Quickly breaking through to major mainstream success in the hip-hop world, Brooklyn based rapper Ciph remembers being at his late grandma’s apartment in the late 90s and looking down as Jay-Z shot the video for the classic, Grammy nominated “Hard Knock Life” on the streets near the same Marcy Houses housing project where the future superstar and mogul grew up.

Inspired by groundbreakers like Jay-Z, Biggie and Nas, Ciph began writing his own rhymes and fusing his own beats with a confidence that shines through big time on Black Mamba, his first complete album project after first making his mark with his late 2006 “Quiet Storm” mixtape, which was hosted by world renowned mixtape DJ DJ K-Swiv. Ciph dubbed his debut Black Mamba after the codename for Uma Thurman’s shadowy former assassin character—like her, he’s a force to be reckoned with, and after the Black Mamba strikes, the victim (or in this case, the listener) is never the same again.

That’s been the kind of response Ciph has been getting since he first hit the stage in 2005 at a rapper competition at Club Pyramid on the Lower East Side. Putting across the same charismatic, can’t turn away stage presence as Tupac and Biggie and blending it with the easy graceful rhyme flow of Nas, the multi-talented performer captured Brooklyn first, shocking fans with his forceful but cool delivery and showmanship. Opening up for guys like Papoose, Black Rob and Sheek louch of the lox, and performing at hotspots like The Sugar Bar in Manhattan—which is owned and operated by R&B legends Ashford & Simpson—Ciph grabbed everyone’s attention with his ultra-seamless mix of his party side, street side and angry side that drew early comparisons to Eminem. His performance at The Sugar Bar was televised and viewed by over 2.5 million people.

All of this set the foundation for his emergence with the “Quiet Storm” mixtape and appearances on over 50 mixtapes by other artists. He was named one of the best unsigned entertainers of 2006 and his tracks were placed on the “Best Of Look What I Found” mixtape; one of these, “Let’s Work,” was turned into a popular ringtone. Staying true to his name (which draws from the world “cipher,” or a completed circle), Ciph is dedicated to giving listeners a fresh new vibe with every song, hook and lyric; his full range of melodic, groove and poetic talents are out there for the world to get excited about on Black Mamba.

Friends say Ciph is kind of shy in person, but that wild, cool confidence is all over this compelling 11 track joint that features vocalist Stevens, rapper Prota-J and sensual vocalist Netafari, who the rapper met at an ASCAP seminar in Los Angeles. He pulls no punches on his introduction as the strutting, can’t take your eyes and ears off him kind of “Superstar Ciph,” which launches with a dramatic bold and brassy mix of horns and strings; it’s an announcement to the world, hey, if you missed me before, there’s no denying a new presence on the scene this time. The bold and brash “Heat” boasts that despite all the hoopla surrounding the Southward movement in the rap world, there’s nothing like a good old fashioned Brooklyn Bad Boy, and Ciph’s there in the mix.

In case we didn’t catch it, he then grooves on the dramatic and percussive, autobiographical “Brooklyn Swagger”—a title which says it all. Vibing with Stevens on the surefire hit first single from Black Mamba, Ciph announces he’s here to “Steal the Show.” But the collection’s not just about stating his case to the world. “My War” (which he performs with Prota-J) is about the individual battles and obstacles people face in life and while battling their own demons, while “Answer” is a hypnotic and forceful social statement that was inspired by the shooting of Sean Bell, who was killed on the morning of his wedding day in 2006 in a notorious NYPD shooting in Queens. “Guys from my neighborhood can relate to unfair treatment by the police,” says Ciph.


During 2009-and early 2010 Ciph began recording his New EP Some Time In New York City.. Taken after a John Lennon Solo Album of the same Name the yet to be Released Album as Ciph puts it " an artistic view of my life in New York City as I see it" The EP's 1st Official Single "Never Waste Your Time" Featuring Soul singer Phil Geston.. after one listen to this record it is proven Ciph has what it takes and that he is Built to win.
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