Real name: Devon Stapelton
Artist alias: Guilda A.k.a Lil’ Cent
Type of entertainer: Rapper/Producer
Date of Birth: June 19th, 1991
Place of Birth: St. Maarten
Favorite music genre: Anything except Country & Punk Rock
Guilda’s Bio:
Devon “Guilda ” Stapleton was born and raised on St. Maarten on June 19, 1991. Growing up and living with family, Guilda did not show much interest in Hip Hop until he was about 10. It was then he started writing music, but he did not record anything because of the fear of rejection.
Guilda’s cousin from St. Kitts, a well know hip hop artist by the name of ” Slick Brother J”, spotted the young man’s talent and gave him the push to start recording songs and to expose his skills.
Guilda’s first performance was at St. Maarten Academy’s Christmas Talent Show, and he did a song called “Stunt 102″ that he created in free periods at school with his close friend Woodsen, who also came up with the name of the group ” D.S.S ” ( Dirty South Soldiers ). “Stunt 102 ” was a redone version of G-Unit’s popular “Stunt 101″ single. Guilda and Woodsen were big fans at the time.
After getting help and guidance from The Cut Creator DJ Outkast, D.S.S. won the Teen Times Talent showdown’s rapping catagory, claiming studio time at “Lil Man Studios” and working legendary local musician/producer/song writer Connis Vanterpool as prizes. It was then they recorded Stunt 102, debuting it on Keepin’ it Real with DJ Outkast.
Things did not slow down for the Dynamic Duo when in April 2004, D.S.S. performed at Carnival’s Youth Extravaganza, opening for major international artist “Bow Wow “.
As time passed, D.S.S. recorded two more songs “Keep It Crunk”, which was produced by Solano and featured Slick Brother J, and ” SM Ladies “, which was produced By DJ Outkast, before splitting up. The group had some disputes and then went their separate ways, but Guilda & Woodsen are still friends to this day.
Guilda still had hope for the group and didn’t give up on the name that he helped establish. So, he brought another close friend Ivanne (also Known as “E.I.”) and went back to the studio to bring out another radio topper and club hit entitled ” Dip ( Just Dip)”.
After a while , Guilda finally gave up on trying to keep the group together, D.S.S broke up once again, and he decided to establish himself as a solo artist.
The D.S.S incident left Guilda discouraged, but he got support from his crew “The 187 Boyz”, a group of friends not known for rapping or recording (They just used the name and had fun).
One day, the 187 Boyz were in Outkast’s Studio having fun when Guilda walked into in the recording booth and started freestyling on Mike Jones’ “Still Tippin’” instrumental. Three other members -Sponge Bob, Bempy, and Outkast splashed some lyrics into the song. Outkast remembers, “That song was never meant to be heard by any one else out side of the group, it was meant for the group to hear as a joke and as for fun.” But Outkast heard more to it.
Outkast mixed it, added effects and gave it a studio touch to create “Still Tippin On 187″. Radio personality Suppa Kid was the first to start playing it on his “Suppa Session” nightly dancehall/rap show. The song became a huge hit, and got airplay on popular radio shows such as Keepin It Real, The J Zone, Beat Street, & Loud & Lovin It. It was then people on St. Maarten started asking the same question: “Who are the 187 Boys?”
Guilda and Outkast were then approached by the organizers of Teen Times Talent Showdown to perform their new hit after the rapping category of the show. The response to the song was overwhelming.
With Guilda being on the rise and 187 Boyz song on rotation on the radio airwaves, the group got even bigger when spoof song “T.I.N.T.” (where 187 sings about police taking tint off car winshields) dropped. It was an instant hit, and one of the most memorable tracks in recent music history on St. Maarten.
Both songs have received worldwide exposure, airing on radio stations in Aruba, Curacao and also in The U.S and Europe.
Guilda is being called ” The Best under 18 On St. Maarten ” doing many collaborations with K Dot, Solano, Baby Sha, Outkast, General Pye and others.
Group Affiliation: Un Authorized/187 Music/Cartoons/Shadyville Dj’s
Little known fact about Guilda:
The Best Under 18!! Period!!!
Favorite quote:
Dah Well!!!… POW!!!
Past achievements:
Bow Wow Concert, Youth Extravaganza 2005
Ludacris Concert 2004
Teen Times Talent Showdown winner in rapping in 2004 with D.S.S.
Teen Times Talent Showdown winner in rapping in 2008 with DJ Vlaun
St. Maarten Academy Christmas/Valentine’s Day Shows
Guilda on the web:
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