The Court of Hip Hop finds Mr. Simpson...Guilty

          Byron Simpson aka Guilty Simpson is an MC that was born in the city of Detroit. He was born in a family where he was the son and grandson of the performing musician’s family members, his father and grandfather. While growing up, Guilty Simpson has lived with an aunt that was in the military. Due to this nomadic lifestyle that comes with military careers, Guilty Simpson and his aunt moved to many different places including California, and Birmingham, Alabama before he finally settled back to the motor city at the age of 15. Although there were many influences in Guilty Simpsons life that included Big Daddy Kane, N.W.A., and Scarface, his most influential, and inspiring artist was Kool G Rap. Below is a quote from Guilty Simpson that summarizes his profound respect, and admiration for Kool G Rap, “That’s my crème de la crème rapper right there,” says Simpson, his own presence among the latest in a rich lineage of heavy-handed MCs. Guilty Simpson has been surrounded by some of the most influential Detroit artists throughout his lifetime including Dilla, Eminem, Slum Village, Black Milk, Phat Kat, Proof, and hip hop group D12. Although Guilty Simpson was a member of the Almighty Dreadnaughtz crew, it was not until 2001 when he linked up with Dilla that he would be seen as a force to be reckoned with. Guilty Simpson would go on to be featured on Dilla’s album The Ruff Draft on the track “Take Notice”. Shortly thereafter, Dilla would introduce Guilty Simpson on his 2003 album Jaylib on the track “Strapped”. 
          In 2006, Guilty Simpson was officially a part of Stones Throw Records that would go on to help him produce and release his most widely known solo debut, “Ode to the Ghetto”. What this album exemplified, and explained to its audience was the lifestyle that Guilty Simpson led in the rough, poverty ridden city of Detroit. The album would feature artist such as Dilla, Madlib, and D12.Guilty Simpson made it clear that album was not emulate horrendous and heinous acts that take place in the ghetto. He merely wanted people to realize that the current state of hip hop is in shambles seeing as how it focuses solely on upholding and image and weak rhymes. Guilty Simpson wanted people to realize that what happens in the ghetto is real whether you want to believe it or not.