From a young age, Julio Agosto, later known as “Rkitect”, knew he was different. While most young people his age were lost in adolescence, Rkitect began to discover his true calling as a writer, music producer, and hip-hop artist. In late 1999, at the age of 19, Rkitect met “Killa Al”, an experienced and well
respected underground hip-hop artist. The two instantly became a unit and eventually formed the super-group “Elementz”, and the journey began.

Paying dues as an opening act while relentlessly recording their freshman debut soon paid off. Gaining international acclaim for their debut the Manhattan Project in late 2003, Elementz hit the ground running after signing a deal with Shabach Entertainment and Diamante Distribution. CrossRythms Magazine in the U.K. said:
“Julio and Al spin a very distinctive and intense East Coast style that’s often sombre yet combining a dynamic spiritual warfare battle vibe. This is hard hitting “take no prisoners” stuff where (unusually) obvious thought has gone into the variety and mix of atmospheric hooks and sensitive beats.”

Elementz toured, recorded, and wrote music together for almost a decade. Rkitect knew that even though his group was gaining success, God had called him for something else, something greater. In 2008, Rkitect reinvented himself. He abandoned conventional methods and distanced himself from the corporate music agenda adopting a revolutionary mind set. Diving head first into the underground hip-hop scene, Rkitect established himself as a formidable presence among his peers. Gaining the moniker “subterranean super soldier”, Rkitect gained praise from the true hip hop purists from across the globe. From Japan to Germany, Forums and blogs surfaced about the lyricist that has unfastened the stigma of the faith-based artist. Now a new voice was reviewing Rkitect’s work, the people! Although considered among the best hip-hop albums of 2009 and best 5 albums in the first half of 2009 by the bloggers of Nationofhiphop.net, Rkitect remains humble and optimistic. Using his past as a weapon and aiming it at the future, Rkitect finds solace in his new calling, Revolution!

D-Nice was also known as "The Human TR-808", and through his beatboxing skill and friendship with DJ Scott La Rock, would join the Bronx-based Boogie Down Productions. He released two solo albums, 1990's Call Me D-Nice and 1991's To Tha Rescue, both through Jive Records.

Nowadays, D-Nice is both a DJ for high-profile events and a photographer, but his true passion is for the latter. He is currently in a relationship with actress Malinda Williams.

In 2008, Kwamé launched his independent record label Make Noise!!!! featuring Rockaway Queens NY rapper Beyond Belief and East London singer Jade Ewen.

His rapping debut was on Dr. Dre's The Chronic in 1992, as a part of the duo Tha Dogg Pound with Daz. The two were among the first acts signed to Death Row Records. He released an album with Daz called Dogg Food in 1995 on Death Row Records. Kurupt became friends with the late rapper Tupac Shakur when Tupac signed with Death Row in 1996, and it was Tupac who gave him the nickname Young Gotti.

In 1997 Kurupt left Death Row records for a position at Antra Records as an A&R, but still remained on good terms with Suge and appeared on many albums published by Death Row. In 1998 under Artimus Records he released a double album called Kuruption which went platinum. Shortly after that he released The Streetz is a Mutha which also went platinum. In 2001 Tha Dogg Pound released 2002 under Death Row and Gotti & Dillinger under DPG and Artimus Records. That year Kurupt also released his third solo LP Space Boogie.

In 2002 Kurupt met back up with Death Row CEO Suge Knight shortly after he got out of jail and re-signed with Death Row Records (now renamed Tha Row). By signing with Tha Row, Kurupt started a feud with Daz, Snoop and all of the DPGC, his old friends.

In 2005, Kurupt finally released the long-awaited album Against The Grain. It was constantly delayed and though it was to be the first original musical release from Tha Row in many years, it was finally put out via Koch Records, which at the time distributed Death Row albums; they were sold all distribution rights. However, Kurupt and his label blamed lack of promotion for the release on heavy editing by the Koch staff.

On April 13, 2005, Kurupt reunited with his fellow Dogg Pound mates through the peace meeting labelled "Protect the West", in which several other West Coast rap icons united to put aside their differences in hope of banding together to bring the West Coast back to prominence in hip-hop. Snoop Dogg organized the gathering at which he also made peace with Kurupt's label CEO Suge Knight.

At this time, Kurupt also introduced to the world his latest protege, the rapper Immense. The two met in 2001 and Kurupt became his mentor soon after. He then took Immense to Def Jam president and Roc-a-Fella Records owner Jay-Z, whereupon Jay signed him as the first artist on "Roc-A-Fella West", a West Coast extention of the Roc.

From 2000, Kurupt was in a relationship with the female rapper Natina Reed of the group Blaque. They were going to get married in August 2001, but delayed the marriage for career reasons. Ultimately, their commitment did not last after that.

Aside from being a solo artist, Kurupt is also a member of a number of Hip-Hop groups as well. In 2000, Kurupt teamed up with Canibus, Ras Kass and Killah Priest to form rap supergroup The 4 Horsemen. Later on, he began the supergroup The Riflemen with Mobb Deep, Jayo Felony, 40 Glocc, and The Alchemist.

Early career
Hi-Tek started his rap career with hip hop group Mood and had a regional hit with "Hustle on the Side". That song was made for Mood's album Doom, which featured amongst others Brooklyn MC Talib Kweli. Talib and Hi-Tek clicked immediately, and Hi-Tek went on to produce most of Talib Kweli and Mos Def's Black Star (1998). In 2000, Tek and Kweli (under the name Reflection Eternal) released Train of Thought (2000) on Rawkus Records, with raps by Talib Kweli and beats by Hi-Tek. It enjoyed moderate crossover radio success with the single "The Blast" and eventually earned Gold status in record sales. The pair have yet to release a follow-up album due to creative differences.

Current career
After signing to Rawkus Records, Tek produced for some of their projects, including the popular Soundbombing series, a three-record compilation of Rawkus artists. During his tenure there, he grew unhappy with their treatment of him, such as a time they forced him to give a beat he'd produced for Snoop Dogg to label signee Kool G Rap, who didn't want the beat.

In 2001, he released his solo album Hi-Teknology on Rawkus. The album featured raps by artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Vinia Mojica, Buckshot, and others, all produced by Hi-Tek. It received some critical acclaim and spawned a minor hit "Round and Round" with Cincinnati singer Jonell.

Although the record sold over 250,000 copies, Hi-Tek wasn't pleased with the job Rawkus did with his album, and he left the label shortly after its release. He then signed to MCA Records after the song "Round and Round" became an underground hit. While signed to MCA, Hi-Tek produced the album Hi-Teknology 2 and produced Jonell's debut album for Def Jam, though neither of these albums were released.

Currently, Hi-Tek is working as a staff producer for Aftermath Entertainment and its affiliates, as well as past associates such as Kweli and Mos Def. He is also recording songs for Dion, an R&B singer signed to Aftermath. Hi-Teknology 2 was released October 17, 2006 on Babygrande, and distributed by Koch Entertainment. The producer released the third installment, Hi-Teknology 3: Underground on December 11, 2007.

Hi-Tek was featured on the cover of Beyond Race magazine for the publication's winter 2008 issue.

In 1996, they signed to "Penalty Records" in a deal with "25 to Life" records (Tragedy Khadafi's label). They were also featured as "Unsigned Hype" in The Source magazine. In 1997, C-N-N released their debut trend-setting album, The War Report. With exquisitely dark tracks crafted by Lord Finesse, Havoc (of Mobb Deep), Clark Kent, and a number of other acclaimed producers, The War Report became an instant classic. The unique chemistry of Noreaga's unorthodox lyrcal delivery combined with Capone's street-wise slang, established the duo as a household name within the Hardcore hip hop community.

After Capone returned from another stint in jail in 1999 the group then released The Reunion featuring the single "Ya'll Don't Wanna". The album struggled to go gold, due to the lack of promotion from Tommy Boy Records, and suffered from mixed reviews. In addition, Capone was sent back to prison right before the release further hurting promotion. Soon after in 2001, Capone-N-Noreaga jumped ship to powerhouse label Def Jam. Because Tommy Boy retained the trademarks to the names "Capone-N-Noreaga" and "Noreaga", the group was forced to shorten its name to C-N-N, and Noreaga was forced to bill himself as N.O.R.E. for his solo work. They recorded a new album in 2003 called The Religion, with a lead single, "Yes Sir", that was issued on mixtapes and promoted by a video. The single failed to make an impact, and the album was shelved.

In early 2005, Def Jam released Capone from his contract while retaining Noreaga, leaving the group's status in disarray. Capone released his debut album "Pain, Time, and Glory", in 2005.

In 2009 the duo reunited to release Channels 10 and has since then released The War Report: Report to War.

Like many artists before them, 8Ball and MJG began their careers in the small clubs and talent shows around Memphis, taking gigs wherever they could find them. “We started hanging out at this little spot shooting pool, at this hole-in-the-wall club near MJG’s house that did blues, like live blues shows and made blues records,” said 8Ball. “We hung out there so much, when they’d walk away, they’d let us get on the mic and start beat-boxing, rapping and stuff… so that’s how we started doing talent shows.”

Ward committed suicide by self inflicted gunshot wound in his home in the Albany Projects in Brooklyn, New York on October 24, 2003.

When it comes to thought provoking, street-bred raw lyricism, the Wu-Tang Clan's fountain of wisdom, GZA takes his job very seriously. The way he crafts his double-edged rhyme flow mirrors the skill and precise technique of one who works with fine ceramics. GZA's metaphoric and multi-layered lyrics are often touted by critics as his rap name implies; genius.

Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in every borough of New York City, The GZA's workmanship can be found three albums deep with classics dating back to 1991 including the albums Words From The Genius, the gold-selling Liquid Swords and Beneath The Surface. Before his days of microphone notoriety, GZA found himself, during the early ages of rap music, travelling throughout New York City sharpening his rap skills in scattered rhyme battles. "I've studied rap in every borough," the GZA says proudly. "I've been rhyming before a lot of these cats out here were born. We've always drank, ate and slept hip-hop. I love it." On his latest blockbuster album Legend Of The Liquid Sword, The GZA makes reference to his hip- hop foundation on the reflective Fam (Members Only) "I grew up around B-Boys, DJs, MCs, through rap, never thinking in ways of TV," the Genius raps. "It was strictly all about magnificent rhyme clout."

During GZA's travels, he encountered other rap veterans that recognized his promise and helped to nurture his talent. "I watched a lot of people come up that are big now," Genius says earnestly. "I used to make demo tapes with cats that rocked with Russell Simmons and people like that. The history goes so far back; I've always been really focused on writing dope rhymes."

The GZA's dream of perfection has been realized once again on his fourth album to date. Legend Of The Liquid Sword not only regains the powerful momentum started by the last three releases, it adds to the Genius' verbal legacy with uncompromising integrity. Heat-seeking darts like the introspective, Auto Bio where GZA breaks down the elements of his life that created the man he is and the crime thriller Luminal.

What has always set The GZA apart from the ordinary is his ability to create complex images with simple context. In the same way it's said that a picture is worth a thousand words, Genius assembles his words to create thousands of vivid pictures. "I don't like to just be simple," he explains. "Even though some of my stuff can seem simple at times, I like to write in a way that when you listen to it over and over again, you hear something new and it requires you to think." Legend Of The Liquid Sword does just that. Whether the listener gets captured by the vocal acrobatics of Santi White (who has written songs for Res) on GZA's Stay In Line or the authentic old school soul production on the masterpiece Animal Planet, Genius weaves satisfying brain food through his lyrics. In his phenomenally cerebral use of metaphors, The Genius flawlessly equates human city dwellers to animals in the jungle onAnimal Planet , which was produced by rhythm doctor Bink (who has produced heavyweight joints for Fat Joe, Nate Dogg, Mr. Cheeks and Faith Evans). With beats by fellow Wu Tang brother RZA, Jaz-O (Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt album), DJ Muggs (who has produced for Cypress Hill, Mobb Deep), Wu producer Mathematics (Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Sunz of Man), Arabian Knight and other sonic masterminds, GZA's talents come across even heavier. On the adrenaline raising Hip Hop call to arms, Knock, Knock (the album's shining debut single), The GZA asks on the chorus, "knock, knock, who the f*** is banging at my door, is it abstract, commercial or hardcore?" In his signature way of ill rhyme construction, GZA further defines the parameters of whatrap music should be.

Don't call GZA's comeback just a comeback, it's a return of an entirely revolutionary thought process. "When we did Back In The Game on the Wu-Tang Iron Flag album, I did a verse about gambling," he explains solidly. "I didn't want to be 'back in the game' or 'back on the block,' that's typical. I made it all metaphorical." It's those same metaphors that makes the Genius' liquid sword a living legend in it's own time.

Killarmy released numerous singles from 1995 to 1997, including "Swinging Swords" and "Camouflage Ninjas" as well as the Sunz Of Man collaborations "Wake Up" and "Soldiers of Darkness". The album Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars was released in 1997 just after the release of the Wu-Tang Clan's second album, as well as a 12" single containing two tracks from the album, "Wu-Renegades" and "Clash of the Titans". Shortly after the group's manager General Wise was shot dead in Steubenville, but the group pressed on undeterred, appearing on the Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm compilation and each making numerous appearances on other Wu-Tang projects from the Clansmen themselves and from other affiliates. The group's second album Dirty Weaponry was released in 1998 and the third, Fear, Love & War was released on September 11, 2001. In 2002, the group received some controversy following the Washington D.C. sniper attacks. On an episode of Tim Russert's Meet the Press, Russert and Montgomery County police chief Charles Moose stated that Killarmy influenced the shootings, and referenced a number of lyrics to support the claims. Despite the press attention, nothing materialized from the accusations. In 2002, Dom Pachino became the first group member to release a solo album, with Tera Iz Him. 9th Prince followed in 2003 with his solo debut Granddaddy Flow. ShoGun Assasson is rumored to be the next member to release a solo album.

Winston Rogers III, professionally known by his stage name Tela, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee, best known for the single "Sho Nuff" (1997).^[1][2] Early in his career, he was associated with 8Ball & MJG and signed to Suave House Records to release the album, Piece of Mind. He moved to Rap-A-Lot Records to release more albums.^[3]

The Q in his name stands for Queens, and it is also said to be a name that represents his ability to get into one’s ears.

Early career:
Q-Tip's first appearance on record was on the Jungle Brothers' Straight Out the Jungle in 1988. Besides performing with his popular and successful jazz-influenced hip hop group, Tip also did production work (under his production alias "the Abstract" or often — along with fellow Tribe member Ali Shaheed Muhammad and the late Slum Village member Jay Dee — as part of The Ummah) for artists such as Nas ("One Love," from Illmatic, 1994), Mobb Deep (co-producer on "Give up the Goods (Just Step)," "Temperature's Rising," and "Drink Away the Pain," from The Infamous, 1995) and even R&B divas Mariah Carey ("Honey," from Butterfly, 1997) and Whitney Houston ("Fine," from Greatest Hits).

Solo career:
A Tribe Called Quest disbanded in 1998, after which Q-Tip pursued a solo career. His first solo singles, "Vivrant Thing" and "Breathe & Stop," were far more pop-oriented than anything he had done in A Tribe Called Quest, as was his solo debut LP for Arista Records, Amplified. His 2002 follow-up, Kamaal the Abstract, although critically acclaimed and issued a catalog number, was never released because the label believed that it did not have commercial appeal. His next album, The Renaissance, was released November 2008.

A Tribe Called Quest reunited in 2006 and played a limited number of dates. The group was composed of its original lineup, including Tip and occasional member Jarobi White. Early the next year, Tip signed a new solo deal with Motown/Universal Records.

As of late, Q-Tip has been very active, once again happily reunited with the full line-up of A Tribe Called Quest on the 2K7 NBA Bounce Tour and regaining control of his previously label-owned MySpace page. He has filled the page up with demos and rarities, (some of them from Kamaal the Abstract), and has announced he is negotiating for the ownership of the masters of earlier material from his previous labels and plans to release them independently. Currently, he resides in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Q-Tip has recently stated that he will be forming a hip hop group with fellow rapper Common, called "The Standard."

J-Live started his career by releasing solid 12" such as "Longevity", "Braggin' Writes", and "Hush the Crowd", which earned him a spot in The Source's "Unsigned Hype" column.

Recorded mostly at J's own Triple Threat Studios in Philadelphia, The Hear After actually seems to have taken on a life of its own. Guest vocalist on the album, include up and coming artist, Kola Rock, Cvees, and the soulful sounds of Virgin recording artist, Dwele. The album features production by Floyd the Locsmif (Atl), Hezekiah, James Poysner (Philly), Probe DMS, Fire Dept., (NYC), Oddisee (DC), and J-Live himself. "The title is a play on words. People think of the here after as the after life or somewhere you go when you die. Like heaven or hell. Me personally, I see heaven as being at peace with yourself while you're alive. I see hell as the path you choose in life as opposed to a place you go after death. The album is called The Hear After because I'm at peace with myself musically, and I've been through hell to get that way. This is what you "hear after" all that has transpired so far. This is what I've been working to accomplish since the last album."

Like J's last two full length records, The Best Part and All of the Above, The Hear After covers a wide range of thoughts and emotions both musically and with its subject matter. "If you were to look at the whole thing, you would see a story line about an artist trying to maintain and expand his career and still be there for his family. That was the biggest struggle while making the record, and its no coincidence that it's a theme that becomes obvious listening to it. But there are songs about almost every aspect of my life from growing up in the city, to raising kids, touring heavy, building and teaching, politics, party and bullshit. I can't just spit about one thing for a whole record. That's not my style."

J-Live has been rhyming and mixing since the age of 12 but he has made much more of a name for himself as an MC than as a DJ. "I definitely focus on rhyming more. Growing up doing both it was easier on the pockets to be an MC. Records and equipment can get expensive. But I love spinning." One of the highlights of his entertaining live show is when he rhymes and beat juggles on the turntables simultaneously, performing his classic, "Braggin' Writes." J-Live is also known to produce beats.

J-Live has always used music to get his messages across. He explains, "I grew up listening to everything from BDP to NWA, to PE [Public Enemy], Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Nice and Smooth. Whether the music was pimped out, gangsta, militant or whatever, rappers had something important to say to kids like me. And I listened intently. As a 5%er, I can't imagine how much of an influence hip hop had on the way I see the world."

Case in point, J's favorite song on the album, "Audio Visual" is so descriptive it's a song "in 3-D". From the quirky, key accents to the thick-ass bottom running throughout the song, J-Live paints a colorful, picture of his life on and off the mic. "Brooklyn Public" is his ode to his days as an educator. Earlier in his career, J-Live taught middle school English/Language Arts in Brooklyn for a few years.

Making music for the walkmans as well as the Jeeps, J-Live made a mature, sonically sophisticated album. "I feel like I represent hip hop's middle class. Seems like everybody's either crying broke or screaming rich or both. I try to speak to the people in between. The everyday hard working fun loving hip hop heads."

Year Formed: 1995
Official Site: http://www.j-livemusic.com/