Artist description Cumlaude is original, unique, open-minded, diverse, innovative, fresh, witty, funky, soulful, eclecticand reverential while Huggee's beats are elaborate, consumate, jazz influenced, funky, melodic and groovy

Music Style music for people who love music

Musical Influences Notorious Big, Tupac, DJ Premier, Jazz

Similar Artists Kool Keith, Gang Starr, Busta, Wu Tang

Artist History If you talk to Cumlaude, you’ll quickly realise you’re in the presence of a creative being. It’s easy to understand why. He’s been ballet dancing since the age of 7. Art, dance, creativity is all he’s known. And now at 23, he’s moving in a new direction, hip hop. Dancing wasn’t easy. Being black made it difficult to be accepted in the ballet realm. Hehad to fight for roles, work extra hard to prove he had what it takes, such as discipline, desire and talent. It was in his favour for the seeds of success were planted in those struggles. At an early age, he realised if he was going to make it he had to be focused while tryingto have fun. An opportunity to dance opened up far from home so he took it. With the support of his mother, older brother and sister, he moved out at the age of 14 to fulfil his destiny. He’s been on his own ever since. His mother did stipulate to the dance school that they find Cumlaude an African American church to allow him a sense of culture, focus and friendship. Shonuff, it was at church that he met some friends who were into hip hop. He remembers writing poetry in grade 8 and excelling in English. By age 16 he started freestylin with a group called the Nuff Juice Crew. To Cumlaude, it was just for fun. To his surprise his friends and peers liked it. He started writing lyrics but it was too emotionally draining so he stopped. That’s how freestylin became his primary mode of expression. His dance peers always make mention of him constantly mumbling shit. During his hip hop development, Cumlaude was fashioning a very successful dancing career, winning scholarships, awards and competitions, and always setting new standards for African American acceptance. But now dancing is becoming difficult, more political.In looking to music to find some release, he met a producer, Huggee, who had some "great beats". Time with Huggee was a "good vibe", not doing, just being. It led to two recording sessions that produced the tracks on his debut EP, 'Jazz, The Evolution Of HipHop'. As Cumlaude puts it, he rhymes his side and lets others rhyme the crime side. His experience has honed his style in a particular way. He has a lot to say, it’s the way he says it that demonstrates his originality. And even though he comes different, he is always hip hop. This EP was titled 'Jazz, The Evolution Of Hip Hop' partly because the tracks were done in ONE take. He flubbed one and wanted to start over. It’s included as a bonus track. No fear, he’s already writing lyrics for his full length album, 'Shadow Boxing'. After all, man cannot live by freestyle alone. Cumlaude’s still dancing. And now he’s rappin. It won’t be long before his next adventure begins, because any music lover who listens to this EP at least 3 times will be convinced they are listening to revolutionary music, hip hop music.

Group Members Cumlaude/vocals, Huggee/music & production

Instruments 2 Turntables & A Mic

Albums Jazz, The Evolution Of Hip Hop

Location Toronto, Ontario - Canada

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