City the Great is a reputable Music Artist who began their exciting musical voyage of artistic discovery at the age of 9 years old. Since then, they’ve used constant collaboration and experimental sound exploration to shape the signature sound that echoes with their inspiration from the Hip Hop Culture.

After the loss of his father at age 11 and experiencing a near brush with death himself, City’s anguish was further heightened by his mother falling ill. By this time, a lot of pressure was placed on him as he cared for his younger sibling. The fear, hurt and rage he felt fueled him to utilize his pen and write. His passion grew and he wrote vigorously each day.

As a teenager, City began to take his craft more seriously, hosting and competing in various hip-hop battle ciphers. Winning many, he continued to pursue a career in music and released his first CD, titled The Journal. He acquired the nickname “Ill Dramatic” by his peers due to his lyrical ability of painting a picture much like artist Nas. City was granted access to the nuances of the industry but chose the indie music route. He released several mixtapes online, frequently participated in shows and took interviews to promote his music and brand. Globally, City received notice after connecting with Certified Hitz Music Group’s founder DJ BAD THA PROBLEM and Philadelphia underground producer Mizzy Beats.

Through the success of mixtapes, “Reloaded” and “Carry The Casket” and overseas buzz, City established several business relationships and collaborations with many including Jinxy Music, Charlie Brown of LESFLO Entertainment, producers Pluto and Buck 3000. Eventually, City caught the attention of hip-hop alumni, Special Ed. Impressed by City’s talent, Ed focused on signing City as his first artist on his label, Semedia (formerly SEMI Records). He has since released several projects including studio album, The Inevitable and the Why Not EP.

In 2021, City and his CNE team established a partnership with the legendary Kool Rock Ski (Disco 3/ The Fat Boys). City and fellow CNE artists performed at Kool Rock Ski’s event, the 1st Annual Classic Hip-Hop and R&B Cookout. From there the deal was sealed to orchestrate the event every year along with events and projects in between. The following summer, City hit the stage again at the 2nd Annual Classic Hip-Hop and R&B Cookout, performing several songs including “Realigned” featuring Kool Rock Ski.

In 2023, City released “NY Sounds Like”. It has gained massive popularity and radio airplay with its anthem-based theme, heavy-hitting beat and bar work. He also performed live on stage with Kool Rock Ski and Playboy Mikey D on Summer Stage in Coney Island. This marked a new milestone as City The Great was the first independent artist to perform on Summer Stage. His new album The Syllabus will be released in 2024! As City continues to create music and elevate, he maintains his goal of reaching the masses through his storytelling and bringing the true elements of hip-hop back into the forefront. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.