A-Clay

A-Clay

Born and raised on the west side of Harlem, in the same neighborhood
where the movie Juice was filmed, A-Clay began writing poetry at an early
age. Writing was an outlet for him as he survived on welfare with his mom
and watched family and friends lose their lives to the streets. At 12, his best
friend Chopin was shot and killed, and his mother decided for his safety and
her sanity that he should go live with his father in North Carolina. It was in
North Carolina that he began putting his poetry to music at open mic
competitions, winning consistently. After returning to New York, his music
career began to blossom. Michael Bivens had placed A-Clay, Poster Boy, and
Menace in a group together for his Biv 10 record label, Heavy Hitter DJ S&S
took him under his wing where he caught the eye of Timbaland and Swizz
Beatz, he was featured on an and1 mixtape, and the future was looking
bright. On the eve of his mother’s birthday, A-Clay was strapped for cash and
resorted to a robbery in an attempt to get money for a gift and ended up at
Riker’s Island for her birthday instead. Shortly after returning from his few
months away, he began working with Big Russ and Caution Entertainment,
and Bottomline Productions who released the Destined to Make It mixtape
featuring A-Clay. Stevie J at Bad Boy Records held a meeting with A-Clay in
the Biggie Room to express his appreciation for the music. And then the
unthinkable happened. His mom, who had already fought and beat breast
cancer once, was fighting it again. Only this time the cancer won, and A-Clay
and his six year old brother, Shaquille, were on their own. Music took a
backseat to a custody battle between him and Shaquille’s paternal
grandmother. It ended with Shaquille going to live with his grandma, and A-
Clay putting himself in the studio as often as possible. Heavy Hitters DJ
Craig-G and P-Nice released the Welcome to Top Floor Records mixtape in
2005 featuring A-Clay, which remains a hood classic from Harlem to Hartford.
He performed at the Back to School Jam show for hot93 in Hartford with
Hartford artist Seven and fellow Harlem artist Money Munz. In 2008, A-Clay
independently released his first album Under Oath. 

He traveled to Canada where he performed in Edmonton and Alberta, and he did
the “Nope is Dope” show in Amsterdam. While overseas, he traveled to
Holland and worked with Dutch film makers on his “Dominator” video. DJ
Chew FU’s released his EP And...Vol.1 featuring A-Clay on “Dominator”, “Wild
Out” featuring Ms. Fitz, “Without You by my Side” with Thom Kerr, and “Hit
the Dance Floor” with J-Cast. George Clinton and Bootsy Collins have
recorded a hook for A-Clay’s song “I’ll be Home in a Minute” produced by DJ
Chew FU. His Lady Gaga “Edge of Glory” remix on YouTube created quite a
buzz and currently A-Clay can be heard worldwide on Songcast Internet
Radio and seen on Youtube in his newly released video “Murder Rate” by
Yahtzee Productions and the “Can’t Quit” video off the Shade 45 “Stoners
Only” mixtape produced by Self Service. A-Clay’s first production credits are
with former Dipset Artist Tom Gist’s EP From Scratch and his own second
album Words Of Honor, Vol. 1 released in 2015. Currently, A-Clay is
collaborating with Tom Gist on an project titled “SaintVille” set for release in
2017. To take it a leap further, A-Clay enrolled into SAE Institute of
Technology in 2016 to accomplish a higher education within his craft. He is
now Pro Tools certified and is fluent in music programs such as, Reasons,
Logic, and Ableton, as well as being skilled in recording, mixing and
mastering along with song writing, producing and performing. All of these
opportunities and experiences have created the well-rounded, diverse, and
real artist that is A-Clay.