Artoffact(Jeremy Simerson) is a dynamic, and versatile musician from Rockford, Illinois. Originally born in Memphis, TN, Artoffact moved to Rockford in May, of 2000. It didn't take long before he absorbed his surroundings in the Midwest, and translated his experiences, and musical talent into an Art of facts. With songs touching on politics, racism, and music as a whole, Artoffact set out to establish a style of his own with the creation of the duo Artoffact & Uno. With the 2 local artists collaborating it was only a matter of time before they started making moves to make a difference!

Up and coming Rockford rapper / entrepreneur with an extensive 
vocabulary and wide range of topics to help promote the city. 815

Growing up in the city of Chicago, I started spinning house music in 1989, at an early age. Chicago house music movement was big and I got to spin at most of the popular clubs. As part of the Demetrix Dirty Dozen, a DJ team that was well known in the Chicago house scene in the early 90’s. My influences were DJ’s like Mike Boogie Boy and Bad boy Bill.
Around 93” Pumping Pete influenced me to make the switch over to hip-hop. I started doing more battle type stuff like scratching and beat juggling. I used to watch the battles in the city and I knew I needed to step up my game. Once I progressed with my style and learned the techniques of juggling and scratching, I was ready to get into the battle scene.
I competed in many well-known battles both locally and nationally, including the following:
Put up your Dukes- St Louis Missouri
Hip Hop Generation- Madison Wisconsin
Scribble Jam- Cincinatti Ohio
B-Boy fest 2001- Chicago
The Platter pirates DJ battles- Chicago
DMC 2002/2003- Chicago/Columbus/Cincinnati finalist 
Jesone Rockford DJ battle- Rockford
Release 2000- Chicago
Rock the Skate Park- Indianapolis 2002
Guitar center DJ battle	
Mad Poison Beat Down Battle- Chicago	

About 1994 we had a tragic fire in the house we owed in Chicago. After loosing everything, including family, I decided it was time to move on and get a fresh start. My Mom and I decided to pack up and moved by some distant family in Rockford and keep on reaching for the sky. 
Once I emerged in Rockford as a DJ I quickly became one of the top battle DJs in the region and caught the attention of Borgata Records. I started touring with MC Presence. We toured from city to city under Borgata Records’ management. Presence eventually moved to NYC, Borgata moved to AZ we all had to go our separate ways.
Around that time, I formed a DJ crew called Sqrach Deviantz, which consisted of DJ Newsense from Madison, Demis from Rockford, Rawcut from Gurenee and myself. We preformed many four turntable crew sets around the Midwest, and had all the other crews scared to battle us. Eventually, we all got older, commitments grew larger (like wives, kids and mortgages) and we are not able to collaborate as much as we would like to.
In 2003 I was involved in a life changing car accident where I sustained multiple injuries to my right arm. My car was struck on the drivers side, swung around 180 degrees, and a steel traffic light pole came through the passengers side to crush my right arm. 
Long story short, the doctors was suggesting amputation but my lovely girlfriend begged the doctors to save my arm. After 8 hours of surgery they reconstructed my elbow out of screws, pins, and bolts. I had to learn to use my arm all over again. A few years of physical therapy (Scratching and Fishing), I’m back on the scene chasing the dream.
Even tough, my heart is still in turntablism, I have become a well-rounded DJ with multiple skills. I continue to do shows, laying cuts over many tracks, producing and crafting my beat making skills. Mix CDs are in the works for the summer of 2011, including a Mic Hand Recording compilation.
Currently, I have hooked up with the Mic Hand Crew. Traveling around with Case The Joint was where the adventure began. Once Case met up with Imperfekt there was no stopping the flow of shows. The latest additions to the crew Colorless and Opt Rhyme have led The MIc Hand Crew to dominating stages throughout the country. 

uno_815 is following