What Is Too Short's Net Worth?
Too Short (stylized as Too $hort) is an American rapper, producer, and actor who has a net worth of $5 million. Too Short is a pioneering rapper from Oakland, California. He began his career in the early 1980s, releasing his debut album, "Don't Stop Rappin'," in 1985. Known for his distinctive, laid-back flow and explicit lyrics, Too Short became a prominent figure in the West Coast hip-hop scene.
Throughout his career, Too Short has released over 20 studio albums, including notable works such as "Life Is… Too Short" (1988), "Short Dog's in the House" (1990), and "Cocktails" (1995). His music often explores themes of street life, hustling, and the pimp lifestyle, earning him a reputation as one of rap's most notorious storytellers.
Collaborating with numerous artists, including 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z, Too Short has left an indelible mark on hip-hop culture. His influence extends beyond music, as he has also appeared in films and television shows. With a career spanning over three decades, Too Short has sold millions of records worldwide and continues to be recognized as a legendary figure in the rap industry.
Early Life
Too Short was born Todd Anthony Shaw on April 28, 1966, in Los Angeles, California. He and his family later moved to Oakland, California. Both of Too Short's parents were accountants. He has described them as very supportive and encouraging of his music career while growing up. Attending Fremont High School, he was a drummer in the school band.
Music Career
In the mid-eighties, Shaw and a high school friend, Freddy B, began producing "special request" songs on cassette tapes and distributing them to people local to the Bay Area. His father secured him a small studio where the two did their recordings. He made his beginnings in 1985 at the age of 14 when he released his debut album, "Don't Stop Rappin'," on the local label 75 Girls. Too Short is often thought of as the hip-hop artist who revived the West Coast rap scene. Around this time, he also released four 12″ singles featuring a LinnDrum drum machine. Too Short was the first hip-hop artist to use the word "bitch" on his recordings, a word that became one of his trademarks and that became the focus of raps such as "Ain't Nothin' But a Word to Me." Later that year, Too Short and Freddy B formed a record label called Dangerous Music, which they used to distribute Short's music regionally. The label went on to become Short Records and, later, Up All Night Records.
(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
Three years later, he saw the release of his second album, "Life Is…Too Short," on which he started infusing replayed established funk riffs (rather than samples) with his beats. Short's subsequent work was mainly collaborative with big rap names like Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., Scarface, UGK, Jay-Z, E-40, Snoop Dogg, and Diddy. Then, he narrowed down his engagements and worked on his eleventh album, "Can't Stay Away" (1999), which included numerous guest appearances by 8Ball & MJG, Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, Sean Combs, E-40, Daz Dillinger, Lil' Jon, Soopafly, Scarface and B-Legit.
Throughout the 2000s, Too Short released several albums, such as "You Nasty," "Chase the Cat," "What's My Favorite Word?" and "Married to the Game," but it was 2006's "Blow the Whistle" that came as a resurgence for him, peaking at #14 on the "Billboard" 200, much better than each of his previous releases. In 2008, he became one of VH1's honorees at the fifth annual Hip-Hop Honors along with Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Slick Rick, and Naughty By Nature. In 2012, he released the studio album "No Trespassing." In 2013, Too Short collaborated with Lady Gaga on the song "Jewels n' Drugs." In November 2018, six years after his last release, Too Short released his 20th album, "The Pimp Tape." His 21st album, "The Vault," was released in December 2019. Too Short and E-20 released their collaboration album "Ain't Gone Do It / Terms and Conditions" on December 18, 2020.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Other Ventures
This rapper pioneer of West Coast hip-hop has also been active in the film industry, either working on the music or making cameo appearances. He played the role of Lew-Loc in the film "Menace II Society." Too Short has also dabbled in the adult film industry, starring in the 2003 "Get In Where You Fit In." He also appeared as an interviewee in "American Pimp" and starred in and performed the music for "America's Sexiest Girls" in 2003. He appeared in an episode of "The Game" and made a cameo appearance in Jay-Z's music video for his hit single "Big Pimpin." Too Short appeared in VH1's rock documentary "Planet Rock" and he made a cameo in the feature film "Stop Pepper Palmer." He has starred in two straight-to-DVD films: 2001's "Too Short Uncensored" and 2003's "Too Short Presents…Titty City." In 2009, he was featured in an episode of "Kendra," a show on E! starring Kendra Wilkinson.
Too Short continues to run his record label, Up All Nite Records. He also serves as a mentor at Youth UpRising, which aims to serve at-risk teenagers. He is a contributor to the website XXL.
Personal Life
Too Short has been married to Erica Escarcega since 2000. He became a father for the first time in 2019, at age 53, to a daughter named Yani Shaw.
