Hustle and ambition are built into rapper Brian Lee’s blood. One of the youngest of 17 siblings, the Cleveland, OH native intimately
knows about struggle and survival, a consistent narrative found in his music. Being that pain breeds passion and purpose, which
often fuels great art, the wordsmith has curated an impressive self-titled debut that builds on the foundation of adversity. Yet Lee is
a master of finding the silver lining to every dark cloud. His optimistic and inspirational spirit, a testament to his humble nature,
pervades every corner of the 10 tracks found on the project.
One of the few rappers that established a clothing brand before a rap career, Lee launched his successful line of urban streetwear of
the same name in 2010, which he continues to operate. The serial entrepreneur grew up surrounded by music, even penning lyrics
as a kid, but didn’t decide to pursue his desire to get in the booth until 2013. His older brothers inspired him to pic up a mic but the
inspiration for his sound comes from his primary influences that include Bone Thugs N Harmony, Outkast, Lil Wayne, Master P,
Biggie, Tupac, Meek Mill, Jay Z, Future and Drake. As the Midwestern MC got more comfortable in the studio, he began to gain
confidence in the creative process of assembling a complete project.
The result is a seamless smorgasbord of street anthems, club bangers and melodic grooves with soulful grit that highlight the
artistic wizard’s young brashness. Brian Lee is an introduction to Brian Lee. It draws together elements of old school and modern
day hip-hop, delivering a musical message of motivation that emphasizes his harmonious, versatile and witty flow. On singles like
“Blind to See” and “Enemies,” Lee raps every rhyme in detail proving he’s on a mission to solidify himself in the game, while we find
the rapper spitting verses with a handful of bars that reflect his love for his hood on “For My City.” He chose to keep this project
feature free to make a name for himself without the assistance of any high-profile artists. Lee also opted to use the hometown heat
of local producers in an attempt to give them the shine they deserve. A combination of talent and ambition led Lee to opening for
Waka Flocka in 2014 and Kevin Gates in 2015. His difficult childhood primed him for big arenas; his stage persona is best described
as controlled chaos.
You have to admire Lee’s work ethic. He skillfully executed his career by selling his music out of the trunk, moving more than
10,000 cds at an average price point of $6. Marketable and smart, Lee reaches out to fans through both music and fashion in an
attempt to make a genuine connection. Part entrepreneur, part artist, the CTM Fam label head continues to perfect his brand. “I’m a
dreamer, but I’m also a doer,” states Lee. “I consistently strive to put out quality product whether that’s with my clothing line or my
music. My main goal is to change the situations around me, which includes my family. And you do that by being in full control of
your business ventures. That’s what I’ve learned; that’s what I’m on.”
A real creative talent with an undeniable hunger to succeed, Brian Lee is a multi-faceted empire with staying power.

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