Who after eight years of hiatus from the rap game, decides to break his rap silence for this particular artist
(December 24, 2009 – New York, NY) Rising Rap star Etcetera released his new single "Higher", a single he says is for the DJs. The single was produced by and features Platinum Producer Kwame' who after eight years of hiatus from the rap game, decides to break his rap silence for this particular artist…
"Higher" shows Etcetera's unique style of rap and the songs' potential to be one of the hottest records for radio. The single was made available globally through iTunes on November 2009.
Born in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York, Etcetera grew up as an only child in a matriarchal household filled with love, discipline, direction and a soundtrack comprised of Rhythm and Blues and Country music. It was the latter that piqued his creativity, and at the age of 14 he started writing poetry to express his emotions. "Writing music is my elixir," says Etcetera. "It is my centering point." Those poems quickly turned into rhymes that neighborhood friends set to a drumbeat. As a teenager growing up at the dawn of the hip-hop movement, Etcetera, whose uncles were also musicians (one uncle sang in a quartet, another played bass guitar for a disco band, and another was the deejay for legendary hip hop group, The Fat Boys), found he had a talent for song writing. Within a year, he became a member of 90s hip-hop group, Kwame' And A New Beginning, writing rhymes, dancing and touring the world. While a member of the group, Etcetera's writing talents became highly sought after, and he flourished as the go-to ghostwriter for some of today's most legendary hip hop artists. "Hip hop became a huge part of my life," says Etcetera, who has been writing professionally for 17 years."
But after the passing of his mother (his best friend) and grandmother, both to cancer, Etcetera took a break from writing, concentrating on Idol Music Group and making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth.
IDOL MUSIC GROUP, Inc. was founded by Etcetera, a nine-year-old boutique marketing and promotion company servicing a wide-range of lifestyle and music clients as El Don Tequila, PAVE Vodka, TSOB Records, Father Goose of Playhouse Disney, and radio personality Chuck Dogg of New York's Power 105.1.
In 2006, Etcetera formed Team Idol, a philanthropic arm of IMG, to "give back to my community by breaking athletic stereotypes." I was one of the many African-American kids who became a success story in part because of the recreational programs provided to kids, by the city of New York, and I think that this made me a better person. Due to all the budget cuts within our school system, those opportunities aren't there so I just wanted to recreate that experience for these kids," says Etcetera, who spent 10 years as an educator within New York City's public schools working with at-risk youth.
Team Idol sponsors skateboarders and female basketball players by providing them with attire, management, guidance and mentoring, which helps them to "hone in on their God-given athletic talent." To date, IMG has secured sneaker and clothing sponsorships for members of Team Idol, water endorsement and skateboard contracts; and two athletes of Team Idol have entered college on full athletic and academic scholarship.
Simultaneously Etcetera became somewhat disenchanted with the lack of diversity in hip-hop. And when his passion for music called a little louder, he decided to take heed to the advice of television/radio personality Wendy Williams provided to him several years prior: "If you want to hear records that give you that hip hop feeling nowadays, then you have to make them yourself."
That's exactly what he did. After a few years of dominating the underground and college market in chart placement and sales, Etcetera made two transitions: First as an independent solo artist and then signing to a major label. This transition took place when Joel Jeffries-EL, CEO of TSOB records recruited him to write songs for their R&B artists, and quickly signed him as a solo act and producer with the moniker Etcetera (Brooklyn's Boy Wonder). Next, he wrote the song "Backin' Up" for the highly acclaimed film Steppin', a movie done in homage to the art of Stepping. Shortly afterward, he partnered with Father Goose for the single "Chi Chi Buddo" which remained on the XM Kids radio station for 11 weeks at No.1. TSOB later signed with Federal / Universal Music Group where  Etcetera released the singles  "Take You There," "Dance Like That," "OMG," and recently "Higher (Featuring Kwame)."
 
Etcetera, who attended Virginia State University and graduated from JohnJayCollege with a Bachelor of Arts in Deviant Behavior, currently resides comfortably in Brooklyn, New York with his two children, Mikayla and David, ages seven and two, respectively. His debut album, Character, will be released in February 2010.
For more information about Etcetera visit www.myspace. com/etc. For media inquires or interview opportunities contact Deborah Griffin at 323.839.4521 or at deborahmckj@ yahoo.com
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Get a sneak peek of "Higher" online at:
http://www.jango. com/music/ etcetera? 1=0
Available globally through iTunes now!
Contact:
Deborah Griffin, D.A.G. Consulting
323.839.4521 · deborahmckj@ yahoo.com
