Fastest Rapper Alive Twista Spills His Secret Love Of Puppets.

Fastest Rapper Alive Twista Spills His Secret Love Of Puppets.

"My Obsession is a regular column in which our favorite musicians show off their non-musical obsessions.

Twista is supposed to make people happy. He said “Whoa!” likes to give. factors when it performs; Just look at the speed-rapping skills that once earned him a place in Guinness World Records, not to mention a gold-certified hit with 2004’s “Overnight Celebrity.” Years before any achievements, the Chicago native found a passion for ventriloquism—and recently rediscovered that spark.

Twista first took an interest in ventriloquism and magic at the age of 10, in part by watching the 1978 thriller Magic. Soon, he was moving to the side as his career as an exceptionally fast rapper took off. “If we were on tour and we go into a gas station and they have some small Muppet or puppet, I’m holding it,” he says. “I’m amazing homies. I’m doing something for the people in the shop. If I get a puppet or a doll it’s always something I’ve done naturally.”

For his birthday a few years ago, a friend named Groucho bought Twista, his first real ventriloquism puppet. He immediately began writing a comedic act for Groucho, which he hopes to finish and perform one day. “He’s trying to take my job,” Twista explains. “I think it would be fun for people to see the puppet rap fast without moving my lips.”

This is only the latest new beginning in a life full of them. As a teenager, Twista made money selling his portraits of popular celebrities such as Freddie Krueger and LL Cool J. Over the years, he studied and learned all kinds of magic: card tricks, sleights of hand, coin tricks. He also wrote a song for one of his protagonists, David Blaine. (“I’m bragging about him being only the dopest magician,” he says of the unreleased track.)

Even as he gets older, he continues to uncover new parts of himself. During the pandemic, Twista became a firearms instructor and competitive shooter; He trains people on firearms safety, and has won a few competitions. “I’m still growing and still learning things about myself,” he says. “When I become interested in certain things and get passionate about it, I realize I can be good at it.”

He recently created another, look-alike puppet called Lil’ Twista, and he’s interested in everything from performing for kids to holding his own show in Las Vegas. “I have a great passion for making people happy,” he says. “I want you to come out of any situation with me with a positive mindset.” Vibe.com

Fun Fact: on top of once holding the Guinness World Record for being the fastest rapper on the planet, Twista is also a world class ventriloquist pic.twitter.com/BO27L3VEYN

— Andrew Barber (@fakeshoredrive) June 6, 2022