Shina Rae
Two times a lady AND more than a woman. That innocuous sweetheart who lives next door eats her vegetables with a prison shank she carved out of a thundercloud. Using a shark’s tooth as her pen, her writing is a comfortable balance between the dizzying contrasts of originality and detail. With a voice as versatile as it is mellifluous, there isn’t a beat, melody or style she won’t make her bitch.
Knights of the Round Table (K.R.T.)
In a city renowned for it’s “slow, loud, & banging music,” and an affection for all that is screwed; Hailing from the Southwest side of Houston, TX, duo K.R.T. is quickly rising among the pack of new artists eager to step out from under the shadows of their musical successors and blaze their own path in Houston.
A passion for music and a commitment to the creed “family first,” inspired cousins Sir Polky and Prince Charles to come together, and K.R.T., otherwise known as Knights of the Round Table, was born. They’re primary focus being a return to good music; something that is casually thrown around in the industry, but rarely seen anymore.
“We not trying to make gangster music,” as Charles stated, “Our music is for everybody. We just want to make you feel good.”
Something that has seemingly come second nature to a pair raised in the church and surrounded by a family full of musicians.
As Polky can attest, ““Music is in our blood. My grandmother played and sang at church, and my mother sang as well. Singing came natural to me, and rapping came along around the age of 14 after I heard Bone Thugs & Harmony. I got good at free styling at school and stuck with it.”
K.R.T. effortlessly walks the fine line between lyricism and delivery wrapped in a playful package, as evident in their current local hit “She Turning Heads.” K.R.T. has swiftly made a name for themselves, and can be seen at various events and venues around town.
The duo themselves are just as endearing as the music that they are producing. When asked what differentiates them from other local artists around town, Charles responded, “Because I wear purple.” While Polky added with a wry smile, “I’m probably the flyest big guy that you’ll ever know. I’m in my own lane because I’m my own different person.”
In short, their music speaks for itself. No gimmicks needed.
-Cecilia M. Smith-
A passion for music and a commitment to the creed “family first,” inspired cousins Sir Polky and Prince Charles to come together, and K.R.T., otherwise known as Knights of the Round Table, was born. They’re primary focus being a return to good music; something that is casually thrown around in the industry, but rarely seen anymore.
“We not trying to make gangster music,” as Charles stated, “Our music is for everybody. We just want to make you feel good.”
Something that has seemingly come second nature to a pair raised in the church and surrounded by a family full of musicians.
As Polky can attest, ““Music is in our blood. My grandmother played and sang at church, and my mother sang as well. Singing came natural to me, and rapping came along around the age of 14 after I heard Bone Thugs & Harmony. I got good at free styling at school and stuck with it.”
K.R.T. effortlessly walks the fine line between lyricism and delivery wrapped in a playful package, as evident in their current local hit “She Turning Heads.” K.R.T. has swiftly made a name for themselves, and can be seen at various events and venues around town.
The duo themselves are just as endearing as the music that they are producing. When asked what differentiates them from other local artists around town, Charles responded, “Because I wear purple.” While Polky added with a wry smile, “I’m probably the flyest big guy that you’ll ever know. I’m in my own lane because I’m my own different person.”
In short, their music speaks for itself. No gimmicks needed.
-Cecilia M. Smith-
Crown Royal Glass 1
Core DJ Rhyno
At only 23 years of age, Ryan Fitzgerald has already invested almost a decade into the game; and accrued an enviable track record while doing so.
A pure love of hip hop spurred Ryan, otherwise known as DJ Rhyno, to get into the game.
As Rhyno will admit, “I started out as a teen, hooking my parents DVD player up to a pair of stereos until I could graduate to purchasing my own equipment.”
His willingness to humble himself and hustle hard would become the recurring theme of his career. By the time he had entered high school, the days of rigging together homemade equipment had long passed. He utilized stints at both Pearland High, and The High School for Performing and Visual Arts, which also claims fellowHoustonnative Beyonce Knowles, to procure gigs at the hottest school functions.
Taking a cue from his predecessors, he realized early on that practice does indeed make perfect; thus in order to perfect his craft he took on a multitude of local gigs; ranging from:
Annual NAACP Gala
Boys andGirlsClubCityofHoustonBeauty Pageant
TheHoustonWolverines Championship Football Game (Delmar Stadium)
“Top Teens ofAmerica” [HoustonChapter] Spring Gala
The UnitedNegroCollegeFund Annual Youth Gala (HornbergerConferenceCenter)
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center International Fest (hosted by Madd Hatta, Morning Show host of 97.9)
The transition from high school to college also brought about a change of scenery; as well as new business opportunities. After pursuing academics at theUniversityofArizona, Rhyno landed a marketing internship with Walt Disney inOrlando, which also landed him squarely in theFloridamusic scene. Utilizing this new opportunity, Rhyno quickly immersed back into his craft, making appearances at Firestone and a plethora of other clubs around Florida, and would ultimately go on to open up for Young Jeezy.
Destiny surfaced once more for Rhyno, when a chance encounter in an airport terminal steered him down his current path. While on a layover in ’08, he struck up a conversation with a woman who shared his passion for music, that woman was Core DJ Director of Marketing Mercedes Streets; and it was Streets who opened the door to a new opportunity, becoming a Core DJ.
Though many in the Houston area have questioned why he chose this path versus aligning with the GO DJ’s, a powerhouse coalition in the Houston and Dallas area that includes, but not limited to, GO DJ’s, GO Hustlers, GO MC’s, and even GO Models; Rhyno’s reasoning was as sharp and direct as he is.
“There’s no animosity. I was provided with an opportunity and I took it.”
Now firmly back inHouston, Rhyno is once again applying the same work ethic that has gotten him this far, and as an accomplished percussionist, and music composer, is quickly establishing himself as a go-to producer as well.
His mantra: ”Study the competitors methods and exceed their accomplishments.”
The Rhyno has arrived at the Houston Zoo. Welcome back kid, welcome back.
-Cecelia M. Smith-
BeatsByBelvedere
FONKDUPLEX