Windy City rapper Twista has wowed audiences for over 20 years with his rapid-fire delivery and complex lyrics. In fact, Twista once held the record for the fastest rapper in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records; impressively, he was able to pronounce nearly 600 syllables in 55 seconds. Live, Twista is a must-see, as the Chopper-influenced rapper spits lyrics at concerts with the same speed and fire audible on records. Tickets to his Back to the Basics tour could be difficult to land following the release of “The Dark Horse,” his first studio album in four years. Twista also appears on Lady Gaga’s highly anticipated third studio album “ARTPOP.” “The Dark Horse” delivers the lead single, “Throwin’ My Money,” featuring R. Kelly.

Twista was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He started rapping as a teenager and was formerly known as Tung Twista.  In 1996, Twista collaborated with The Legendary Traxster to release “Po Pimp,” which landed him a record deal with Atlantic. His debut album, “Adrenaline Rush,” was released in 1997 and landed on the Billboard Hot 200. It wasn’t until 2004, however, that Twista’s career flourished with the record” Kamikaze,” which featured Kanye West and Ludacris and delivered the number one hit “Slow Jamz”. “Kamaikaze” also featured “Overnight Celebrity” and “So Sexy,” launching Twista into international stardom. The rapper has since released five studio albums and collaborated with the Speedknot Mobstaz. Twista is taking it back to the basics in 2014 and expanding on his already impressive resume, including a notable spot on Lady Gaga’s new record. He is one of the fastest rappers in the business, but you cannot truly appreciate his style until you see him in concert.