RapStation

This weeks spotlight artist, Five Steez, from Jamaica, has made his way to the #RAP50 countdown with his track “My Life, My Craft.” He is an inspiration to people who have had the road block of being an international artist and making a name for themselves in the Hip Hop game. Staying true to himself, he has a crew that he works with, The Council, and together they have a project in the making. Five Steez is in the process of mastering how to reach out to his audience and is not an artist to sleep on. 

RAPstation (Kianna Woods): How long have you been putting out music?

Five Steez: Well I’ve been putting out music for I would say about 6 years now, since about 2010. I first put out a mixtape called Mom

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Albert Shepard (a.k.a. Printmatic) has made a name for himself as an artist and producer. He has been a full time musician for 14 years now and makes no plans to change what direction his life has taken since he has made it full-time. Along with rapping and producing, Printmatic is a host of his own podcast “Super Duty Tough Work,” has produced a few videos, and is the author of 3 books. It is safe to say that Weightless Recordings wouldn’t be possible if he hadn’t made the decision to produce and make music for their fans.

RAPstation (Kianna Woods): What role did music play in your life growing up?

Printmatic: My mom was a really good singer so, you know, most of my early infl

Artist Sean Hines was born in 1983 in Boston, Massachusetts and was raised in Roxbury. Sean originally had a love for basketball, but got too caught up, at an early age, hustling in and off campus ultimately leading to his expulsion from college and ending up right back where he started.

Throughout the struggle, he never had intentions of rapping but carried the talent of rhyming with him. He was later influenced by Rushya who had been in the game. 

Making appearances on “Rushya Roulette Vol. 1,” Sean Hines discovered that not only did he get the audience reactions that he was satisfied with, but he discover that he could go somewhere with this new found talent.

He went on tour with Rushya’s mix-tape tour on the east coast and through

Printmatic, a.k.a. Blueprint, born Albert Shepard from Columbus, Ohio, started out in a group called Greenhouse Effect making music with fellow group members Inkwell and Manifestations. They released their debut EP Up To Speed in 1999 and in 2003 they dropped their first album Life Sentence.

Currently, Blueprint is part of the new Greenhouse working alongside Illogic. Blueprint is the founder of Weightless Recordings, an independent record label created in 1999 and co-operated with friends, that aims to make music known from artists coming out of Columbus, Ohio.

The rapper/ producer has had quite the life experience and is still adding to the game today with dope tracks. He is half of the duo Soul Position and has

My man Eff is the living breathing embodiment of New York City. He's as Queens as the legends that've come before him. I've been a fan and supporter for a few years now and have been lucky enough to converse with him on many occasions (we're still looking to meet in person on my next American excursion).

The sign of a true artist is their growth in the art form they've chosen. The Eff Word is a reflection of just that. With a sharp wit and verbal dexterity Eff takes us on a journey through his NYC streets, his personal inner thoughts and draws us in with brilliant story telling rhymes. Equal parts bravado and sincerity.

I must mention the clarity in his delivery. Eff is blessed with a voice heavy with charm and charisma but lace

One of the most immediately recognizable characteristics about Portland, Oregon-based emcee Sapient is his sharp wit and unrelenting sense of humor. Since beginning his foray into hip-hop, he’s never had a problem injecting a healthy dose of either into nearly everything he touches, including his work with Sandpeople. 

As the mastermind behind Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” Flip and Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” Flip, he comes off more like a musical virtuoso. In fact, he’s also a photographer, graphic designer and fine artist—basically he can do anything. 

Six years ago, Sapient (real name Marcus Williams) became a father, which apparently drags countless men kicking and screaming into adulthood. HIs growth