Grxwn Fxlks | Biography
Emcee/Producer duo Masai Turner and Akil Esoon formed Grxwn Fxlks with a mission to create music specifically for the adult Hip-Hop enthusiast. Their sound organically resonates with that often-overlooked target audience by weaving a confluence of positive vibes, social awareness, cultural pride, and street wisdom. “Authenticity is our superpower,” Akil says of the tandem’s insistence on making music with applicable substance.
Grxwn Fxlks’ first single “Celebrate” has reached over 1 million streams since its release. The vast majority of those streams came from the 33-54 year old demographic – an anomaly for a Hip-Hop group releasing their first song. Masai’s lyrics lead listeners to appreciate the small things and to be grateful for the life they have. “Check cleared, bills paid, Celebrate”, Turner encourages. This humanistic, eye-leveled approach was an intentional far cry from the luxury rap, violence, and misogyny that dominates the genre today. Thousands of comments, reactions, shares, and purchases later, Grxwn Fxlks have their proof of concept. It turns out that soulful, layered production and crafty wordsmithing were what mature ears around the world had been waiting for.
Being born, raised, and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has given Grxwn Fxlks an undeniable blue-collar edge that one would expect of two artists who forged their talents in the unforgiving streets of the Steel City. Homegrown grit and hometown support are great starter kits for success. However, the group quickly realized that it would take a bicoastal combination of the music industry’s best facilities and professionals to help them reach their full potential.
On the creative side, they enlisted a Los Angeles based A-List of engineers to perfect their sound. Grammy Award-Winners Neal Pogue (Tyler the Creator, Outkast), Derek “MixedbyAli” Ali (Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller), Mike Bozzi (J Cole, Nas), Elton “L10MixedIt” Cheung (Chance The Rapper, Kehlani) and several notable others are credited on Grxwn Fxlks’ linear notes. On the business end of the spectrum, Grxwn Fxlks’ releases will be distributed exclusively by The Orchard (a fully owned subsidiary of Sony Music) — based in New York City and widely recognized as the leading distributor of independent artists/labels. This deal allows the group to retain 100% ownership and creative control via Turner’s Authentic Recordings imprint while leveraging the power of the distributor’s marketing and promotion resources. “Hollywood is home to some of the best studios and engineers in the world and it now serves as our base of operations for recording, mixing, and mastering”, Turner announces.
Grxwn Fxlks’ first full-length entitled Volume 1: Independent takes listeners on a journey that visits a wide range of topics including love, slavery’s influence on police brutality, death being an unavoidable part of life, and taking ownership of your dreams. DJ Jazzy Jeff (2-time Grammy Award-Winner), Raheem DeVaughn (3-time Grammy Award-Nominee), veteran Bronx emcee Mysonne, and singer/songwriter Nikki Jean (Rhymesayers) are featured throughout the album as it unfolds.
A documentary film and a signature merchandise line will accompany the album. Fans can additionally expect club dates this summer, a college tour in the Fall, and an extended festival run next spring.
This group is clearly out to prove that the reboot on the golden era they were raised in is alive and well in their hands. Success in Hip-Hop may typically be a young man’s game, but all of the recent signs point to it being a Grxwn Fxlks reality.