Shorty Mack
www.myspace.com/thepurpman

Rapper, actor, songwriter and performer Derrelle Owens aka “Shorty Mack” and “The Purp Man” was born on a warm sunny day of June 9, 1981 to high school sweethearts Wesley and Delphine Owens in Sacramento, California. It wasn’t long before tragedy struck in Derrelle’s life. When he was only 5 years old, just nine days following his birthday, shockingly, his father Wesley was killed when he was involved in a horrific fatal automobile accident on a Sacramento freeway. As you can well imagine, this event was cause for a very devastating and turbulent time in Derrelle and his mother’s life. To be so suddenly stripped of the support of a loving and caring father figure. But they had to carry on, no matter how difficult, the pain, grief and hardship of losing a loved one was.

Derrelle first tasted success, at the young age of 11, when he became a part of music producer and entertainers, Auto and Cherokee’s production company “Apple Children” based in Los Angeles. Within their unit, Derrelle became a member of a group known as the ‘Sewer Brats”. Over the course of the next three years as a member of the Sewer Brats, Derrelle would be able to hone and perfect the necessary skills that would ultimately enable him to reach his goal of becoming a rap artist. While with “Apple Children” Derrelle was close to signing a very favorable and life altering deal with “Perspective”, a Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis label and the deal seemed imminent but unfortunately for Derrelle, an agreement could not be reached and the deal sadly fell through.  So after three years with Auto and Cherokee, their relationship ended.

In 1996, Shorty Mack recorded a song with the #1 selling artist in Japan – Yumi Adach and in that same year he also recorded a duet with well-known R&B artist Bobby Brown entitled – Chippa Ronni.  Shorty Mack has been featured on Sam Salter album – Get Down and Laurena’s song – Can’t Let Go.

It was during his tenure with JVC that Shorty Mack was introduced to singer/songwriter and actor Ray J. (of chart topping hit “One Wish” fame) and the brother of award winning singer/songwriter and actress Brandy. Shorty Mack and Ray J. hit it off and became good friends and eventually a business partnership was established that has spanned many years. From their close association, Shorty Mack and Ray J. formed their own musical business enterprise called “Knockout Entertainment”, Over the years, Shorty Mack has worked tirelessly and vigorously to promote and strengthen their Knockout Entertainment label.  He has traveled extensively stateside and abroad with Ray J. performing in concerts and shows to bring the Knockout Entertainment brand to full public view and appreciation.  At the age of 17, Shorty Mack received another exciting boost to his career when he was case on the popular UPN “Moesha” show where he played the character “Nice”, for two productive and rewarding years and Shorty Mack also performed the them song for the Moesha (Noggin).

When Shorty Mack was 19 years old he was faced with another tragic occurrence in his young life, he was almost killed in a disturbing random act of violence on a Los Angeles freeway.  While he was being driven to the studio for a recording session by one of Ray. J’s bodyguards, a road rage incident ensued between the bodyguard and another irate motorist. Several shots rang out from the other motorist, striking the passenger side of the vehicle. Two of the ill-fated bullets found Shorty Mack, piercing him once in the arm and once in the stomach. The shot to the stomach was life threatening in nature and he could have died from the wound, but Shorty Mack refused to give up and because of his indomitable spirit and his will to live, he survived this scary episode. After a two-week stay in the hospital, Shorty Mack was back on tour, performing on 106 & Park on BET in New York City against the wishes and advice of his doctors. The near death experience seemed to only further fuel and intensify his passion and drive to succeed.

In 2004, Shorty Mack landed a role in the classic Samuel L. Jackson movie “Coach Carter”, allowing him to refine his acting talents.  He also managed to secure other acting roles during this time span, attaining roles in two highly rated television series. The first one being Fox’s “Boston Public” and the second being the acclaimed ABC series “NYPD Blue”.  In conjunction with his on going acting duties, Shorty Mack signed to Ray N’s Label Knockout Entertainment in 2005 Shorty Mack continued with his passionate work in the music field, performing and writing on the huge hit “Raydiation” CD released by Ray J, where he toured to such places as Germany and London and cities throughout the US.   

Boost Mobile released a CD called summertime session, which featured Shorty Mack, Ray J, Snoop Dogg, Slim Thug and Nate Dogg.  He also kept busy creatively, by completing work on tracks for his second CD in collaboration with Timberland, R. Kelly and other well-respected artists. In the summer of 2006, Shorty Mack recorded in his own energetic and magnanimous style, a remix of the R. Kelly successful hit song “Me and You”.

As Shorty Mack continues in his personal and professional growth, he is committed to expanding his horizons as well as broadening his scope and involvement in other areas of vital importance. He is currently engaged in the process of instituting his own non-profit community organization. Through this organization, he intends to confront and address many of the needs, concerns and problems that plague the inner city.  It is Shorty Mack’s aspiration and desire to implement programs that remedies crucial issues such as crime, poverty, discrimination, education, and social injustice and at risk teens among other problematic conditions. Although this undertaking may appear to be one of monumental proportions, he is up for the challenge and will make every effort to achieve his goals and ensure that he provides a most needed service to those that require it.

Shorty Mack has worked with artist such as: Mya, Cassie, Braxton Milliz, Brandy, R. Kelly and well known producers; Neptunes, Designated Hitters, Teddy Riley and Rodney Jerkins.

Shorty Mack has performed on shows such as: Soul Train, Bet’s Spring Bling, 106 & Park, The Beats Summer Jam 2001, The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake, The Jimmy Kimmel and CD USA.

You may keep abreast and informed of Shorty Mack’s musical and philanthropic progress and any future shows, events, news and other related information by logging onto his website at www.myspace.com/thepurpman and don’t forget to check out Ray J’s video “Smoking Trees” featuring Shorty Mack and Snoop Dogg on YouTube.Com. 

All parties interested in signing a multi-talented, experienced and responsible rap artist/songwriter/actor and performer of Shorty Mack’s stature, please feel free to contact Derrelle “Shorty Mack” Owens-The Purpman at: shortymack@rappagesmagazine.com