Who is Hi-Rez?

Hi-Rez is an American rapper from Florida who has been making music since 2007. His real name is Craig Thomas, and he’s 31 years old. He started out as a battle rapper and eventually signed with the independent label, Outspoken Entertainment. He has released two studio albums, two extended plays (EPs), and several mixtapes. Hi-Rez has also collaborated with other artists such as Skizzy Mars and Kyle Lucas.

Early Life

Hi-Rez was born in South Florida in 1989. He moved around a lot as a child, living in both Miami and Atlanta before settling back in Florida. He became interested in rap music when he was just 9 years old, after hearing rappers like Tupac and Biggie Smalls. Hi-Rez wrote his first rap verse at the age of 12 and soon after started participating in rap battles around his neighborhood.

Career

In 2007, Hi-Rez released his first mixtape called “No More Mr. Nice Guy”. It featured guest appearances from local rappers such as Kast One and Chief Kamachi. The project caught the attention of Outspoken Entertainment's CEO, who signed Hi-Rez to the label shortly afterwards. In 2009, Hi-Rez dropped his second mixtape titled “The Closure”. The project featured production by DJ Premier and 9th Wonder, among others. It was well received by critics and fans alike, earning Hi-Rez the title of “the next big thing” in underground hip hop circles.

Breakthrough

In 2011, Hi-Rez released his debut studio album “The Handbook”. The album featured guest appearances from artists such as Yelawolf and Killer Mike, as well as production from heavyweights like Just Blaze and DJ Premier. The album was a commercial success, peaking at #10 on the US Hip Hop/R&B charts and #42 on the Billboard 200. Hi-Rez followed up with another successful album in 2013 titled “The Future Is Now”. The album featured more guest appearances from artists such as E40 and Bodega Bamz, as well as production from Statik Selektah and Oddisee.

Discography

Hi-Rez has released two studio albums, two EPs, four mixtapes and several singles throughout his career. His discography includes:

• Studio Albums: “The Handbook” (2011) and “The Future Is Now” (2013)
• EPs: “Hi Rez 2k11” (2011) and “Hi Rez 2k13” (2013)
• Mixtapes: “No More Mr. Nice Guy” (2007), “The Closure” (2009), “The Takeover” (2012) and “#Bars4Days” (2014)

Legacy

Hi-Rez is considered to be one of the most influential underground rappers of the last decade. His music is often praised for its clever wordplay and thoughtful lyricism. He has been cited as an influence by artists such as Joey Bada$$ and J Cole, among others. Hi-Rez continues to make music today, with plans to release a new project in 2020.