A well-versed writer and performer, Cleva has surfaced from under thick layers of snow and ice and is melting away old expectations of what Minnesota hip-hop is. A true Minneapolis South Sider, Cleva brings a new sound to rep his city. Transcending traditional MPLS emo-rap and trivial Top-40 hits, he reflects the politics of the present and a pained past with an unbreakable exterior. It’s this relatability and realness that pushes his sound deep into the lives of his listeners. His lyrics are hard – like concrete, with solid beats that bounce off of it. Cleva’s music is felt and sold around the world from Germany to Japan where he keeps in touch with and updates his supporters via social networking sites such as Twitter, MySpace and Facebook (Twitter.com/Cleva, MySpace.com/Cleva and Facebook.com/thatclevaguy). Although he is the latest artist to join the Twin Cities’ own Long D.O.E Records, Cleva still represents It’s Been One Entertainment, never leaving behind the company with which he first embarked on his career and released first project, ‘97% of Da Album.’ As one of the founders of the Umbrella Gang movement, Cleva will also be releasing their album, ‘Umbrella Music Group – The Album,’ this summer. A number of prevalent up and coming Twin Cities’ artists, including Cleva, will be featured on this project that he executive produced, mixed and engineered. His first mixtape due out later this year, ‘Long Road Home,’ will bring Minneapolis its next hometown hero and provide answers to this enigmatic and sincere individual. Ever the perfectionist, Cleva pours what seems like infinite amounts of time and dedication into any project he touches, grinding it out every second. “It’s been awhile,” he says, “The timing wasn’t right. But I’m here now…” Cleva came from seemingly nowhere, to certainly – now here, so welcome him home.