FASHAWN
Fashawn initially burst onto the scene and established his presence throughout the California hip-hop scene by releasing multiple mixtapes and joining fellow Fresno emcee Planet Asia on the road.
In 2014, Fashawn signed to Mass Appeal Records and released his long-awaited album, The Ecology. The album, executively produced by Nas, received a positive critical response from outlets like XXL and HipHopDX.
Nas serves as executive producer for the album, and guest features include Nas himself, Aloe Blacc, BJ the Chicago Kid & Dom Kennedy. In 2017, Fashawn released his latest EP titled Manna, showcasing the Fresno native’s diversity as he delves into a variety of social commentary with his lyrical prowess including the politically charged first single “Mother Amerikkka”. In addition to this, the Manna EP features guest contributions from the legendary Snoop Dogg and super-producer Large Professor.
Stream/Download: Fashawn – Manna
Spreading love and spreading peace through my music and message.
Fashawn, Starting 5
STRO
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Stro has made a name for himself over the past decade as a multifaceted rapper, producer, and actor.
He first gained mainstream attention in 2011 as a contestant on The X Factor USA and has since dropped five mixtapes, one EP, and one album. His most recent album Grade A Frequencies released in 2017 and is set to drop another project in Fall 2018 via Mass Appeal Records.
I’m true to this,
I ain’t new to this.
Stro, Starting 5
EZRI
Ezri initially began writing music simply as a means of entertainment, but over the years the hobby began to serve as a medium to take negative aspects in his life and transform them into positive self-expression.
After releasing his first two projects, It’s Ezzy and Everything Ezzy, the Cleveland-native garnered a lot of attention following his killer freestyle on
Sway In The Morning — accumulating over 7 million views online. He has since gone on to have a stellar cameo appearance on FOX’s hit show Empire and play a lead role in The Land film, executive produced by Nas. Up next for Ezri is going full-throttle with his music career as he released his EP titled be right back with Mass Appeal Records on October 27.
I don’t love money,
I just love what it can do.
Ezri, Starting 5
CANTRELL
Cantrell was raised in Albany, Georgia and traces his roots to the rich hip-hop culture of Atlanta.
At an early age, Cantrell discovered jam-skating as a creative outlet and by his teenage years he was able to turn pro as a jam skater, later joining the historical breaking crew TBB. By 12 years old Cantrell knew his “true calling was music”, studying artists such as Michael Jackson, Field Mob, Outkast, Eminem, Nirvana & Jay-Z, drawing both inspiration and motivation from the legends. After high school, he accepted a scholarship to play college football. But Cantrell says of this time that he, “couldn’t shake the feeling that this was not my path.” After much consideration, he left to pursue a career in music and eventually won Converse’s “Rubber Tracks” contest.
Not long after, Cantrell’s music was discovered on Soundcloud by MiSCHiEF BOY and a collaboration soon formed that would eventually become the “Stardust 2 Angels” EP. This EP encapsulates both the physical and emotional journey from a small southern town to the City of Angels. Stardust, Cantrell’s hometown skating rink, represents home, the place of comfort where artists are formed, and where they dream of what they could become. And Los Angeles, for so many dreamers, represents the destination, vision, and realization of their work. The physical journey from Albany to Los Angeles is a universal symbol of the risks we all must take to conquer fear in the pursuit of larger aspirations.
A hustlers mindset is having
a grinders mindset.
Cantrell, Starting 5
070 PHI
070 Phi hails from North Bergen, New Jersey, along with his 070 Crew — who derive their name from ZIP codes of various Jersey cities.
Phi is an extremely skillful rapper with a steady flow over bouncy beats, as demonstrated on his debut project Sounds Of The Youth from 2017. He has been featured on G.O.O.D. Music signee and frequent collaborator 070 Shake’s “Somebody Like Me” off her new EP Glitter. The future is limitless for this burgeoning rapper as he “tries not to have any boundaries,” citing influences including Musiq Soulchild, Sade and Jay-Z.
From a planet called earth.
Let’s get fly & creative.
070 Phi, Starting 5
