Years active 2005–present Name Allen Forrest | Role Singer | |
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Birth name Allen David Forrest Jr. Born February 4, 1981 (age 43)
Fort Campbell, KY, raised in Dothan, AL ( 1981-02-04 ) Occupation(s) CEO and Founder of M. Republik Music Group - Recording Artist, Actor Instruments Vocals, Acoustic Guitar Labels M. Republik Music Group (2005 - Present) Associated acts The Black Eyed Peas, Derek Bramble, Phonix, Beta Control Albums Forrest Fire, The Great Awaking, The Concept Genres Hip hop music, Acoustic music, Pop music, Rhythm and blues | ||
Allen David Forrest Jr. (born February 4, 1981) also known by the stage name Matchstik or Match, is an American recording artist, rapper, singer/songwriter, music producer, and actor. He is also the founder and CEO of M. Republik Music Group. he is a brand ambassador for TOMS shoe and eye wear and has been featured in Yahoo.com, and Examiner.com with the founder of TOMS Blake Mycoskie. Forrest has also been quoted by FOX News.
Contents
Forrest has released four studio albums and two EP's. The Concept album released in Fall of 2009 has received over 100,000 digital downloads worldwide.
In 2011 Forrest released the rap album titled The Great Awakening which was released digitally worldwide. Allen Forrest is the executive producer of "The Great Awakening" and the first single from the album was titled "Written In Da Starz (Back Streetz)" featuring Lou Lou Malibu.
In 2013 Forrest and his label Mrepublik Music Group partnered with Clear Channel Communications under the "Artist Integration Program". The new Integrated Marketing and Promotional Program Leverages Clear Channel’s Multimedia Platforms To Support Music Projects for Established and Developing Artists. Allen Forrest launched Mrepublik Music Group in 2014. Since Mrepublik Music Group initial launch in 2014 Mrepublik has had 15 singles nationally featured on iHeart Media radio
Allen Forrest released his 4th album "Forrest Fire" which in included 18 tracks and a guest appearance from the Island/Def Jam recording artist KAPTN
Naval career
Forrest attended boot camp at The Naval Station, Great Lakes, IL, starting in 2001. After completing boot camp, he attended cryptologic technician school at Corry Station in Pensacola, FL. Later, he crossed over to an Operation Specialist to be stationed on the USS Pinckney DDG 91. Upon completing four years of service in the Navy and receiving an honorable discharge and several commendations —including a Good Conduct Medal — he decided to leave the Navy and follow his musical aspirations on the West Coast.
Music career
He was featured in Billboard magazine and on Yahoo.com's The New Now. Matchstik was the first rapper to make front page headlines in Dothan, AL in the Dothan Eagle newspaper. Matchstik's song Give Back (ft Whitney Phillips) was featured in the Sony movie Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming movie soundtrack. He severed as a panelist on the 2009 SESAC annual Music Boot Camp. His 2013 single "Nothing Is Free" is produced by The Black Eyed Peas's hit-maker Jean Baptiste. Allen Forrest released an acoustic EP titled The Allen Forrest Project which includes "That's What I Say" and "Yo Raps", featuring Jennifer Åkerman. Senator Cory Booker once publicly expressed his love for Allen's acoustic single That's What I Say on Twitter.
Forrest started M. Republik Music Group in Los Angeles, California, in 2005. On October 31, 2014 Allen Forrest released his anticipated short film music video titled "Possessed" His single "Playa Shhh" was featured nationally as a featured artist on iHeart Radio for the month of January 2014 his second single from the album "Forrest Fire" titled "Possessed" was also featured nationally on iHeart Radio as featured single for the month of June 2014.
Allen Forrest co starred as the role of rap star 2 Chainz alongside the internet phoneme Jesse Wellens in his 2013 viral hit song Cookie Dance which achieved over 9 million views on youtube. Rapper Que ft Allen Forrest"Rich Problems" remix was featured on several music websites in 2014
Mrepublik Music Group released the Chicago native hip hop rapper Black Tha Don's "Anti Haters" ft 2 Chainz which was featured on the front page of iTunes "New and Noteworthy" music section. Forrest also released "Black Tha Don ft Rocko the atlanta rap star under his all digital label Mrepublik Music Group in 2014.
Allen Forrest single "Possessed" peaked at #68 on the Radio Wave Music Rhythmic Charts on June 21, 2014 In 2014 American rapper Rich Boy and Allen Forrest collaborated on the single titled "Alabama Kingz" Allen Forrest single "Kin Folk" was featured on the 2011 independent film "BLACKHEART" which won the 2011 ACTION ON FILM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARD, USA for BEST GUERRILLA FILM.
Forrest graduated UCLA's Music Business program on September 11, 2014
Philanthropy
Forrest is the founder of The Good Music And A Good Cause movement which has 378 members, and is a social media advocacy mission to create awareness for charities through social networking. The Good Music And A Good Cause movement was mentioned in Billboard Magazine.