The Dean's List

If you haven't heard the buzz yet, let it be known that Chicago native Rockie Fresh is quickly becoming your next favorite rapper. Only 20-years-old and starting his music career just a few years ago, this young up-and-comIer is already one of the hottest independent artists in hip-hop.

With a unique sound that has deep urban undertones and an alternative rocker mentality, Rockie continues to break barriers and defy conventions. Working with artists ranging from Fall Out Boy lead singer Patrick Stump to internet phenom Lil B, and with co-signs from the likes of new-age college rap sensations like Asher Roth and Kidz In The Hall, Rockie's grassroots movement has every corner of the music world talking. From Complex Magazine to BroBible.com, The Source to MyspaceMusic, and BET to RockTheVote, Rockie is quickly taking the industry by storm.

Fresh's debut mixtape "Rockie's Modern Life" was released in December of 2009, quickly propelling him into Chicago stardom as fans and tastemakers across the city began echoing the name of a new hometown hero. Not sure what to expect, Rockie took to the stage for the very first time in his career at his own release show. To his surprise, he found himself in front of a sold out crowd of eagerly anticipating fans. From there he was propelled into the national spotlight as he earned performances at SXSW, A3C Music Festival, and Bamboozle, and opened for Rick Ross, Big Sean, The Cool Kids, Twista, Chip Tha Ripper and more across the country.

Coming off of his newest project "The Otherside", Rockie continues to outdo himself. As his sophomore release, "The Otherside" tallied over 15,000 downloads in it's first week alone, and over 30,000 downloads to date. Presented by 2DopeBoyz.com and MTV Top DJ's illWill & Rockstar, the project was deemed "one of the most impressive mixtapes to close out 2010" by The Smoking Section and one of the best mixtapes of the year by many, making Rockie Fresh one of the top emcees to look out for in 2011.

18 Year Old Los Angeles Hip Hop Artist Mani Coolin' Grew Up In The Streets Of L.A. Off Of Crenshaw And Washington To Be Exact, He Lived There His Whole Life, Growing Up He Didn't Have His Father Around For The First 10 Years Of His Life, That Made Him Very Determined & Independent. He Started Writing Raps Around The Age But Never Took It To Seriously. His Mom Tried To Stay On Him About School But Around Mani Coolin's 11th Grade Year In High School He Stopped Going. Eventually He Checked In To A Continuation School Named Walt Whitman HS, Right Behind Fairfax High School Where He Previously Attended. While Going To School There Mani Had A lot Of Time On His Hands Because The Work There Came So Easy To Him. He Started Writing Raps Again And Eventually Met Up With A High School Friend By The Name Of Fred Dinero. Fred Had A Studio Mani Could Record At So Everyday After School Mani Went There And Recorded Music. Music Got Mani On The Right Path, During The Summer Of 2010 He Got Back On The Right Path With School And He Returned Back To Fairfax High November 15, 2010. He Released His First Project March 12th 2011 Entitled "Something Perfect" With Features From Casey Veggies, Julian(Rangers), and Rocket. After He Released "Something Perfect", People Start Taking Mani Coolin' Serious When It Came To Hip Hop. He Started Gaining Exposure, Showing Up On Various Websites And Blogs. Mani Coolin' Started Releasing More Songs. The Summer Of 2011 Mani Coolin' Decided To Release His E.P. Coolest Minds, He Teamed Up With Niko G4 & Rocket And Made A Song Entitled "The Usuals" That Has Had The Streets And Internet Buzzing. He Is Now Working On His Second Project "For The Moments" Which Has Been Talked About Since A Month After The Release Of "Something Perfect". Mani Coolin' Says This Project Will Be More Like An Album Versus A Mixtape. Mani Coolin Attends Dillard University In New Orleans Where He Met Up With A Man Named Waynee Who Owns A Large Studio Where Mani Coolin' Is Recording "For The Moments".

Forty2 is a group of two Southern California natives with a creative vision and broad musical perspective of Hip Hop, RnB, Jazz, Rock and Soul. MC and Songwriter Chad Galati a.k.a. Messer is a young, energetic, and rhythmically talented artist who writes for the same reasons most successful ones do…the passion to have music tell the emotional story of their daily lives with the writing itself helping get through it all. Sharing past and present experiences, friendships, relationships, the struggle to become successful, but sometimes to just survive defines the drive behind Forty2 and their RAW nature.

The unique sound that Forty2 provides is not solely attributed to the message and lyric content, but also to their distinguishable voices apart from today’s professional musicians. The combination of Kody Kropp’s strength and range of singing talent with Chad’s, high energy style rap flow combines for heartfelt dynamic studio recordings, and incredibly exciting live performances. Forty2 is known for their appealing on-stage presence, lively crowd attendance, and a loyal fan base following.

Guided by their focus to one day be amongst the greats in the industry, Forty2’s upcoming album release in early November 2011 will inch Forty2 closer with the Radio Ready Singles available including: “Pilot”, “M.U.S.I.C.”, “Behind These Doors”, “Our Own Zone” & “Spend It All.” Become a fan by “Liking” and listening to Forty2 at Facebook.com/Forty2music. Follow their activity, show times, updates, and music news all in one place.

I wrote my first song when I was 13 and I havent looked back since then. Over the years I continually got better and expanded my rhymes. My senior year in high school I released my self made album called Plead the Fifth and distributed to people at my school and others. The album got nothing but good feedback. I am now 18 and currently working on my second self made album called Round 2. When it comes to influences I definitely have to mention Jay-Z, Kanye West, Andre 3000, Kid Cudi, Drake, and Ludacris.