BIOGRAPHY: MELAPHYRE Melaphyre, the premiere artist from Ayo Inc./Fight For Us!!, started giving the world his perceptions of hip hop after listening to a Criminal Minded mix tape in mid to late 1986. Though Mela started rhyming a few years prior, it wasn’t until then that the rap entrepreneur gained focus on what was to be his ultimate calling. KRS-1 seemingly spoke to Mela on songs like “9mm” and “Poetry.” Ironically, Mela would take stage with the aforementioned M.C. and perform in three cities with his poetic mentor. Mela, who was one-fifth of the cult legend group Survivalist, brings his second solo session, “Ugliness,” to the listener. Like the classic Criminal Minded, “Ugliness” sets to touch on the ills of everything happening in society. The New Orleans native has seen things of a corrupt nature happen through his eyes, from the gentrification of a community to the crumbling of his historic city hit by natural causes (Katrina). With a knack for never holding his tongue on issues, Mela calls out pseudo gangstas, hypocrite music execs, and civic leaders. Mela's words, which are sometimes welcomed yet resented at the same time in hip hop’s current fickle society, hit home with statements like "I'm speaking from a global perspective. If you ain’t for the upliftment of people on the whole and your primary objective is exploiting a community you were once a part of, then I got no love for you period.” This sentiment, which is typically shared by the educated poor, is what has endeared Mela to fans worldwide in the struggle. This genuine quality is exuded through an unexplainable energy once you cross paths with the M.C. known as Melaphyre. The son of a math professor/educator and musician, Mela measures up to being in your hip hop library collection under quality music for the people. Fight For Us!! *** For more information, contact Ayo, Inc./Fight for Us!! @ (678) 438-2117. www.fightforus.com