Cryptik Soul
Cryptik Soul | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 張粟鱧 |
| Birth name | Sui Lie Cheung |
| Also known as | Crypt Soul, J. Cheung |
| Born | December 16, 1982 Archway, London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2003–Present |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | cryptiksoul |
Sui Lie Cheung or J. Cheung (Chinese name: 張粟鱧; born December 16, 1982) known as Cryptik Soul is an British rapper, songwriter, actor and martial artist from London, England. He is known for working with artists such as D12, Slaughterhouse, Hell Razah and Kinetic 9. He was the CEO and founding member of the now defunct action team thr3guys.
He released his debut album Killer's Blood on March 8, 2019.
Early life[edit]
Cryptik was born in Archway, London, England. He was brought up in an average Chinese working class family, but for some reason he had a fascination for horror movies. He began training in Taekwondo at an early age. He furthered his knowledge in the martial arts by studying Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do, Boxing, and numerous weapons including Nunchaku, Sword and Knives.
His first recollection of Hip Hop was through Yo! MTV Raps where he was exposed to artists such as Wu-Tang Clan, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Busta Rhymes, Kool G Rap, 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Big L, LL Cool J and Big Pun and since his introduction to Hip Hop, it has played a major part in his life. Cryptik admired the poetic form and story telling behind Hip Hop songs and he uses his love for horror films as inspiration for his lyrics.
At 14 years of age, he became involved with the wrong crowd of people and this caused him to rebel against his family. His associates introduced him to drugs, sex and gangs. This lead to 9 years of the worst and lowest times in his life. He began hustling various drugs and became entangled with the notorious 14K Triad. Cryptik became an asset to the Triads when they began using him for his exceptional martial arts abilities. He became respected throughout Chinatown, London as a Triad enforcer who to this day is unbeaten in street fights.
Career[edit]
With a reputation like this, throughout Chinatown and the drug game, and being monitored by the police, Cryptik showed incredible courage by turning his back on the gang life and focusing his energy on the entertainment industry and was the martial arts choreographer for a low budget film called Triads, Yardies and Onion Bhajees.[1] screened in 2003.
Even with his involvement in the gang world, Cryptik was still in touch with his passion for Hip Hop, using it as an escape from the awful reality that had become his life. He was able to release pent up anger by using his experiences as the base for his rhymes and he looked up to Big Pun, Big L, Eminem and Cassidy to help perfect his rhyme flow and word play.
He spent months locked in his bedroom cleansing himself from the drug culture he was involved so heavily in, and studying the ins and outs of Hip Hop, the beats, and he overflowed 3 books with his rhymes.
Just as he had with his martial arts skills, Cryptik took his rap to the streets, challenging other MC's at competitions or randomly engaging them in brutal rap battles in the streets of London, and just as with his street fights he may at times have been bloodied, but he was never defeated.
After his recognition on Jump Off TV Rap Battle in 2005, he appeared on two underground Hip Hop DVDs, a British DVD called I Got Lyrics and an American DVD called Married 2 Da Streetz Part 2 featuring MC Jin, Juelz Santana and Cam'ron to name a few.
Through the years Cryptik has been meeting with and rapping to numerous famous artists such as Eminem, D12, Saigon, Kidz in the Hall, MC Jin, Fabolous, DJ Qualls, Guru (of Gang Starr), Fat Joe, Mos Def, Wu-Tang Clan, Immortal Technique, Xzibit, Ice-T, Ice Cube, Necro, De La Soul and Talib Kweli.
In 2006 he co-starred and choreographed fight scenes for the film Cash and Curry[2] which was screened in September 2008 at the Portobello Film Festival[3], and was offered a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, but turned it down, preferring to hone his talent on the streets.
He became the fourth member of a LA based Hip Hop group called the Chosen Onez, and he is CEO & founder / martial arts choreographer / stunt performer & coordinator / visualiser for the action company thr3guys.[4]
In Hong Kong[edit]
In 2012, Cryptik moved to Hong Kong hoping to work in the music and movie industry, and found himself working for a independent and now disgraced film producer, who tried to abuse Cryptik's talents for his own advantage, promising to put together a slate of projects that would raise Cryptik to the next level.
But at least whilst working for him, he was introduced to Donnie Yen and his fight team, and this is where he studied action film making for 8 months under the mentor of Donnie himself.
Through working with this indie company, he was also introduced to Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Louis Fan Siu-Wong, Louis Koo, and directors Yuen Woo-Ping, Wilson Yip and Ronny Yu, and his rapping and martial arts skills were widely recognised and Cryptik was offered multiple projects.
In 2013, Cryptik came face-to-face with one of Hip Hop's most successful and influential entrepreneurs, Damon Dash. Damon was so impressed with his freestyling that Damon shot a short film called Beef & Broccoli[5] on the busy streets of Hong Kong with Cryptik as the lead.
In 2014, Cryptik has also worked as a stuntman and body double for the lead actress on the Roger Corman movie, Fist of the Dragon[6], shot in Nanhai District. He had the opportunity to work closely with director Anotony Szeto, lead stars Josh Thomson (UFC sports star) and JuJu Chan (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny).[7]
Cryptik also provided the main song at the end credits for the movie, titled "Critical State", which features one of his favourite childhood Rappers, A+.
In 2015, Cryptik had a very small extra role in Now You See Me 2[8]
In 2016, Cryptik also plays the son of legendary Hong Kong action star and choreographer John Cheung Ng Long in Dr. Z's independent martial arts feature The Stop Hit, which sees Cryptik stealing the thunder from leading man Eric Jacobus as their fight scenes show just who is the master![9]
In 2017, Cryptik worked as an extra on a independent film, Le Accelerator[10]. The film was directed by Thomas Eikram.
In the same year, Cryptik started working on his album Killer's Blood. The album took 3 years to make and features artists and groups such as D12, Slaughterhouse, Kinetic 9 (of Killarmy), Hell Razah (of Sunz of Man), Mr. Hyde (of Psycho+Logical-Records), The Styles of L and many more. The entire album was produced by him and The Styles of L, and executive produced by Candy Heung (the daughter of Charles Heung).
In March, 2019, Cryptik released his debut album Killer's Blood[11] on Bandcamp.
Discography[edit]
Studio album
- Killer's Blood (2019)
Singles
- "Revenge" (featuring Slaughterhouse & The Styles of L) (2019)
- "Come & Save Me" (featuring Brian Harvey & Shotti) (2019)
- "Fuck You!" (featuring The Styles of L) (2019)
- "Bang 'Em Up" (featuring The Styles of L, Kryptic & Brian Harvey) (2019)
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Triads, Yardies and Onion Bhajees | Triad Member | |
| 2005 | I Got Lyrics | Himself | Documentary |
| 2005 | Married 2 Da Streetz Part 2 | Himself | Documentary |
| 2006 | Cash and Curry | Micky | |
| 2013 | Beef & Broccoli | Himself | Short Film |
| 2014 | Fist of the Dragon | Stuntman | |
| 2015 | Now You See Me 2 | Hannes Pike's Bodyguard | Uncredited |
| 2016 | The Stop Hit | J 14K | |
| 2016 | Skiptrace | Stuntman | Uncredited |
| 2017 | Le Accelerator | Hong Kong Assassin | |
| 2019 | Triple Threat | Stuntman | |
| 2019 | Ip Man 4: The Finale | Stuntman | |
| TBA | Kung Fu Bodyguard | Subordinate 1 |
References[edit]
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373400/%7Ctitle=Triads, Yardies & Onion Bhajees!|via=www.imdb.com
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2522394/?ref_=tt_cl_t12
- ↑ http://www.portobellofilmfestival.com/2008/2008report.html%7Ctitle=PORTOBELLO FILM FESTIVAL LONDON|website=www.portobellofilmfestival.com
- ↑ https://filmcombatsyndicate.com/art-never-sleeps-interview-with-thr3guys/%7Ctitle=ART NEVER SLEEPS: An Interview With THR3GUYS|first=Lee B. Golden|last=III|date=May 1, 2013
- ↑ https://vimeo.com/78199339
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2646956/
- ↑ III, Lee B. Golden (September 4, 2013). "Watch Josh Thomson Take On Xin Sarith Wuku In A New Teaser Clip For FIST OF THE DRAGON".
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3110958/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
- ↑ "The Stop Hit" – via www.imdb.com.
- ↑ https://www.leaccelerator.com
- ↑ "Killer's Blood, by Cryptik Soul". Cryptik Soul.
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