2.Lighter was born in Nigeria on December 19, 1987, with the birthname Kufre Williams Akpan. He was brought up in the hometown of Akwa Ibom, and was considered to be a gifted & brilliant child. His father being a strict disciplinarian saw to it that he was admitted to only the best schools for his studies. 2. Lighters father right from the get go, did his best to set him out on a scholarly track to keep him from getting caught up in the hustle of the streets that much of the youth there did.

 

It was at the tender age of nine that 2.Lighter started to realize that not only was music a great passion of his but from the awards, compliments & high praise of others, that he also had great musical abilities. His true talent being in writing these very catchy poetic rhymes. Thru out his primary studies 2.Lighter chose to spend every last one of his liesurely hours both at home and at school always focused on his song notebooks over his other school notebooks.

 

2.Lighter dreamed of becoming a music super star and would make promises of such to his family and just about anyone else that would listen. However his father insisted that he just focus on his studies. His fathers desire for this and his deep love for his son pushed 2.Lighter to be admitted to CSCS Ukana East for his secondary studies. A short time later he left to attend State College Ikot Ekpene, where he did finally obtain his SSCE.


Achieving his SSCE meant one thing & one thing only to 2.Lighter...Freedom! He was anxious to finally make an appearance on the reggae & rap scene. He registered right away as a member of Central Ghetto Afaha Oblong in Abak LGA. It was here that he met indigenous reggae stars like; Rass Bassman, Rass Kinky Boy, Prophet Zion & Solototo. These meetings had his motivation at an all time high. He went on to also meet Rappers like McProud (RIP), Don Cally and numerous others that were making it big in the local markets than. This 2.Lighter felt was just the first step in his superstar journey and he had high hopes of getting that big break.

 

At the age of 17 2.Lighters father wanted more for his son and fought to keep him from the streets & keep him at home. His father still wanted to keep him from getting caught up in the streets hustling. Ironically it was these streets that were indeed teaching 2.Lighter his street mathmatics. He had no one to support him financially or otherwise when it came to his music career, except for his Street Ghetto Godfathers.Eventually, 2.Lighter called upon an uncle of his to take him to what was to be considered the strength city; "Eket Oil City".

 

Once in Eket Oil City, it wasn't long before he decided to leave his uncle and set out on his own hustle for his music career. This decision allowed 2.Lighter to finally be exposed to studios and top Nigerian Artists. 


2.Lighter recorded his first track, "The Game" performing with top artists Timaya, Dr.SID, Pastor Goody Goody, 2 Short and Lord of Ajasa. He began attending competitions like; Peak Talent Hunt, Star Mega Jam, MTN and Project Fame which really exposed his level of talent and started his fan base. 2.Lighter than made the decision to start up & establish his very own promotions & marketing company. He named his company One Night One Million Ent, which is widely known as ONOMEE. His company works with both new & existing artists with putting most of it emphasis on its newer indie artists.He continued hustling himself and recording tracks like; "Lets Chop Money", "No:1 Hustler", "Am Popular" and others yet to be released.

 

In 2009 2.Lighter did a promo album for his Excellency Dr. Goodwill Akpabio; Executive Governor of Awaka Ibom State Nigeria. He continued to work to expand and grow his own promotions company by continuing to expose his talent & that of others thru social networks. His love of social networking & chart applications allowed him to continue gaining fans, followers and meeting big name artists both at home and abroad online. In the fall of 2011 2.Lighter became an online fan of Richard Madman Jones, known in the US as just simply $RiCh$. 


$RiCh$ is not just a very talented artist known worldwide but he is also the CEO of a very successful promotions & productions company, called Hard Head Records. 2.Lighter exchanged musical blows with $RiCh$ and left $RiCh$ quite impressed with his gift & grind of rap. The timing seemed to be perfect for $RiCh$ to offer 2.Lighter a shot at doing a collaboration for $RiCh's$ upcoming and highly anticipated album, DaMaGe RePoRt. The album itself consists of many collabs with various top artists spanning from the East to the West coast. $RiCh$ had been considering for some time to branch out beyond the US borders and take Hard Head Records International.It was perfect timing for 2.Lighter to have that shot he had been seeking for so many years, to work with an established rapper & become internationally known.

 

2.Lighter jumped at the chance to work with $RiCH$ and was featured on one of the last tracks to be locked in for $RiCh's$ album. The track was called "Neva Doubt Me" and was released on Febuary 2, 2012 to Music 212. com ( Nigeria's #1 Music & Entertainment site) which has over 75,000 fans. The International collaboration remained #1 on the top 5 Song Chart for over two weeks after it's release. "Neva Doubt Me" has continued to blow up and climb charts in other countries as well since $RiCh$ decided to go international with his company HHR, allowing 2.Lighter to be in control of the companies promoting in Nigeria. Since 2.Lighter was Hard Head Records very first International artist to be featured on a track with $RiCh it only made sense to let him be the source of promotions control in Nigeria.


2.Lighter has been dubbed Hard Head Records, "Baby Boy" by the HHR Family and really has surpassed their expectations with his consistent grind promoting Hard Head Records Internationally. He has managed to do this all while remaining true to his own promotions mgmt team, "One Night One Million Ent." Both 2.Lighter & $RiCh$ as well as their companies have now joined forces and have already proved to be a force to be reckoned with

Infectious Music UK - The artist based label, home to alt-J, Drenge, Local Natives, These New Puritans, Cloud Control, The Temper Trap and Superfood.

Born Keyatta Thomas on June 18, Mz Kitty has been surrounded by musical influences her entire life.  With a mother and three older brothers with lyrical talent it was a must that she followed the family talent traits.  At the age of 5, Mz Kitty started singing with her brothers in the church choir, singing songs created by their mother.  Traveling from church to church to sing their songs she fell in love with the thought of one day becoming something great.  So for 15 years she sang and recorded hoping for her big break, but to no avail decided to leave music alone.  Seven years later, at the age of 27, after meeting a local producer she discovered a talent she never thought she possessed, a lyrical rapper.  Now on a hustle stronger than ever for her voice to be heard and her rhymes to do more than be heard but to touch the hearts of her fans, she is determined to be the GREATEST RAPPER ALIVE!!!  Mz Kitty is on the map!!

"An undiscovered talent I didn't know I had...I'm about to show yall just what Mz Kitty is made of...bcuz the cat is out the bag!!"

Corporate clients include:

H&M
Macy's
Sephora
Red Bull
Stub Hub
Nordstrom
Forever 21
Vogue Magazine
Ann Taylor: LOFT
Bath & Body Works
7 For All Mankind
New York & Company
Bonnaroo Music Festival
All Access Weddings

Before he was legally old enough to drive, DJ Rick Ross was already behind the wheels of steel developing creative technics for mixing music. Years later, a seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry, he has worked every type of gig from the Chicago club scene to college bars and managing his own company servicing weddings. Now, studying a Master’s degree in Recording Arts & Technology, Rick has expanded his skills far beyond the decks to understanding music and the forces that drive it from the ground up. Having played to crowds of all ages and genres of all types, his style is one that is unique and you never know what gem he’ll dig out of his crates. DJ Rick Ross remains flexible in his choices of equipment but still prefers the original DJ tool; the turntable.

Hello, it's me.

My new album "The Work" is out now on City Slang. 

thanks x

Profile photos by www.lauralewisphotography.co.uk

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