Bio - Thomas Handsome

radio/dj bio

Once upon a time there was a rapper... who was signed during an age where labels didn't know how to sell music. Sounds tragic, right? Well, what happens when said rapper has his head crammed up his own a** so far that he refuses to make any content changes to an album in order for it to be released?

He becomes a radio show host, of course.

Thomas Handsome is known as a lot of things, but "somewhat entertaining" shows up (over a long enough list). In an age where commercial radio has given way to... commercial internet radio, Thomas refuses to let the renaissance of the boom-bap era go unheard.

Since 2008, he has logged countless FM and Internet radio hours, playing nothing but the underground hip-hop that he grew up listening to. Since first taking to air, he has interviewed guests such as MC Shan, Ill Al Skratch, Nutso, DJ Doom, Blacastan, Meyhem Lauren, Wyld Bunch, Professor Griff of Public Enemy, Craig G- the list goes on. What is this, a bio or something? ....yeah? Okay, then he's also interviewed CL Smooth, Grandmaster Jay, Rah Digga, Az Izz of The Outsidaz and many others... Does that suffice?

Currently he hosts "Dumb Up! Radio" and "Here For The Gangbang Radio" on Fleet DJ Radio, and co-hosts a show along side of the Blaq Paladon on 89.5 FM KOPN in Columbia, Missouri. His syndicated show, "The Dumb Up! Mixshow" is available on Sprint Nextel, AT&T, Verizon, US Cellular and Altell brand radio apps, Google Play, AppWorld (Caribbean/Bermuda cell providers) , mSpot Radio & mSpot Music, Aha Radio (available in 2014 model Chrysler, Acura, Subaru, Honda, etc) and on AT&T U-Verse cable system.

In 2013 Thomas received 3 nominations at the 2nd Annual Fleet DJ Awards, including DJ of The Year, Radio Personality of The Year and Radio Show of The Year.

We'll let you know if he wins, but I wouldn't hold my breath, if I were you.

Thomas Handsome currently is the Regional Rep for the Missouri area and Denver, Colorado regions, and serves as the imaging coordinator for Fleet DJ Radio.

Emcee/personal Bio

Born Thomas Handsome Webster in Columbia, MO, Thomas first began dabbling in music in his mid-teens. Joining in freestyle ciphers in his high school hallways, he remembers his first experience. "Eminem hadn't came along yet and made it 'okay' for white people to rap. People used to yell 'Vanilla Ice' when I would join in. I was different- they were rappin' about cars, jewelry and guns; I was rappin' about doin it to Hillary from Fresh Prince. After a few ciphers, they all had smiles on their faces when I walked up to join".

Establishing himself as a "battle rapper" in his hometown, Thomas received a developmental deal from SoSoDef at the age of 18 after sending a demo to a local scout.

Not a lot was moving for him for quite some years after that. He was, in his
words, "three days from quiting" music all together. Then he received an email from the prestiged DJ Green Lantern expressing interest in some of his works. His career went from near death to exuberant in the matter of seconds. "It ment a great deal to me that someone of his caliber believed in my works. I'll never forget the email... 'Lotta Hot Womans is the funkiest sh*t I've heard in a minute!'. That was all the affirmation that I needed to proceed". Thomas appeared on 5 Green Lantern mixtapes, spanning from February of 2008 to March of 2009. This exposure led to another developmental deal, this time with Cypress Hill member Sen Dog's Latin Thug/Koch imprint. "I remember getting a call from Mellow Man Ace and not believing it was him. I said to him 'Okay, Mr. Ace, nice to meet you. I'm Donald F*ckin Duck', to which he said, 'Well, Mr. F*ckin Duck, we'd like to fly you to L.A.". He released his first official title, "Thomas Handsome", in conjunction with the label and InGrooves Records in January of 2009. His singles from the album "What A Lady" and "Dangerous" featuring the legendary Craig G (which was later licensed to the Microsoft Corporation) garnered him top 5 Independent status on the Independent singles charts. His presence on the charts got him numerous voice over jobs, a recurring guest spot on a local radio show and his own segment titled "Droppin Science", a 30 second parody on things hip-hop, on several syndicated Internet stations. He completed his next album for both labels, "The Magic Mormon Underwear", which featured legends such as Juice Crew member Craig G, Brand Nubian emcee Sadat X, former Rawkus Records scribe Thirstin Howl The 3rd and Nutso, was shelved when Koch closed their doors in 2009.

Thomas encountered further troubles from labels with what would be his second studio album, "Cannibal Webster". The album, which is 79 minutes and 48 seconds long, is currently on hold by InGrooves (who owns publishing rights to the project) due to issues over lyrical content. Quips Thomas, "The email I got back from them (after submitting the album for publishing) was ridiculous! I was almost in tears laughing at the way they worded everything!". This album featured the single "Vocabulary Spills" featuring Nutso and Sadat X, as well as production by the platinum selling Domingo and further production from the Grammy award winning Rockwilder. However, this album also depicts the mutilation of a woman whom's decapitated head was taken for a car ride, jabs toward artists who share the same distribution and religious remarks that made InGrooves uncomfortable and leery of releasing this project. Thomas hopes to release it eventually.

While dealing with yet another stalling of the release of a studio album, Thomas started becoming a permanent fixture on "Lokal Vokalz" on 89.5 FM KOPN in Columbia, MO. His off-colored remarks, brutal honesty and "Handsome" radio friendly voice make the perfect compliment to host Blaq Paladon. Thomas has appeared on every show for the past two and a half years, sometimes live from locations such as Denver, Colorado. He has parlayed this into a DJ career as well with Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes, the Fleet DJ's (where he hosts the syndicated "Dumb Up! Radio" on www.fleetdjs.com) and with the Sucker Proof DJ's (where he hosts the syndicated "Dumb Up! Radio 2.0 on www.motahiphop.com). His career as a DJ has seen several successful mixtapes with LSP, DJ Doom, the character Borat and Thirstin Howl The 3rd. However it was his mixtape hosted by Bronx artist Charlie Victor that made him a threat to the mixtape game, becoming the second most downloaded mixtape in the world consisting of only various independent artists.

In January of 2011, Thomas Handsome, along with LSP, inked a deal with the United Kingdom and Ireland based record label First Son Records. The imprint will release Thomas' upcomming album "The Stanley Hotel" (named after the famed hotel where the movie "The Shining" was filmed), as well as his and LSP's joint album (which is yet to be titled). The duo's album was recently mentioned on several hip-hop sites, most notably on HipHopDX's "Albums To Watch For" list, ranking just above Tech N9ne's 2011 release, "6's and 7's".

With a more diverse influence on the ever changing industry and a new deal to do what he loves doing best, Thomas Handsome has everything he needs at his fingertips to not only reach the masses, but to change the way they view music as welll.