Quick Facts
Biography
Gerald Joshua Walker (born July 14, 1987) better known by his stage name Gerald Walker is an American hip-hop musician. He is the founder and CEO of independent music agency One Step at a Time Music. In 2015, Walker announced a music and literary partnership deal with INgrooves.
In 2010, Walker released On Your Side a mixtape with longtime friend and producer Cardo. On Your Side gained online recognition which led to releases such as The Other Half of Letting Go and Believers Never Die. He has toured and worked with various notable rappers including Rockie Fresh, Yelawolf and Bun B. Releasing over a dozen mixtapes on September 22, 2015, Walker released his debut double-album Target.
Biography
1987–2010: Early life & career beginnings
Gerald Walker was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Bellwood and Matteson. His father, a college professor and Air Force veteran was African-American, while his mother, an executive Assistant at the Proviso Leyden Council, in Maywood, Illinois, is of African-American descent. When he was five years old, Walker's parents separated; this event would have a significant effect on Walker's personality and consequently his music. Walker attended Riverside University High School, and took classes at Columbia College Chicago during the summer.
It was the summer after his high school graduation that Walker first began rapping, inspired by hip-hop groups such as Little Brother and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony". He moved to Chicago to pursue a career in television while networking with other emerging artist within the city's music scene. In September 2009 Walker released his debut mixtape, "Evening Out With Your Girlfriend".
In 2010 Gerald Walker released his second official mixtape, I Remember When This All Meant Something.... The mixtape consist of fifteen original tracks including three hidden bonus songs featuring production from, Symbolyc One, producer of Kanye West's 2010 single Power.
Gerald Walker released his first Christmas-themed album, A Gerald Walker Christmas, which included three original and two traditional songs re-arranged with up-tempo beats in hip-hop-style.
2011–2012: Believers Never Die...
In January 2011, Gerald Walker purchased a leased hip-hop instrumental from Dallas TX, based and Taylor Gang producer, Cardo. Walker then wrote, recorded and released the song entitled, "Here's Everything I've Always Meant to Say" as free download online. After pressure from Walker's friends he reluctantly emailed the finished song to Cardo, who, to his surprise, was impressed and the two began demoing songs for amusement. In April 2011, Walker announced that he would be touring with Shady/Interscope Recording artist Yelawolf. In May 2011, while on tour Walker released his third official mixtape, On Your Side, a collaboration effort with producer, Cardo.
In June, Gerald Walker was featured on MTV's RapFix Live broadcast, where he appeared with other mainstream and popular artist including Lloyd Banks, Maino and Jim Jones. In September, Walker released his fourth mixtape The Other Half of Letting Go, in collaboration with popular street-wear brand Diamond Supply. The mixtape quickly catapulted Walker as an emerging artist in the hip-hop community. Amber McKynzie of XXL Magazine wrote: "The mixtape might be titled The Other Half of Letting Go, but Gerald Walker is shaping up to be an artist that hip-hop shouldn’t let go unnoticed." The mixtape was the only hip-hop release featured in the Shepherd Express "2011 Essential Albums of the Year" list.
In November, The Source debuted the track list and cover art to Gerald Walker's second Christmas album It's Christmastime Again, Gerald Walker. Originally slated as a re-release to his debut Christmas album he re-recorded and released seven original songs. That marked Gerald Walker's third release in 2011 – all within' a six month time period.
2013-Present: Target
In May 2013, after multiple hints and hashtags with the word "TARGET" via his Twitter Walker tweeted: "Everything's Done. New Chapter Begins. My debut album "Target" coming this Fall! Confirming his independent label debut's title. On February 3, 2014 Gerald Walker announced The Target Practice Tour, a 16 date North American tour beginning on February 8, 2014, through the end of April 2014. The tour was accompanied by a mixtape release entitled, "Yesterday You Said Tomorrow (A Prelude to TARGET)". The release featured a collection of demo's that didn't make the final TARGET release.
In June 2015, Walker announced his book Target: 52 Weeks to Completing My Album, a memoir about his life featuring stories and anecdotes simultaneously released with the album. On June 5, 2015, Walker released the first single from Target titled "No Heart Feelings" featuring The Family. On August 25, 2015, the second single from Target titled "Follow Through" was released. Target was also supported by two tours. The first being the TARGET Listening Sessions, a 10 date, 8 city album listening and concert tour. On May 2016 Walker embarked a 15 date international tour supporting the album titled the TARGET World Tour.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| TARGET |
|
Books
- 2016: TARGET Practice: 52 Weeks to Completing My Album
Albums & Mixtapes
- 2010: I Remember When This All Meant Something...
- 2010: A Gerald Walker Christmas EP
- 2011: On Your Side
- 2011: The Other Half of Letting Go
- 2011: It's Christmastime Again, Gerald Walker
- 2012: Believers Never Die
- 2012: On Your Side Part Deux (2012)
- 2012: Gerald Walker Christmas Collection Vol. 1 (2012)
- 2014: "Yesterday You Said Tomorrow"
- 2015: Target
- "Gerald Walker takes aim with his debut album 'Target'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
- "Gerald Walker - Yesterday You Said Tomorrow Hosted by DJ Rockstar". DatPiff. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
Magazines & Features
- URB (March 2008)
- Stuck Magazine (2007)
- Feed Me Cool Shit Magazine (2006)
- Annex Magazine (2013)
- Newsome WolfTracks newspaper (2013)