Based in Rancho San Diego, Alvin Shamoun -- aka Biggie Babylon -- is a hip-hop artist (formerly known as Entre-P). Born in San Diego to a pair of Chaldean Iraqi immigrants, he grew up in Rancho San Diego area of El Cajon. His family has owned Mike's Market liquor store in a low income neighborhood of Southeast San Diego since 1972.
After graduating from Valhalla High School in 1999, he went off to college at the University of California, Irvine, returning to San Diego to attend community and then, at the age of 21, opening his own check cashing and cellular phone store across the street from Mike's Market. Having also run a 420 dispensary, he later began making music and built his own recording studio. His debut single “Home Run Hitta’” was produced by Josh Franks.
His 2013 album as Entre-P, C.E.O.G., includes the track “Hookah Flows,” featuring local rapper Timz, who was nominated for a San Diego Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Album in 2007. Together, the duo formed the independent record label Babylon Music Publishing LLC, working with (among others) Josh Franks (producer) and DollaBillGates (recording artist).
He changed his name to Biggie Babylon in 2014 and inked a deal with Universal Music Group, collaborating with Josh Franks on tracks like "Monopoly," which which was featured on Z90's HotShot radio contest in November 2014. Early the following year, he recorded "The Uber Song" with Franks.
Relocating to L.A., Babylon dabbled in acting, appearing in a TV commercial for King Games, makers of Candy Crush, as well as writing, directing, and appearing in a low-budget short film called Ryde.
A new album was released in early 2017, Mary Want Her Money. His 2018 "DJ LoudPack," a tuna can-sized metal package containing music on a flash drive as well as a gram of cannabis, two rolled joints, a THC edible, amd a branded wristband. The packaging strategy was described by Interscope Records CEO Brian Gaffey as ”the most brilliant marketing idea I have ever seen an artist do.”
His planned appearance at the 2020 SXSW festival was scrapped due to the Covid pandemic, though he did manage to fill in much of his musical downtime by building up his cannabis brand Babylon’s Garden.
In June 2021, he released a new single produced by Thom Genius, "All In," recorded during the pandemic shutdown in Genius' garage. His subsequent album Coronado California features the production talents of Mev The Renegade, Josh Franks, and Dabato. A video for the track was shot in early February 2021 by Damien Sandoval.
He's opened for Mobb Deep, Ty Dolla $, Twista, Nappy Roots, Devin The Dude, Chingy, and Coolio, and has performed internationally in Paris, Dubai, and Mexico.