Bio
Nas stated, “Hip-Hop is Dead.” So we figured we would bring back the
versatility to revive the game. Here, you will read about an artist that
will soon become a platinum selling artist.
Born and raised in East Moline, Illinois also known as, “The land
of John Deere”. There were many obstacles to overcome to try to make it
in this business we call music. Prevailing over these trials and
tribulations has molded Calliko into the artist he is today. He started his
career winning middle school talent shows and using rap to gain popularity.
His peers around him started noticing his god given talent and it fueled
Calliko to want to pursue music even more. He started networking with club
owners, promoters, and event coordinators to get booked for shows at the
tender age of thirteen. His first big break occurred when he won a
freestyle competition at a Twista concert in Davenport, Iowa. The winner
was to meet the multi-platinum artist and his management and get an
opportunity to display their talents in front of them.
Calliko mentions, “When I was younger, Twista and Do or Die was all
I would listen to. So my rap style was exactly like their’s. Once Twista
noticed his rapid fire form of deliverance and asked what I was called and
I replied that I didn’t have a name. That is when he gave me the name
Calliko. With him being so young it stuck to him for the rest of my
life.” The word Calliko has many different meanings such as his form of
rap being compared to the calico weapon which was the first military issued
machine gun, and Calliko also meaning a black, brown, or white cat which is
the audience he speaks to in his music. And by calico being an automatic
machine gun, just like the weapon Calliko lyrics automatically capture your
attention.
As time went on, Calliko continued to network within his career and
at the age fifteen he got put on Twista and The Legit Ballin Family Tour.
He performed at shows all over Illinois. He also became the permanent
opening act in his area and headlined with such multi-platinum artists such
as Juvenile, Do or Die, Twista, Common, Kanye West, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony,
Devin the Dude, Crime Mobb, Lil’ Scrappy, Pimp C, Yo Gotti, and more. He
got a big break when he was offered to go on tour with Ciara, JoJo, Lloyd,
and Ja Rule throughout the mid-west. He recalls that moment as, “A
learning experience and opportunity of a lifetime. After gaining mass
exposure in his region, Calliko was being recognized in the local
newspaper. He then, released a mix tape titled, “Run with the Best Vol.
1” (The John-Deere slogan) which sold an estimated 1,500 out of his
trunk.
But before this major accomplishment Calliko was involved in a death
defying car accident that left this young phenomenon paralyzed from the
waste down for 10 months. Rehabilitation did not work for him so he was put
to the test to force himself to walk again. The scars of this horrifying
incident remain on the artist and are still visible today. But Calliko
turns his negative situation into a positive by stating that, “God was
telling me that he is going to give me the world but he wanted to show me
how he could take it all away from me. I am glad that I experienced
something like that to humble me for the years to come.”
After a troubled adolescence in the Quad City streets, this artist
struggles to stay legit. He provides for his identical twin boys and
maintains a job while being enrolled in college. This small town country
boy with big city dreams is as ambitious as they come. He is currently
traveling the country collaborating with many artists and producers on his
upcoming release. Calliko is the total package with a story that will send
chills down your spine, the 80’s baby who is ready to show the world what
he has to offer. So make room music industry Calliko is up next!
