{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Sivion | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Gary James Watson | alias = Vision | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|5|11|mf=y}} | birth_place = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | origin = Dallas, Texas | instrument = Vocals, Saxophone, Flute | genre = Christian hip hop | occupation = Singer, songwriter, author, rapper, poet | years_active = 1990–present | label = Illect | associated_acts = Deepspace5, Phat K.A.T.S. | website = {{URL|illect.com}} }}
'''Gary James Watson''' (born May 11, 1972), who goes by the stage name '''Sivion''', formerly '''Vision''', is an American Christian hip hop musician and member of the hip hop supergroup collective Deepspace5. He was also a member of the duo Phat K.A.T.S., which he formed with his brother, who goes by the name Wushu. He has released four studio albums, ''Spring of the Songbird'' (2006), ''Mood Enhancement'' (2006), ''Butterfly Sessions'' with Dert (2010), and ''Group Therapy'' (2013), as well as additional live and remix albums and an EP.
==Early life== Watson was born Gary James Watson,<ref name="ASCAP">{{cite web|title=COVER CHARGE Work ID No. 331782175 ISWC No. T0722479722 IPI No. 403452300 (WATSON GARY JAMES) |url=https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx|publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|author=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|access-date=February 2, 2016|author-link=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers}} COVER CHARGE Work ID No. 331782175 ISWC No. T0722479722 IPI No. 403452300 (WATSON GARY JAMES)</ref> on May 11,<ref name="BDAY">{{cite web|title=Happy Birthday shout out to my Twin Brother, Terry aka Wushu from the Phat KATS. I found this old pic…|url=https://twitter.com/SivionDS5/status/597783570497830912 |author=Sivion (SivionDS5) |publisher=Twitter |access-date=February 2, 2016 |date=May 11, 2015}}</ref> 1972, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with his twin brother, Terry Edward Watson, who is also a Christian rapper, going by the name Wushu. He grew up splitting time in Dallas, Texas and Gaithersburg, Maryland, as his father's side of the family is from Maryland and his mother's side is from Texas. He went to University of Miami while his twin brother stayed closer to home attending University of North Texas.<ref name="CR Story">{{cite web|first=Tony|last=Cummings|title=Sivion: The Dallas-based emcee speaks about the changing face of Christian rap |publisher=Cross Rhythms |access-date=February 2, 2016 |date=August 3, 2014 |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Sivion_The_Dallasbased_emcee_speaks_about_the_changing_face_of_Christian_rap/54288/p1/}}</ref><ref name="Chron">{{cite journal|author=Sketch the Journalist|title=INTERVIEW: Dallas' Sivion talks "Group Therapy", deepspace5, and burger wars |journal=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 1, 2016 |date=October 16, 2013 |url=http://blog.chron.com/jesusmusik/2013/10/interview-dallas-sivion-talks-group-therapy-deepspace5-and-burger-wars/}}</ref>
==Music career== Watson states that he started taking hip hop music seriously as a career in 1990. He formed the project Phat K.A.T.S. with his brother, himself going by the name Vision and his brother by the name Wushu. Watson eventually changed his name to Sivion, as he discovered that there were several other hip hop artists with the moniker "Vision".<ref>{{Cite web|title = aphire :: interviews :: sivion|url = http://www.lightonline.org/interviews/sivion.html|website = www.lightonline.org|access-date = February 8, 2016}}</ref> Watson explains that he decided on the name Sivion after he misspelled his original stage name in an email to his brother.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Shimooka|first=Tara|title = Sivion: Vision Reconsidered|url = http://allhiphop.com/2006/11/01/sivion-vision-reconsidered/|website = Hip-Hop News, Rumors, Rap Music & Videos {{!}}AllHipHop|date=November 1, 2006|access-date = February 8, 2016}}</ref> Watson joined the Christian hip hop collective Deepspace5 during the recording session for ''The Night We Called It a Day''. He started his solo music recording career in 2005, with the studio album ''Mood Enhancement'', released through Illect Recordings.<ref name="CR Review One">{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Hayes|title=Review: Mood Enhancement – Sivion |publisher=Cross Rhythms |access-date=February 2, 2016 |date=February 25, 2007 |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Sivion/Mood_Enhancement/21930/}}</ref><ref name="Rap Reviews One">{{cite web|first=Steve "Flash" |last=Juon |title=Sivion :: Mood Enhancement :: Illect Recordings |publisher=Rap Reviews |access-date=February 2, 2016 |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_moodenhacement.html}}</ref> A second album, ''Spring Of The Songbird'', released the following year (2006) through Braille's Hip Hop IS Music.<ref name=":0" /> He partnered with Dert for the 2010 album ''Butterfly Sessions'',<ref>{{Cite web|title = Butterfly Sessions by Sivion on iTunes|url = https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/butterfly-sessions/id382858026|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160302115600/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/butterfly-sessions/id382858026|url-status = dead|archive-date = March 2, 2016|website = iTunes|access-date = February 8, 2016}}</ref> and a fourth studio album, ''Group Therapy'', was released on October 15, 2013, from Illect Recordings.<ref name="JFH Review">{{cite web|first=Kevin|last=Hoskins|title=Sivion, "Group Therapy" Review |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |access-date=February 2, 2016 |date=October 10, 2013 |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/GroupTherapy.asp}}</ref><ref name="NRT Review">{{cite web|first=Dwayne|last=Lacy|title=The best wordsmiths and beatmakers participate in "Group Therapy" |publisher=New Release Today |access-date=February 2, 2016 |date=October 29, 2013 |url=http://www.newreleasetoday.com/userprofile_reviewssinglepost.php?review_id=21879&user_id=43067}}</ref><ref name="CR Review Two">{{cite web|first=James|last=Moss|title=Review: Group Therapy – Sivion |publisher=Cross Rhythms |access-date=February 2, 2016 |date=May 27, 2014 |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Sivion/Group_Therapy/146271/}}</ref><ref name="Rap Reviews Two">{{cite web|first=Grant |last=Jones |title=Sivion :: Group Therapy :: Illect Recordings |publisher=Rap Reviews |access-date=February 2, 2016 |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2013_11_siviontherapy.html}}</ref><ref name="JtH Review">{{cite web|first=Lamar |last=Gibbs |title=Sivion – Group Therapy |publisher=Jam the Hype |access-date=February 2, 2016 |date=October 14, 2013 |url=http://jamthehype.com/sivion-group-therapy/}}</ref><ref name="Wade-O Radion Review">{{cite web|first=Aubrey |last=McKay |title=Album Review: Sivion – Group Therapy |publisher=Wade-O Radio |access-date=February 2, 2016 |date=October 17, 2013 |url=http://wadeoradio.com/album-review-sivion-group-therapy/}}</ref> He is part of the hip hop duo, Phat K.A.T.S., with his twin brother, Terry.
==Discography== '''Studio albums''' * ''Mood Enhancement'' (May 24, 2005, Illect Recordings) <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Mood-Enhancement-Sivion/dp/B0009RYGDG |website=Amazon.com|title=Mood Enhancement |year=2006 }}</ref> * ''Spring of the Songbird'' (June 9, 2006, Hip Hop IS Music) * ''Butterfly Sessions'' with Dert (September 7, 2010, Illect Recordings) * ''Group Therapy'' (October 15, 2013, Illect Recordings) * ''Dark Side of the Cocoon'' (October 6, 2017, Illect Recordings) '''Extended plays''' * ''Here We Go / Sivion for President'' (January 19, 2010, Illect Recordings)
'''Live albums''' * ''Live at the Gypsy Tea Room'' (December 12, 2006, Illect Recordings)<ref>{{cite web|title=Live At The Gypsy Tea Room|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/live-at-the-gypsy-tea-room/482198249|website=iTunes|date=December 12, 2006 |publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref> '''Remix albums''' * ''Everything Is Everything / Brand New Day'' (May 10, 2011, Illect Recordings)<ref>{{cite web|title=Everything Is Everything / Brand New Day remix|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/everything-is-everything-brand-new-day-remix/430667907|website=iTunes|date=May 10, 2011 |publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref> * ''Older Now (Remixes)'' (December 6, 2011, Illect Recordings) * ''Butterfly Sessions: Remixed'' (remixed by Freddie Bruno, February 12, 2013, Illect Recordings)
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://www.hhhdb.com/index.php?id=428 Holy Hip Hop DataBase profile]
{{Deepspace5}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:African-American rappers Category:African-American Christians Category:Musicians from Baltimore Category:Musicians from Dallas Category:American performers of Christian hip-hop Category:Rappers from Baltimore Category:Rappers from Dallas Category:University of Miami alumni Category:Deepspace5 members Category:21st-century American rappers