About Mims
Born 1981. Mims is an American rapper, songwriter, music executive and musician.
Shawn Maurice Mims (born March 22, 1981), known mononymously as Mims (backronym for Music Is My Savior; stylized as MIMS), is an American rapper. He is best known for his 2006 single "This Is Why I'm Hot", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100. Its success led him to sign with Capitol Records, who issued the song as the lead single from his debut studio album, Music Is My Savior. His second album, Guilt (2009), was preceded by the single "Move (If You Wanna)", his third and final Billboard Hot 100 entry.
Biography Born into a Jamaican-American family in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, 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.
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. The second single was released on April 7, 2009, entitled "Love Rollercoaster" featuring LeToya Luckett. 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. In 2017, RecordGram won TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield in New York.
Discography
Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positionsUS USR&B US Rap CAN FRA UK Music Is My Savior Released: March 27, 2007 Label: American King, Capitol Format: CD, digital download 4 2 2 67 109 151Guilt Released: April 7, 2009 Label: American King, Capitol Format: CD, digital download 53 12 7 β β β "β" 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 AlbumUS USR&B USRap AUS CAN GER IRE NZ SWI UK "This Is Why I'm Hot"2007 1 2 1 30 19 55 33 23 75 18 RIAA: 2Γ Platinum Music Is My Savior"Like This"(featuring Rasheeda) 32 54 11 β β β β β β 82 RIAA: Gold "Move (If You Wanna)" 2008 61 39 11 β β β β β β β RIAA: Gold Guilt"Love Rollercoaster"(featuring LeToya) 2009 β 78 β β β β β β β β "β" 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 β "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)
Donβt just read it β
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download Β· yours to keep Β· every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Mims's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Mims's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Mims?
American rapper
When was Mims born?
Mims was born on 22 March 1981 in Manhattan.
What is Mims's occupation?
Mims is a rapper, songwriter, music executive and musician.
What nationality is Mims?
Mims is American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mims. https://biography.guide/mims/
MLA: "Mims." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mims/.
Chicago: "Mims." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mims/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 04:59 UTC