ, Martins wanted to pursue his career as a rapper and solo artist. Partnering with Okayplayer, a website co-founded by Amir "Questlove" Thompson, Martins presented his debut mixtape,The Birth.[16][17]

Early 2009 saw Theophilus appearing as an opening act for rapper Drake,[18] while the rest of 2009 was spent touring with West-Coast Hip-Hop legend Warren G, U-N-I and Kidz in the hall for G's "G-Files" tour,[19][20] with 22 dates nation-wide.

In Spring of 2010 Martins collaborated with Ohio-producer $port for the release of their collaborative EP, You Can't Do That on Television,[21] which landed Theophilus as Prefix Magazine's, "Artist To Watch"[22] and AOL's, "Need To Know"[23] artist. The mixtape drew press from Hip-Hop mega-site Rap Radar,[24] Complex magazine and MTV. Martins was invited to perform alongside Lloyd Banks at his "Hunger For More 2" album release at New York City's Best Buy Theatre.[25]

In the summer of 2011 Martins traveled to Asia to support Malaysian artist Mizz Nina on her International leg of her Homecoming Tour.[26][27] The two would go on to perform their collaborative effort, “Let Me C U Get It” together in Kota Kinabalu.[28][29] Following his return to the United States, Martins’ recorded "Take off Your Cool" (a remake of Andre 3000's original take[30] ) as part of New York City's lifestyle website, Street Etiquette's[31] Sartorial Sounds: Style and Music Editorial.[32][33]

After relocating to Los Angeles, Martins revealed he would be working on his debut album, Wonderland.[34][35] He released his debut album exclusively on iTunes October 16, 2012,[36] and informed the public that the music video for his single "KILLER" would be premiering on BET's 106 & Park.[37][38] The video, directed by Jon Jon Augustavo, known for his breakout music videos "Thrift Shop"[39] & "Same Love"[40] for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, went on to air on January 4, 2013.[41][42][43][43]

In the Fall of 2013 Martins announced he would be headlining his first tour titled, The 64 Tour. The 64 Tour, which spanned 15 dates throughout the North East, was introduced as a "Social Interactive tour", where Martins, accompanied with a Nintendo 64 Console, challenged fans in numerous games after his performance. Traveling through Washington, D.C, Philadelphia & Atlanta and collaborating with Fool's Gold Records,[44] & Mad Decent Records[45] the tour drew attention. With a secret performance closing the tour in Rhode Island, the show saw a surprise appearance from Playboy Playmate Traci Bingham.

Upon returning from the tour, Theophilus was featured on BET 106 & Park's The Backroom.[46][47]

In 2015, Martins had collaborated with Chicago, Illinois producer Thelonious Martin. The two began collaborating after confusion over similarities between their names became incessant. "Show Me Around", which debuted on Okayplayer[48] was warmly received and the two began work on a full length. "Bad Tendencies" premiered on The Fader September 28, 2016 and the two announced a collaborative EP.[49] Martins cites Odd Future member Anwar Carrots as the fuel behind collaborating with Martin.[49][50]

The Theo Show

Martins web series, The Theo Show debuted on Snapchat in 2016, later moving to Instagram Video. The show follows the life of Theo and his acquaintances through their minutiae daily activities. The story is told through the experience of a modern-day first generation Nigerian-American man.[15][51]

Influences

Martins' influences include Jay Z, Kanye West, Andre 3000, Pharrell Williams, Lauryn Hill & Will Smith

Discography

Year Title
2008 The Birth[52]
2010 You Can't Do That On Television[53]
2012 Wonderland[54]
2014 Doing It For Television[55]
2017 "™"[56]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
1997 Amistad Page
2016 End of Babes Alex[57]
2017 United Colors of Shirley As Himself[58]

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Stewart, Allison (July 13, 2010). "Singles from Rye Rye, Theo Martins". The Washington Post.
  3. Conti, Chris. "Magic Man". Archived from the original on September 28, 2015.
  4. Info, Miss. "New Mixtapes: Mac Miller, Lil B, Theo Martins". Mikey Fresh.
  5. "26 Bands + South by superlatives". URB Magazine. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013.
  6. Patterson, Joseph. "International Ones To Watch". Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  7. D'Ambrosia, Joe. "When's the last time you heard a rap with no curses that wasn't the clean version? Check out Lo Fi Love".
  8. Sam. "10 Rappers You need to know". ihiphop.com.
  9. "Box Office Mojo". Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  10. Patillo, Sam. "Theo Martins speaks on background in music career, acting".
  11. http://www.suspendmag.com/blog/2015/9/27/good-posture-by-theophilus-martins-official-launch-party-at-dope-fairfax
  12. Theo Martins RELEASES NEW EP & DEBUTS COLLECTION EDITORIAL
  13. http://blog.urbanoutfitters.com/blog/uo_interviews_theo_martins_of_cereal__such
  14. https://la.eater.com/2017/5/15/15641510/cereal-and-such-theo-martins-virgil-village
  15. http://www.uospaces.com/15twenty/en/los-angeles-ca/blog/posts/about-theo-martins
  16. Nottingham, Kevin. "Theo The Birth".
  17. "Theo – The Birth". 2008. 2dopeboyz.
  18. Martin, Andrew. "Theo opens on So Far Gone Tour". Andrew Martin.
  19. "Warren G Tour w/ Kidz in The Hall, U-N-I". Plug One Mag.
  20. Curtis-Place, Anneliese. "SXSW 2010". Spinner.
  21. "You Can't Do That on Television". Prefix Magazine.
  22. Martin, Andrew. "Theo Martins is Prefix Magazine's Artist to Watch". Prefix Magazine.
  23. "Need to Know: Theo Martins". 2011. AOL's The BVX.
  24. Dot, B. "Sincerely Yours, The Dance Floor". Rap Radar.
  25. "Lloyd Banks brings friends out". Rap Radar.
  26. Noor, Nazri (June 12, 2011). "Hip Hop Artistes open Sabah Festival (pg. 10)". New Sabah Times.
  27. "Return of the Real: Theo Martins". Refined Hype.
  28. "Let Me C U Get it". URB Magazine. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013.
  29. Nina, Mizz. "Today in the Sabah Times on Sunday pg. 10!". Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  30. Chui, Edward. "Sartorial Sounds".
  31. Samuel, Anslem. "Black Blogger Month 2012: Street Etiquette". 2012. Black Enterprise.
  32. Martins, Jordan. "Sartorial Sounds Live in NYC".
  33. Hotchkiss, Sean. "Street Etiquette Hosts 'Sartorial Sounds'".
  34. Ketura, Elyse. "Interview w/ Theo Martins". StupidDope.
  35. Business, Diski. "Exclusive Interview: Theo Martins talks about Wonderland". RESPECT.
  36. Higgins, Kennan. "V Playlist: Freeway, Vince Staples, 9th Wonder, Theo Martins". VIBE Magazine. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  37. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151203755682966&set=a.10150229939962966.323579.120094977965&type=1%5B%5D
  39. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK8mJJJvaes
  40. http://seattlemag.com/macklemore-and-ryan-lewis-perform-same-love-ellen
  41. https://twitter.com/TheoMartins/status/287619021761806337%5B%5D
  42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQcJVUR1znI
  43. http://www.bet.com/shows/106-and-park/106-park-voting.vote_38.html
  44. Atrak, DJ. "The 64 Tour is in Philly!". DJ Atrak.
  45. Wentz, Diplo. "Mad Decent does The 64 Tour". Mad Decent Records.
  46. "Theophilus Martins Annihilates The Backroom!". BET Staff. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  47. "Theophilus Martins Annihilates The Backroom". BET. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  48. Okayplayer. "Audio Premiere: Theophilus Martins "Show Me Around (Prod. Thelonious Martin)" – Okayplayer Okayplayer". okayplayer.com. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  49. "Theo Martins Is Only Giving Light to the Right Energy On 'Bad Tendencies'". The FADER. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  50. Okayplayer. "Theo Martins Keeps The Negative Energy Away On 'Bad Tendencies' (prod. Thelonious Martin) – Okayplayer Okayplayer". okayplayer.com. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  51. https://onetribemag.com/2017/08/01/theo-martins-a-man-of-many-talents/
  52. "Theo debuts The Birth".
  53. "YCDTOTV is here".
  54. "Wonderland the Debut Album by Theo Martins".
  55. "Billboard debuts Martins new EP, Doing It For Television".
  56. "Theo Martins & Thelonious Martin's '™' Due This Friday".
  57. "Jimmy Marble discusses End of Babes".
  58. "Shirley Kurata's United Colors of Shirley. Presented by NOWNESS".
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