MAC MILLER
In a blossoming hip-hop hotbed of talent, Malcolm “Mac Miller” McCormick is next up out of Pittsburgh, PA. A recent graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School, Mac caught the eyes and ears of Rostrum Records, inking a deal in July 2010. A multitalented musician who can play numerous instruments and a young novice of the freestyle/cipher/battle circuit of his hometown, Mac has been paving his way to superstardom in his blue-collar hometown for years.
Born in 1992, Mac taught himself to play piano, drums, guitar, and bass by the age of 6. Then, after learning to compose songs in a variety of musical genres, he began studying the art of rhyme. Influenced by the styles of artists such as Big L, Lauryn Hill, Outkast, and A Tribe Called Quest, Mac soon developed a reputation for delivering jaw-dropping freestyles in Pittsburgh.
Recording his first songs in the Fall of 2007, Mac went on to form a duo called The Ill Spoken. By 2009, Mac began recording solo records. During this time he released “The Jukebox” and “The High Life” and began to generate a legitimate buzz in the streets and online.
By of July 2010, Mac’s buzz became undeniable. With a handful of offers on the table, the young phenom decided to sign with independent powerhouse Rostrum Records. In August 2010, Mac released his Rostrum Records debut “K.I.D.S.” and took the internet and music industry by storm.
The Source Magazine says “The sky is the limit for this 19 year old Pittsburgh native,” while HipHopDx labeled Mac as “The Steel City’s next superstar.” Mac was featured on the cover of XXL Magazine’s coveted Top Freshman in January 2011. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says “Miller’s skillful rhymes, humorous themes and upbeat demeanor are catching the nation by storm.” Complex Magazine calls Miller “The Steel City’s newest rap posterboy.” while URB Magazine calls Mac “a young emcee who is the real thing.” Mac’s music is also a mainstay on popular hip-hop sites such as Nahright, 2dopeboyz, Rapradar, TheSmokingSection, Allhiphop, and Illroots.
Mac’s greatest strength though could be his ability to shine in front of the camera. Soon after signing to Rostrum, Miller was thrust onto several national radio shows for interviews and impromptu freestyles, which have now become Youtube viral video classics. To coincide with his debut Rostrum free albums “K.I.D.S.” and “Best Day Ever” Mac continued to team up with hometown filmmaker/videographer Rex Arrow Films. Mac’s videos have now surpassed 250 million hits on www.youtube.com/treejtv, including 6 with 15 million plus views a piece. The success of his early street buzz and social media dominance have now transitioned Mac to sold out shows across the world with The Incredibly Dope Tour upstreaming to the internationally sold out Blue Slide Park Tour with almost 200,000 tickets sold in the past year.
The year 2011 also showcased Mac’s selling potential as his debut Rostrum EP, “On and On and Beyond,” sold over 75,000 copies digitally alone. Mac has also sold over 1.5 million singles total with little to no radio airplay. In November of 2011, Mac continued his surge of success by becoming the first independent artist since 1995 to debut atop the Billboard Charts with “Blue Slide Park.” As of January 2012, “Blue Slide Park” had sold almost 250,000 copies. Look for Mac Miller to be the new face of music in 2012 and beyond.
DAVE CORESH
With his mind as the pen and instrumental as the pad, Dave Coresh scribes melodies that bob heads, moves feet and affects the crowd with his powerful vibe. Appearing at any performance with the newest Jugrnaut store attire, short sleeved t-shirt bearing the signature shield and lightning bolt, fitted hat worn backwards and titled stylish on the side with mic gripped firm in his right hand, the crowd rocks with enthusiasm as his commanding Battle Rap style orchestrates their waving hands. As an MC, one must be able to Move the Crowd, and with smooth beats accompanying his distinctive flow, the crowd falls victim to his vibrant charisma. Such is the bravado of Dave Coresh. Proclaimed as the ‘Boy Wonder in the Flesh’, Dave Coresh hails from DC. He moved to Chicago to live with his aunt after his mother was stunted by drug abuse and father became impeded by an arrest. The roots of his musical influences stem from family ties, which have a history of Church Choir singers and band members jazzing to the beat of the Go-Go Music Movement. Drawn to Hip Hop by the competitive aspect of Battle Rap, the skills of Coresh developed through countless evenings Freestyling against an array of lyrical opponents. Surrounded by a sea of onlookers during these battles, when one opponent fell, the next rose only to share the same fate as the previous. It was the rush of the instance, the excitement of the moment combined with the enjoyment for the craft that fueled him. With intricate lyrics holding universal concepts that a wide range of listeners can groove to without hesitation, Dave’s goal is to spark emotions through the use of his words. Whether it is to help a person grow through a situation or influence another to do better, he brings a positive outlook on life to impact the listener. It’s been a year since Dave began to pursue a career in Hip Hop, and as his buzz grows, he stays humbled by the opportunity to spread his music. Living under the weight of the notion of Hip Hop being dead, he strives to be the leader of the second coming of the genre. A fan of music standing on stage, orchestrating the waving hands of the crowd as a passionate performer, his level-headed lyricism gives him hope that, in the future, the name Dave Coresh can withstand the test of time and become a stable within the history of Hip Hop.
VIC MENSA
Born in 93, Vic Mensa is an independent recording artist from Chicago, Illinois who released his mixtape INNANETAPE online last year to critical acclaim. Vic has toured North America with J Cole and Disclosure and Danny Brown on his recent European Tour. Vic is also the leader and co-founder of the SAVEMONEY collective.