Mims (rapper)

Shawn Maurice Mims (born March 22, 1981), known mononymously as Mims (backronym for Music Is My Savior), stylized as MIMS, is an American rapper. Born and raised in New York City, he is best known for his 2006 commercial debut single "This Is Why I'm Hot", which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following the success of his hit single, Mims' debut album, Music Is My Savior, was released in March 2007.

Mims
Birth name	Shawn Maurice Mims
Also known as	Mr. Mims
Born	(1981-03-22) March 22, 1981 (age 43) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper songwriter record executive
Years active	1999–present
Labels	American King Polo Grounds RCA Capitol EMI Push Play Silver Square

Biography

Born into a Jamaican-American family in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City,^[1] Mims grew up influenced by the rappers from his hometown. Despite the fact that he lost both parents by the time he was 13, Mims focused on music (his mother had given him his first set of DJ equipment shortly before she died) and school to keep himself out of trouble. Though he briefly attended technicals remedial college, Mims decided if he truly wanted to make it as a rapper he needed to focus on what was important to him. After graduating from Westbury High School, he began spending time in Toronto with Wyclef Jean as an acquaintance.

His debut singles, "L.O.V.E/I Made a Vow" were released in 2000, under the temporary pseudonym Mr. Mims. In 2001, he was featured on a Canadian compilation entitled Private Party Collectors Edition Vol. 2, by Baby Blue Soundcrew. His guest appearance on the single "Love 'Em All" alongside Choclair, steadily garnered the rapper some commercial attention in Canada. The music video was nominated for a 2001 MMVA award. Soon after his recognition in Canada, he would gain connections with Blackout Movement.^[2] After, he decided to drop the "Mr." from his name and release 2 additional singles under the independent label Push Play Music: "Big-Man Lil-Man/P.I.M.P." (2002) and "I Did You Wrong" (2003). The latter contained a production credit by from the team aforementioned Blackout Movement, who would also produce the rapper's breakout single in 2006, "This Is Why I'm Hot." This would not be enough to finalize a legitimate record deal for the artist. In 2006, he began to record tracks for Latin hip hop label Urban Box Office. He decided that it would be in his best interests to structure his own label situation. He would also create American King Music alongside a few business partners.

While "This Is Why I'm Hot" gradually increased in airplay, the song did well enough on local radio stations, including New York's Power 105.1. It also eventually peaked at atop the US Billboard Hot 100. After a multi-million dollar bidding war, Mims finally signed with the labels EMI and Capitol Records; whom released his major studio debut, Music Is My Savior, in 2007.^[3]

Mims released his second studio effort on April 7, 2009, titled Guilt. In October 2008, "Move (If You Wanna)" became the first official single from Mims' new album, peaking at #63 on the Hot 100 charts.^[4] The second single was released on April 7, 2009, entitled "Love Rollercoaster" featuring LeToya Luckett.^[5] In February 2010, Mims appeared alongside KRS-One and Redman on a song entitled "How to Be an Emcee 2010".

Mims' relationship with his record label deteriorated during the making of Guilt, and so after the album's release, he decided to move into the technology field instead of continuing to produce music. Mims collaborated with businessman Erik Mendelson to create an app called RecordGram, which launched in 2016.^[1] In 2017, RecordGram won TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield in New York.^[6]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US [7]	US R&B [8]	US Rap [9]	FRA [10]	UK [11]
Music Is My Savior	Released: March 27, 2007 Label: American King, Capitol Format: CD, digital download	4	2	2	109	151
Guilt	Released: April 7, 2009 Label: American King, Capitol Format: CD, digital download	53	12	7	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes

• 2007: The Future
• 2008: More Than Meets the Eye
• 2008: Crazy Shotta
• 2011: Open Bars
• 2012: Fuck Yo Feelings

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions										Certifications	Album
		US [12]	US R&B [13]	US Rap [14]	AUS [15]	CAN [16]	GER [17]	IRE [18]	NZ [19]	SWI [20]	UK [21]
"This Is Why I'm Hot"	2007	1	2	1	30	19	55	33	23	75	18	RIAA: 2× Platinum[22]	Music Is My Savior
"Like This" (featuring Rasheeda)		32	54	11	—	—	—	—	—	—	82	RIAA: Gold[22]
"Move (If You Wanna)"	2008	61	39	11	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold[22]	Guilt
"Love Rollercoaster" (featuring LeToya)	2009	—	78	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

2001

• Baby Blue Soundcrew feat. Choclair and Mims - "Love 'Em All"

2006

• Cassie feat. Mims - "Long Way 2 Go" (The Coalition Network Remix)
• Lloyd feat. Lil' Wayne and Mims - "You" (The Coalition Network Remix)

2007

• Bad Seed feat. Mims - "Daddy"
• Bang City feat. Atiba and Mims - "Say Cheese"
• Black Heff feat. Mims - "Bottle of Patron"
• DJ Nasty feat. Mims, Red Cafe, Pitbull and Currency - "We Really Do This"
• Maroon 5 feat. Mims – "Makes Me Wonder" (Stargate Remix)
• Enur feat. Natasja Saad and Mims - "Calabria 2007" (Remix)
• El Arma Secreta feat. Daddy Yankee and Mims - "Por Eso Estoy Pegao"
• Leah Kauffman feat. Mims - "I Like a Boy" (Remix)
• Liyah feat. Mims - "Fooled"
• Page feat. Mims - "Ballin' Is My Hobby" (Remix)
• Prince Ty feat. Mims - "Coulda Woulda Shoulda"
• The Untouchable DJ Drastic feat. Mims - "Muthafuckaz"
• Willie Joe feat. Mims, Blood Raw and B.o.B - "Get 'Em, Got 'Em" (Remix)

2008

• Colin Munroe feat. Izza Kizza & Mims - "What The Young Man Says"
• Katy Perry feat. Mims - "I Kissed a Girl" (Remix)
• Kylie Minogue feat. Mims - "All I See" (Remix)
• Ryan Leslie feat. Mims - "Diamond Girl" (Remix)
• Mr. Vegas feat. Mims - "Energy Rock" (Remix)
• OB feat. Mims - "Ms. Goodcookie"

2009

• Bad Seed feat. Mims and Precious Paris - "Bout My Bread" Produced by YaBoyMartell

2010

• Barrington Levy feat. Snoop Dogg and Mims - "Watch Dem (Murderer)"
• Jason Derulo feat. Mims - "Cyber Love (Remix)"
• KRS-One feat. Redman & Mims - "How To Be An Emcee 2010"

2011

• The Grind Kings feat. The Untouchable DJ Drastic and Mims - "The Real in Me"
• Mod Sun feat. Mims - "Live Like A Movie"

2012

• Timati feat. Mims and Mann - Get Money

Awards history

• 2001: MuchMusic Video Awards, Best Rap Video, "Love 'Em All" (Nominated)
• 2007: MTV Video Music Awards, Monster Single of The Year, "This Is Why I'm Hot" (Nominated)
• 2007: BET Awards, Best New Artist (Nominated)
• 2007: BET Hip Hop Awards, Rookie of The Year (Nominated)
• 2007: BET Hip Hop Awards, People's Champ (Nominated)
• 2007: BET Hip Hop Awards, Best RingTune (Nominated)

References

1. Weiss, Dan (September 13, 2017). "Mims Talks "This Is Why I'm Hot" 10 Years Later And Why He Left Rap Behind To Pursue Technology". Stereogum. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
2. MIMS's Profile Archived September 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Accessed July 8, 2008
3. "MIMS - Biography | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
4. "Mims - Move (If U Wanna) | New Music Reviews - Home of DJ Willis". Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
5. thoughtremixer. "MIMS interview". Archived from the original on March 20, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
6. O'Malley Greenburg, Zack (October 20, 2017). "This App Is Why Mims Is Hot (Again)". Forbes. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
7. "MIMS Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
8. "MIMS Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
9. "MIMS Album & Song Chart History: Rap Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
10. "Discographie Mims". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
11. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol". Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
12. "MIMS Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
13. "MIMS Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
14. "MIMS Album & Song Chart History: Rap Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
15. "Discography Mims". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
16. "MIMS Album & Song Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
17. "Chartverfolgung / Mims / Single". musicline.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
18. "Discography Mims". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
19. "Discography Mims". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
20. "Discographie Mims". hitparade.ch (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
21. Peak chart positions for singles in the United Kingdom:

    • "This Is Why I'm Hot": "Mims" (select "Singles" tab). The Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
    • "Like This": Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol". Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
22. "Gold & Platinum: Mims". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2012.