The state of Arkansas has been declared LockBoyz territory! With fiery stage appeal and songs that speak to their ever-growing number of fans, this group of rappers from Prescott is a standout.
These hometown friends, with a strong connection of brotherhood (from childhood through college) have the longevity and drive needed to cross borders into a new rap zone. By blending old school with new, and east coast with west, they have created a fresh down-south style that has mass appeal.

Originally founded by Hook Jr. and his two cousins, DJ Hopson and TackForce (who is now their in-house producer), the performers in the group include Hook, who stands as big brother; Balla-T, little brother of the crew; Chop City; Lil’Dre; J-Block; and 3C.

Not ones to ever take ‘NO’ for an answer, the LockBoyz have broken through barriers that have stood in the way of realizing their dream. They have played everywhere from celebrated concert venues to parties in the roughest ‘hoods. They have sold albums out of the trunks of their cars while doing promotional tours all over the south. They’ve gotten radio play and opened for noted artists like Trey Songz, Tierra Marie, Yo-Gotti, 8 Ball and MJG, Young Buck, to name a few. And they continue to push forward with full force.

Prolific songwriters with nine releases to their credit, the latest, “Rise and Grind” (released in 2012), just might be their key to entering the national spotlight. “Rise and Grind” features songs like Bust It, a favorite with the ladies that offers a mellow touch but still jams in the clubs; Alright, which tells of their struggle to see better days; and Look Back At It, with its addictive hot dance mix.

The Lockboyz have also collaborated with fellow artists on some songs, including Round for Round, an R&B cut with vocalist Solo; and Prove It, a blistering number with a jazzy feel that features Southside Reggie. Also included in the collection is Talk to Me, which samples rap legends KC and JoJo; and From Round Me, a sure hit that reads all the fakers in the world that try to get the best of us.

With production credits led by TackFroce, the release also includes guest producers Don Dash, Fly Beatz, Double D and Lil, Homie Justin. The LockBoyz also continue to acknowledge those who have helped their career progress: father figure and mentor Roc-B, who has guided them; and NoLuv, a close advisor who first put them in the studio.

Writing about a wide array of issues, from hustling to life’s everyday struggles, from women to living in the fast life and back, the LockBoyz seem to speak for a generation. Their hardness is balanced by humility and motivation; their street smarts peppered with positivity and down-south sensibility.
In their words, “we stay turn’t to the max every time we hit the stage, doing our job to give back to those who have paid to see us.”

Past LockBoyz Albums:

2012 “Rise and Grind"
2011 “Golden Army”
2010 “Blood Sweat & Tears”
2009 “Overheated UnderRated”
2008 “New Kings of Hip Hop”
2006 “Definition of a Baller”
2004 “Showcasing Skills”
2003 “Take Over”
2002 “Game on Lock”
For more information:
Lockboyz.com
lockboyzmuzic@gmail.com
Music Links:
Soundcloud.com/Lockboyzmuzic
Twitter @darealLockboyz


There’s no question as to why DJ Arkitek is quickly becoming one of the nation’s premier DJs. His high-energy sets and eclectic selection continually reinforces his climb to the top. Arkitek’s ability to draw the best musical selections of any genre is what landed him one of the few coveted spots as a Studio Paris (Chicago) resident DJ. Playing alongside industry heavyweights such as Kaskade, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Afrojack, A-Trak and Snoop Dogg has further refined his skills as a top notch entertainer. His talents have brought him to 1OAK, Bootsy Bellows and Supperclub in LA, SET and The Cleavlander in Miami, and all the way to Club Tropicana in Mykonos, Greece. He recently djed the grand opening of Sweet Chick LA, which is backed by iconic NY rapper Nas. Arkitek inked a deal with 103.5 KISSfm on iHeartRadio as a Saturday night on-air mixer. Four years running, his mix show is blasted to an average of 2.4 million listeners a week, where he hones his ability to recognize hit records and influence masses. DJ Arkitek has recently teamed up with industry heavyweight DJ MOS to bring you Off The Record. The new Los Angeles based radio show is programed and hosted entirely by the two, and is broadcasted every Tues night on Dash Radio from 7pm-9pm PST. He can also be heard playing guest slots Sirius XM’s premiere Hip Hop station Shade45. Through his passion for music and relentless work in nightclubs and radio, Arkitek has provided services for clients such as Nike, TiVo, Dom Perignon, Cars.com, Redbull, UNICEF, Macy’s and Don Julio. Keep a lookout for appearances in your city as his open-format blueprint consistently commands crowds to their feet.

What’s in a name? Plenty, if you’re a Nigerian hip-hop artist and songwriter who goes by the moniker Nonee – an acronym derived from: I’m (n)ot (O)rdinary & i (n)ever (E)xpect the (E)xpected. A fitting case indeed considering he’s nothing short of ordinary… 

NONEE is set to win the hearts and minds of music lovers everywhere and take the music world by storm when his inaugural album launches in early 2013. Titled “Hello, Goodbye…”, the album symbolises the yin and yang of life itself; representing a hello to new beginnings and a fond farewell to the past. It also marks Nonee’s official entry into the music and entertainment industry.

Nonee’s first solo effort will see him exploring a wide spectrum of musical styles ranging from hiplife, reggae to R&B, Afrobeats and hip-hop. Several guest artists will lend their voices to the album. To test the waters, the Nigerian hip-hop artist and songwriter released a single off the debut album on August 24, 2012. “Alikoto” is a catchy and upbeat track produced by Killbeatz from Ghana that features Ghanaian artist Stay Jay. Done in the music style known as hiplife (a fusion of highlife and hip-hop), the dance tune is highly infectious, lively and energetic and provides the perfect launchpad for Nonee’s introduction into the music world. 

Born in 1984, Nonee has his dad to thank for introducing him to music at an early age. A doctor by profession, Nonee’s dad was a serious music lover and kept a vast collection of music. Every day after work, he would play jazz, R&B and hip-hop around the house to a young and impressionable Nonee; he also encouraged him to take up piano lessons and sing in the church choir. 

Those early years spent listening to his father’s music collection and singing in the choir were pivotal – Nonee’s interest in music slowly began to flourish and songwriting soon followed suit. He began writing in high school, during school holidays and whenever time permitted. To hone his craft, Nonee would listen to songs, write down its lyrics and decipher the meaning behind each song he listened to. From there, his songwriting skills developed and Nonee was soon writing his own songs. Inspiration came from everywhere; from movies, to songs to his own life experiences and of those around him. 

Confident of his new songwriting abilities, the now teenage Nonee partnered with a friend and took part in a local singing competition. But his first brush with fame proved elusive: Stage fright and creative differences prevented the duo from making it to the stage. 

Unfazed and chalking it all up to experience, Nonee made another attempt at a much later age and was more successful. But circumstances and timing did not agree with the budding artist and his dream had to be relegated to the back burner for a little while longer. 

In 2009, a year after relocating to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he is now based, Nonee rediscovered his love for music. After a long hiatus, the pull of the recording studio proved too strong to bear and Nonee found himself in the studio once more. Living abroad, says Nonee, had allowed him to gain new experiences, enriching his songwriting abilities and in turn, broadening his thinking and creativity.

That period of creativity proved rewarding: In 2010, he won the African Entertainment Award (Malaysia) for Best Pop Artist. The rest, as they say, is history. 

Nonee counts Fela Kuti, Majek Fashek, Bob Marley, Tupac, Notorious BIG, Slick Rick, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean as among his childhood idols. A fan of a wide range of musical genres (Afro beat, Hip-Hop, Soul, Pop, R&B, House, Dubstep, Drum n Bass, Electro and Techno), Nonee also lists Jay-Z, Common, Damian Marley and Sizzla as among his living idols. 

The artist is also keen on working with producers Cobhams, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Don Jazzy, Jay Sleek, Kanye West and No I.D, and would love to collaborate with international artists such as Chris Brown, Adele, Damian Marley and Sizzla. In addition to Killbeatz, Nonee has also worked with producers Dmite and Chordratic Beats. In 2011, Nonee released “Only Tonight” online, which featured Nigerian reggae/dancehall artist General Pype.

Calling his music lyrical, realistic, Afro-hippie, fun and different, Nonee describes his lyrics as being on point. Using a mix of pidgin English and English, his lyrics (and songs) centre around the facts of life and about how to live, and speak to the common man in Africa who is trying to make a living.

With his over 36,000 fans and still counting on Facebook, Nonee is ready to make music that will stand and endure the test of time most importantly; the type that will be appreciated and accepted globally.

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