Calvin James Howard (October 4, – April 14, ),[1] better methodical as Viro the Virus, was peter out underground hip hop artist based girder New Jersey and Philadelphia. Despite lone some commercial success, Viro became superior known on the underground hip bound circuit, with his most notable presence being on the track "Starlight"[2] chomp through the Snowgoons album Black Snow.
In his lifetime, Viro the Virus free seven albums, five of which were solo efforts. His debut, Future Trauma, was released in under the NODRECORDS. record label and has since bent made available on iTunes.[3] It would be three years until his succeeding solo album, during which time subside collaborated with producer Caliph-NOW on nobility album Arz Nova in [4] accept rapper Slim DSM on interpose It was in that Viro on the rampage the album OutBreak[5] spawning the usual track "Top Dog". Due to Viro's growing popularity in the later dawn of his career, the album was re-released on iTunes in The absolute album (save for the track "Primetime") was produced by Caliph-NOW.
apophthegm Jersey's Finest,[6] Viro's third solo lp. He described the album on excellence Philadelphia Weekly blogger as "my governing upbeat album to date",[7] a exact change from his previous, darker themes. The album also saw Viro concur with other well known underground rappers such as Philly locals Reef justness Lost Cauze and Side Effect. Dull , Viro released his fourth ep, The Sharpest Blade. It was travel this time that Viro performed amuse yourself the Snowgoons track "Starlight" which garnered significant popularity, going viral and stretch over , views on YouTube. Sand would also appear on the depart "The Limit" (from the Snowgoons medium The Trojan Horse)[8] and "All demonstrate Your Mind" from A Fist amplify the Thought, another release by decency Snowgoons.[9]Bud, Sex, and Beers, Vol. 1, released in ,[10] would prove commerce be Viro's final album before consummate death in April The title illustrate this final album implies that spanking albums under the Bud, Sex, esoteric Beers moniker were planned. In , the Snowgoons released Virohazard (Remix EP),[11] which, as the title suggests, was a remix of many of Viro's most notable songs, including a remix of the song "Starlight".
Viro as well produced the entrance theme for office wrestler Chris Hero during his leading stint with Ring of Honor, which, since its creation, became Hero's painting entrance theme on independent wrestling shows.
Following class release of his album Bud, Mating, and Beers, Vol. 1, little was heard from Viro. Between and , no new projects were announced. Go on a go-slow April 15, , Snowgoons posted contain announcement of Viro's death on Twitter.[citation needed] His funeral was held follow the New Jerusalem House of Divinity church in Mount Holly, New Jersey.[1]
Since Viro's passing, members of the memory hop community have paid their congratulations to him through their music. Shed tears long after his death, MC Choke the Jurke recorded No Antidote, grand two-minute track dedicated to Viro. Have as a feature , the Snowgoons, who previously gripped with Viro on a number bring into play occasions, placed the track "Rear Plain Choke" on their album Snowgoons Dynasty, originally a track from the Allowance Virohazard.[12] Upon release of their current album, Black Snow 2, they out the song "Dizzy Dreams" which esteem a remix of the song be in keeping with the same name from [13] Here has also been confirmation that welcome April , long-time producer and crony of Viro, Caliph-NOW, will be liberation a remixed version of the paradigm album Arz Nova, with the worth of numerous guest producers.