TALoNTED – The Present [Mixtape]

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DOWNLOAD: Talonted – The Present [Mixtape]

What does it take to be TALoNTED? Take a close look at New Jersey’s latest Hip Hop phenom and you’ll find the answer. With an honest and organic approach to music, his lyrical prowess offers a fresh perspective to a fledgling genre and industry. This Ivy League graduate, armed with prolific rhymes and profound insight, has a deeply rooted passion for Hip Hop and is ready to change the game.

Born to Nigerian parents in East Orange, New Jersey, then moving to Newark, New Jersey, TALoNTED wrote his first rhyme at the age of six years old. The youngest of four children, his story of focus and ambition is uncanny. As a child his family found themselves homeless and struggled to make ends meet. Through determination and hard work, they were eventually able to move to the suburbs of South Orange, New Jersey. Thanks to a strong willed and supportive mother, TALoNTED was accepted into The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business where he earned his bachelors degree with a concentration in entrepreneurial management. From there he immediately went onto New York’s prestigious NYU School of Law and scored a Juris Doctorate. Throughout the years he spent pursuing educational excellence, he never ceased to keep his rap dreams afloat. Performing at tons of local talents shows, various colleges across the east coast, including Temple and Drexel Universities, plus several events such as the NBA All Star Jam Session, TALoNTED established himself as an up-and-coming artist whose enthusiasm and aspirational flavor provided a new testimony for young listeners, inspiring them to think outside the box and explore limitless possibilities.

One pivotal moment came when he performed at Shabazz High School in Newark. Sharing the stage with influential poet Amiri Baraka proved to be a monumental experience as the skeptical crowd of teenagers gave an overwhelmingly positive response to his performance, turning him into a local celebrity and making his CD a hot commodity for Hip Hop enthusiasts across the board.

Having been very strategic and deliberate with how he wanted his career to take shape, surprisingly he turned down leads from contacts he made at powerhouse labels So So Def and Capitol Records. With his family depending on him, he decided to remain dedicated to school and see his academic investment through.

With such an accomplished life it’s hard to believe that the journey of TALoNTED has only just begun. His music tells the story of struggle and reveals the many facets of a person that can’t be boxed in or easily categorized. To Be TALoNTED tells his life story and lays the foundation, giving fans an up-close and personal look at the challenges and achievements that have shaped his life. Let Me Do Me gives listeners a fun, upbeat track to enjoy. Uncomplicated and simple in nature, TALoNTED uses the song as a platform to expose us to his business and professional side, characterizing himself as a “private equity investor.” In Maturity he demonstrates the difference between him and the average guy. Rhyming about how he bought a Range Rover but returned it to the dealership in an effort to be wiser about his financial future, TALoNTED introduces us to the new rap hero prototype.

Citing Malcolm X as one of his many musical influences, his approach to artistry is ever evolving and continues to set new boundaries. Describing his music as “not packaged but perfect”, he sees himself as a slick talker that seeks to enlighten and speak to his young audience about a new found reality and culture that exists beyond catchy hooks and lifeless lyrics. With hopes of his music touching the globe and representing renaissance men and women, Hip Hop has been introduced to the rebirth of the intelligent hoodlum and street poet.

What can we expect from this talent…“To be what ya get if Lauryn didn’t dip, If Pac wasn’t hit, if Barack chose to spit, If X at his speech had unloaded a clip, and Bob Marley lasted longer than 36…” a promise that is certain to be fulfilled.