J-Treole is a four-piece Progressive HipHop Jazz outfit from the UK, bringing their own unique blend of "Indie Jazz-Hop hot sauce" Comprising of Mfon (vocals/sampler), David (bass), Stu (drums/sampler) and Ali (keys), originally set to remix Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' Dubbed as Metro Jazz, Swing Rap... J-Treole have never seemed content with straight forward Hip Hop scene or the ever diluted styles of modern Jazz.
Detroit Hip-Hop's Ambassador to the World. Michael "HouseShoes" Buchanan has been an integral part of the long burgeoning Motown resurgence. Ask the people coming out of Detroit and they will confirm all of this. Houseshoes, a resident DJ at the Hip-Hop staple St. Andrews Hall from 1994-2004, has had personal influence over (at least) a full generation of emcees, producers, and then-future-DJs. Through House Shoes Recordings he pressed the now classic Jay Dee - Unreleased EP" (1996), Phat Kat
Bay Area based rapper Raashan Ahmad is originally from Pasadena, and has been on the grind since his first release as one of the lead M.C.s in the Boston formed group Mission, who released a self titled album in 1999. He's also the front man for the live San Francisco hip-hop group Crown City Rockers who released the album "Earthtones" in 2004. In 2008 his 13 track solo record "The Push" was released on Om Music featuring production from DJ Vadim, Headnodic (of Crown City Rockers/Mighty Underdogs), Stro the 89th Key (of The Procussions), Descry and more.
Born in 1988 in Fresno, California, Fashawn grew up in a virtually parentless home. His father was incarcerated, while his mom was focused on feeding her drug addiction - a combination that caused a boy to become a man quicker than most. Placed in a group home by child services at the age of 12, Fashawn found solace in music, and began writing rhymes to escape the less than desirable hand he had been dealt so early in life.
Hip Hop / Grime / Soul / Jazz From, London and South East,
United Kingdom. myspace.com/tranqill
Biz Markie is an East Coast hip hop artist, DJ and world-renowned Human Beat Boxer, best known for humorous singles like "Just a Friend" and "Pickin' Boogers." and his pre-MTV hit "Vapors". He has been labeled The Clown Prince of Hip-Hop. His career began in the 1980s. In 1992, Biz recorded a song called "Alone Again," but Gilbert O'Sullivan claimed the track featured an unauthorized sample of his hit "Alone Again (Naturally)," and served Biz papers. His career was quite damaged from the lawsuit, and Biz ducked out of the harshest glare of the limelight for the remainder of the 1990s.
Lord Finesse is a Hip Hop artist and producer, hailing from The Bronx, New York. In 1989, Finesse, and his former partner DJ Mike Smooth, signed to Wild Pitch Records, home to other popular Hip Hop artists like Gang Starr, Main Source, Chill Rob G, Percee P, and O.C.. In 1990, the duo released their debut album Funky Technician. He was hailed for his strong lyrical ability and clever punchline delivery. The album featured production from future star beat-makers DJ Premier, Diamond D and Showbiz. Finesse became the leader of the popular New York underground crew D.
Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born January 28, 1985 in Frankfurt, Germany), better known simply as J. Cole, is an American rapper and producer from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is best known for being the first artist to be signed to Jay-Z's label Roc Nation after Jay heard his single Lights Please. He released his debut mixtape The Come Up in 2007 and followed this up with 2009's The Warm Up and 2010's Friday Night Lights. He is now working on his highly anticipated but yet untitled debut album.
