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from discogs.com The Detroit, MI native MRK SX (pronounced Mark Sox), is a quadruple musical triple threat. The MC/Singer/Producer/Engineer, got his start in the music business producing music for Shady Records alumni Swifty McVay, Stat Quo, Bobby Creekwater and Cashis. Armed with a BA in Audio Production, he also lent his skills to produce records for Grammy Award winning artists Killer Mike, Arrested Development, Nappy Roots and many others. MRK now focuses his eyes on the prize of being an elite MC.

NoxBond is the Owner/Founder/C.E.O. of the Next Level/Real Life Syndicate.

From Complex.com Polo G keeps winning. In April 2021, the Chicago rapper scored his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Rapstar.” The achievement followed the success of his sophomore album, The GOAT, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. “I put a No. 1 song down on the list of goals of mine,” he told Complex when “Rapstar” first topped the charts. “I’m big on manifesting everything. I’ve damn near manifested my whole life.” Born Taurus Tremani Bartlett in January 1999, Polo G took an interest in rapping at an early age. Growing up listening to artists like Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, and Tupac, Polo G has said that he tried rapping as a hobby at first. But by the time he reached high school, almost everyone noticed he had a real talent. Today, Polo G is known for his vulnerable and truthful storytelling, which illustrates vivid images of his time growing up in the trenches of Chicago and overcoming obstacles like gang violence and drug addiction. And with time, Polo G is only getting better. Here’s everything you need to know about him right now. ... https://www.complex.com/music/polo-g-everything-you-need-to-know/

from allmusic.com Rapper Ras Kass was born John Austin IV in Watts, California in 1973. A voracious reader throughout his youth, he adopted his stage name in honor of Ethiopian emperor Ras Kassa Mercha. After releasing a pair of independent singles, Ras Kass emerged as one of the most highly regarded new rappers at the time, winning particular acclaim for his skills as a lyricist (in the space of six months, he twice earned Rap Pages magazine's Rhyme of the Month award as well as The Source's Hip Hop Quotable honor). His long-awaited debut LP, Soul on Ice, arrived on Priority Records in 1996. The album included the singles "Ordo Abchao (Order Out of Chaos)" and seven-minute history lesson "Nature of the Threat," as well as a guest spot from Coolio. His sophomore effort, Rasassination (PatchWerk/Priority), followed in 1998, landing in the Top 100 on the Billboard 200 and peaking just outside the Top Ten of the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The album produced one single, "Ghetto Fabulous," with guests Dr. Dre and Mack 10, as well as the fan favorite "Interview with the Vampire." In addition, Ras was joined by Kurupt, Saafir, Jazze Pha, Xzibit, Twista, RZA, and more. The release of his follow-up, Van Gogh, was delayed by label mergers and bootlegging, and Ras was forced to shelve the project. Another project, Goldyn Chyld, also failed to materialize. Institutionalized Ras shifted focus to the HRSMN, a rap supergroup formed with Kurupt, Killah Priest, and Canibus. The foursome issued their debut, The Horsemen Project, in 2003. Still embroiled in label disagreements, Ras released the mixtapes Institutionalized (2005); Revenge of the Spit and Eat or Die (2006); and Institutionalized, Vol. 2 (2008). A mixtape project titled The Quarterly was self-issued in 2009 on Ras' website and featured spots by Killah Priest, Mistah F.A.B., and producer Pete Rock. A crowdfunded project, A.D.I.D.A.S. (All Day I Dream About Spittin), was released in 2011. Barmageddon followed in 2013 and featured guests like Too $hort, Ice-T, Monie Love, Yukmouth, Kendrick Lamar, and more. Blasphemy, a collaborative album with producer Apollo Brown, was issued in 2014 and recruited Royce da 5'9", Pharoahe Monch, Xzibit, and others. That same year, Ras released Barmageddon 2.0. In 2016, a flurry of activity resulted in the release of two additional mixtapes and Intellectual Property: SO12, which featured KRS-One, RZA, Bun B, Onyx, and more on a sprawling 26 tracks. In 2019, Ras released the full-length Soul on Ice 2, the long-awaited sequel to his 1996 debut.

from famousbirthdays.com rapper most famous for being a member of the Detroit-based hip-hop group D12. As a solo artist, he is known for releases like 2008's Underestimated Vol. 1 and 2014's Poetic Poltergeist.

from smokealotrecords.com As one-half of the East Oakland, California, multi-platinum Hip-Hop duo, Luniz, Jerold Dwight Ellis, professionally known as Yukmouth, is definitely a legend in his own right. Luniz initially hit pay dirt thanks to their, still-to-this-day, popular weed anthem, “I Got 5 on It, an interpolation of the Club Nouveau classic, “Why You Treat Me So Bad,” which appeared on their 1995 million-plus selling group debut, Operation Stackola [Noo Trybe/Virgin]. Nearly two and a half years later, the rap two-some returned with their gold certified sophomore set, Lunitik Muzik. Following their second release as a collective, Yuk inexplicably split from his, then, partner-in-rhyme, Numskull, taking his burgeoning Smoke-A-Lot imprint down south to Mr. J Prince’s Rap-A-Lot Empire. “I think when I signed with J Prince, it started the beef between me and Numskull,” Yuk believes wholeheartedly. Re-assessing the situation, he recalls, “I don’t know why, but Num started dissin’ me outta nowhere and I was feelin’ funny about the contract when I left C-Note Records saying they can get a new member of the Luniz, and I’m kicked out the group. […] But, shit squashed [now] […] me, Numskull and C&H did another Luniz album on Rap-A-Lot called Silver & Black.” Yukmouth’s first solo outing,Thugged Out: The Albulation, at that particular time, a ground-breaking double CD, emerged in November of ’98, moving well-over 500,000 units, and garnering favorable reviews from fans and critics alike. Flash forward…Over the course of the last eleven years, and four hit records, later, and Yuk, who also moonlights as a member of the Thug Lordz, alongside Sac-town’s own, C-Bo, returned this past summer with, arguably, his most well rounded project-to-date, the aptly named, Free At Last. On the nineteen-track entry, the, now, 36-year-old, Grammy-nominated emcee is joined by a plethora of peers and friends in the biz; including, Ya Boy, Jay Rock, Young Money’s Gudda Gudda, Tity Boi from Playaz Circle, Messy Marv, Choppa City, Roccett, 2Eleven, Mistah F.A.B., Chop Black formerly of The Whoridas, Dru Down, Curren$y, Richie Rich, Beeda Weeda, 3X Krazy’s Agerman, L.E.P./Bogus Boys, Kafani, Shade Nate, Lee Majors and up ‘n’ coming singer Jannine V. Free At Last, the follow-up to last year’s star-studded The West Coast Don, is his second solo collection sans Rap-A-Lot, a partnership that had been in place since his premiere solo offering more than a decade ago. “I’m no longer on Rap-A-Lot Records, I’m signed to my own label, Smoke-A-Lot Records. It’s no problem with me and Rap-A-Lot Records, we just decided to part ways,” Yuk clarifies, when asked about the sudden dissolution from his, former, parent company. Re-iterating, the self-proclaimed “Worldwide Mobb Figga” is humbled, “[…] I grew up on Rap-A-Lot music, so to be signed was a dream come true. Shout out to J Prince for lettin’ me do my thang and supporting my solo career through all the years — One hunid!” Free At Last is only a small example of all that Yuk has in store for the coming months. With immediate plans to continue building his Smoke-A-Lot brand, 2010, ’11 and beyond, is looking more-than promising for the self-made musical millionaire. There’s his impressive roster of talent–Thuglordz (him & BO), whose just launched Thug Money is now available at all major digital and retail outlets, The Regime, Dru Down, Kuzzo Fly, Chop Back, T-Lew & Lil Hyfe–continuations of the popular compilation series United Ghettos of America, entited Passport and Eye Candy Volume 2, and his next solo body of work, tentatively titled Thug’n & Mob’n. And, of course God willing, another Luniz LP may also be on deck. “[Numskull’s] locked up in jail, so when he gets out we doin’ another Luniz album. […] FREE NUMSKULL!” Yuk loudly shouts. “In the future, I’m droppin’ more movies. My DVD game about to step back up to an all-time high. Also, look out for the movies I’m starring in, like, FIVE-K-ONE, starring Clifton Powell and Melvin Jackson Jr. from HBO’s THE WIRE — The future lookin’ real bright for da kid!” Yukmouth announces excitedly, and then, sounding very grateful, reflects on his storied history, “I wouldn’t change nothin’ because the shit I went through as an artist made me and gave me the game I needed to start and run my own record label. In closing, Yukmouth, who has nothing but love for those millions of devoted followers who have had his back, literally, from his whole inception into music, graciously concludes, “Shout out to all my fanz dats been holdin’ a ni99a down since day one, without Y’all I’m nothin’! So, keep supportin’ me, and I’ll keep droppin’ HEAT ROCKS 4 Y’all! Check me out on twitter.com/tharealyukmouth, myspace.com/yukmouth, and www.smokealotrecords.com — The game is to be SOLD not TOLD…INDEPENDENT iz the way to GO!”