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Known to the hip hop community as “Da Monsta”, Demonceie was born July 17th, 1981 in Antioch, California. After living in the small Northern Californian town for four years, his family moved to the suburbs of Walnut Creek. This move signified a departure from a multicultural environment to an arrival in a predominantly white, upper class neighborhood. For Demonceie, this was a complete culture shock being one of few Black kids in school.
 
He was soon labeled as a wild, loud but charismatic personality and self identified rebel. This reputation, and the trouble that came with it, followed Demonceie throughout his years of schooling. Detention and suspension escalated into probation and eventual incarceration. All innocence was lost.
 
Yet, even during this difficult coming of age story, Demonceie was introduced to political consciousness and the culture of hip hop through his older sister Yahsmin. He found that this was the path to follow in life and his future career in music. His songwriting developed and was influenced by the study of history and those from a revolutionary era before his time- Malcolm, Martin and the Black Panther Party.
 
Demonceie’s hunger for knowledge and wisdom was insatiable. His own father was a former dealer and musician. Although similar troubles haunted his father’s past, he instilled discipline, respect and a sense of loyalty in their home. Demonceie’s father played with two salsa bands as a percussionist (congas and bongos) and introduced the family to Latino culture and the diversities within it. 

With the encouragement of his father, Demonceie learned to play the clarinet, saxophone, percussion and several other instruments in music class. His school district was one of few to survive budget cuts in music and art programs. Having access to musical education in the suburbs and in the home fed his passion and inspired a lifetime quest to become a great musician. Music was paramount in this household, where the sounds of Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis and Quincy Jones could be heard, in addition to many Funk, Motown and Latin legends.
 
Demonceie’s mother, a white woman of mixed European ancestry, was also very important in his life. Giving the utmost love, dedication and support to those in her family, she worked over 20 years as an early childhood development teacher. The power of teaching was another guiding principle in his life, due to her shining example.
 
Being a child of the eighties, hip hop was an integral part of Demonceie’s life and development into young adulthood. He was most impacted by Tupac, Ice Cube, Too $hort, E-40, Mac Dre, Ghetto Boys and many other West Coast pioneers but credits the artists of the “Dirty South” as well. Later in life, he expanded his boundaries to include De La Soul, Tribe called Quest, Wu Tang, Outkast, Goodie Mob, Redman and Erik Sermon.
 
It was the combination of all this great music that made Demonceie the musician he is today. Demonceie takes pride in his “California underground” style of production, while still creating tracks that appeal to old school hip hop or Dirty South fan bases. As a producer, Demonceie follows the work of people like Dr. Dre, Ric Rok, Timbaland, Rza, Mike Mosely, Studio Tone, Battle Kat, and Khyree. 
Although Monsta began as an emcee, he grew into the creativity of producing and recording music of his own. As an independent producer, his goal is to create the sounds for up and coming artists trying to establish themselves, just as he did.
 
He now owns a state of the art music studio in the Bay Area, built piece by piece with his own financing, and has recorded hundreds of tracks! 

Born and raised in the historical Fillmore Jazz district of San Francisco, Ari "Illa" Nicole is no stranger to soulful melodies. At a young age, she knew that music was her passion. From sitting on her mother's lap mimicking her singing techniques, to laying in between tower speakers soaking up the sounds, Illa's love for music triumphed. She began by joining the church choir at 5 and shadowing her uncle, singer/songwriter Kenyan "K-Maxx" Hopkins, throughout all of his musical endeavors. Illa is actively producing, writing, and arranging. With heavy influences from legends such as Stevie Wonder and Donnie Hathaway, Illa brings the harmony back while making it her own with later influences such as Mary J. Blige and Faith Evans. There is a big lane that R&B music has been missing, and Illa definitely is the lady to bring the love back.

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