William Scott Fyvie, known professionally as Snak the Ripper, is a Canadian rapper from British Columbia.[1][2][3]

Snak the Ripper
Snak the Ripper in 2017
Snak the Ripper in 2017
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Scott Fyvie
GenresHip Hop
OccupationsRapper
Years active2007–present
LabelsStealth Bomb, Camobear (former)

He was a founding member of Stompdown Killaz (SDK), a hip hop collective and graffiti crew. In 2010, he became a member of 100 MAD, a hip hop collective founded by Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz of New York City rap group Onyx.[1]

Early life

edit

Snak was born in 1982 in Maple Ridge, British Columbia and grew up in a suburb of Vancouver.[4][5] In high school, he was in a small band. He dropped out of high school, began painting and for a while was living as a homeless graffiti artist. In 1998, he was charged with 150 counts of mischief, but due to lack of evidence, the charges were dropped.[1][2] He began going by the name "Snak" in 2001.[6]

Between 2003 and 2006, Snak moved around between Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto developing his graffiti skills and building notoriety in the Canadian hip hop scene.[6] He was homeless and struggled with substance abuse, using his love for writing songs as an escape.[7]

Career

edit

Snak began writing music in 2006.[5] In 2007, Snak released his debut album The Ripper.[2] He integrated "the Ripper" into his stage name that year.[6] His album Sex Machine was released on Camobear Records in 2010.[8] In 2011, he released Fear of a Snak Planet which featured several Spanish collaborations.[9] His 2012 album White Dynamite was also released on Camobear Records.[10] In 2012, Snak the Ripper collaborated with dubstep producer Datsik.[11]

In 2014, Snak released the album Just Giver, and subsequently went on tour in Canada.[12]

Snak was nominated for "Hip Hop Recording of the Year" at the Western Canadian Music Awards in 2015 and 2016.[13] His 2016 release From the Dirt debuted at number one on iTunes Hip Hop & Rap Charts.[14][15] From the Dirt peaked at number 40 on the Canadian Albums Chart. In 2018, his album Off the Rails peaked at 47 on the Canadian Albums Chart.[16] He promoted the album with a European tour.[17]

In 2020, he collaborated with Dax and Classified.[18] In 2021, he released two live albums; Live in Los Angeles 2018 and Pissing Off The Neighbours (Live).[19] In 2022, he released the album Let It Rip.[20]

Snak is the founder and owner of the record label Stealth Bomb Records.[21] It was established in 2013 after he was dissatisfied with his previous label.[2] The label was on hiatus from 2017 through 2020.[22]

Discography

edit

List adapted from Spotify on March 29, 2023:[23]

Studio albums

edit
  • The Ripper (2007)
  • Fatt Snak (2008; with Fatt Matt)
  • Sex Machine (2009)
  • Fear of a Snak Planet (2011)
  • White Dynamite (2012)
  • Just Giver (2014)
  • From the Dirt (2016)
  • Off the Rails (2018)
  • Let It Rip (2022)

Live albums

edit
  • Live in Los Angeles 2018 (2021)
  • Pissing Off The Neighbours (Live) (2021)
  • Pissing Off The Neighbours 2 (2022)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Keep it Grimy: An Oral History of Ephin and Stompdown Killaz". Noisey. February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "Hip-hop artist encourages fans to believe in themselves". Red Deer Advocate. May 15, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  3. ^ Pacholik, Devin (November 9, 2015). "As Canada's West-Coast Beef Continues to Sizzle, Who's Getting Played?". Vice. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  4. ^ Valente, Angie. "Snak the Ripper rises from the dirt". The Chronicle-Journal. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Pescod, Nicholas (July 6, 2017). "Lifestyle change leads to music career for hip hop artist Snak the Ripper". Nanaimo News Bulletin. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Snak The Ripper Interview". Senses Lost. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  7. ^ "Getting To Know Vancouver's Snak The Ripper [Interview]". HipHopCanada. April 22, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  8. ^ Quinlan, Thomas. "Snak the Ripper - Sex Machine". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  9. ^ "Snak The Ripper - Fear of a snak planet". Hip Hop Groups (in Spanish). Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  10. ^ Marrack, Peter. "Snak the Ripper - White Dynamite". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  11. ^ "Music Previews, Datsik" (PDF). New Times Broward Palm Beach. 17: 28. July 3, 2014 – via ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu.
  12. ^ Hughes, Josiah. "Snak the Ripper Announces Canadian Tour". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  13. ^ "2016 WCMA Nominees". BreakOut West. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  14. ^ "Snak The Ripper's From The Dirt Reaches No. 1 On iTunes Canada Hip-Hop Chart". HipHopCanada.com. June 17, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  15. ^ "*NEW ALBUM* Snak The Ripper – From The Dirt". Up Top HipHop. June 18, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  16. ^ "Snak The Ripper Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  17. ^ "Snak The Ripper drops Off The Rails Europe Tour video". HipHopCanada. February 1, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  18. ^ Eustice, Kyle (February 6, 2020). "#DXCLUSIVE: Classified Recruits Dax & Snak The Ripper For 'Rap Shit' Single". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  19. ^ Mazaratti, Johnny (August 26, 2021). "Snak The Ripper drops second live album Pissing Off The Neighbours". HipHopCanada. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  20. ^ Unkle, Dutch (April 21, 2022). "Let It Rip: West Coast star Snak The Ripper returns with new 15-track album". HipHopCanada. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  21. ^ "Rap battle survivor Snak the Ripper makes his way back to Vernon - Vernon Morning Star". Vernon Morning Star. January 27, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  22. ^ McNeil, Kyle (June 13, 2020). "Stealth Bomb Records announces official 2020 roster". HipHopCanada. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  23. ^ "Spotify – Snak the Ripper". Spotify. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
edit