El-P

Born Jaime Meline in New York, El-P let his mother know he wanted to be a rapper when he was around 10 years old. Meline's mother chose to support her son, and began searching for music programs in which to enroll the boy. He released his first 12-inch as a solo artist, under the moniker Company Flow, in 1993, then teamed up with turntablist Mr. Len and rapper Bigg Jus for Company Flow's first full length release, Funcrusher Plus. Released by Rawkus Records in 1997, the album became legendary as a symbol of the uncompromisingly raw ethic of truly independent hip-hop. Company Flow released a second full-length record in 1999. This one was fully instrumental and proved to be the last record the group would make. They split amicably in 2001, freeing El-P to release his first solo record, Fantastic Damage in 2002. The record received wide critical acclaim and established El-P as a continuing force in hip-hop. Also in 2002, he composed the score for the graffiti documentary "Bomb the System" (2002). He released High Water, a jazz collaboration, in 2004, then his second solo full length in 2007, and the third, Cancer 4 Cure, in 2012. It was while recording Cancer 4 Cure that he was enlisted to produce a track for rapper Killer Mike. El-P ended up producing every track on Killer Mike's 2012 release R.A.P. Music, the two toured together, and in 2013 released their first full-length record under the name Run the Jewels. Their second album, Run the Jewels 2 was released in 2014, and their third collaboration was due in 2016.