Shawn Mims

Mims
Mims in April 2009.
Background information
Birth name	Shawn Mims
Born	(1981-03-22) March 22, 1981 (age 36)
Origin	Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	2001-present
Labels	American King, Polo Grounds, RCA

Shawn Mims (born March 22, 1981), better known as Mims, is an American hip hop recording artist from New York City, New York. He is perhaps best known for his commercial debut single "This Is Why I'm Hot", which peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following the release of his hit single, Mims' debut album, Music Is My Savior, was released in March 2007.

Born into a Jamaican-American family in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, Shawn Mims grew up influenced by the rappers just south of him, in Harlem. 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 community college, Mims decided if he truly wanted to make it as a rapper he needed to drop out, a move that paid off career-wise: he was soon featured on the song "Love Em All" by Canadian group Baby Blue Soundcrew, which was nominated for Best Video at the 2001 Much Music Awards.

"I Did You Wrong" came out in 2003 thanks to help from the Miami-based production team the Blackout Movement, and in 2006 the rapper, who was now going by MIMS, independently released the single "This Is Why I'm Hot." The song did well enough on local radio stations, including New York's Hot 97, to garner attention from major labels, including EMI and Capitol Records, which released MIMS' full-length debut, Music Is My Savior, in 2007.

Mims graduated from Westbury High School (Old Westbury, New York) and was born in Washington Heights, NY. He began spending time in Harlem with Cam'ron as an acquaintance. In 2001, he was discovered by Quincy S/Duq Entertainment and soon after 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, enabled him to be recognized in Canada. The music video was nominated for a 2001 MMVA award. This song was never officially released in the United States. Mims also released his own single entitled "L.O.V.E." which was commercially unsuccessful.