A San Francisco native, Sellassie is an alternative in today's hip-hop. He embodies black street culture alongside the revolutionary spirit of the Black Panthers. His music is a commitment to truth and justice in an industry of destructive messages and payola scandals. Sellassie's mix of non-traditional beats and clever rhymes easily set him apart from the rest. Masterfully articulating the struggle, he has a contagious rawness. In nearly a decade of writing rhymes, Sellassies passion for poetry and truth has grown into his art, an art dedicated to exposing truth and taking a stand.

Raised in the bay area at the height of the crack epidemic and witness to countless black on black murders exposed Sellassie to the ills of the world at an early age. The elder of two sons, he was raised in a family of love and independent thought. Sellassie's father is an intellectual who taught his sons to seek knowledge, be imaginative and question authority. Sellassie developed an interest in history books at an early age and sought answers to his questions in American, African-American, African, Caribbean, French and Spanish books. Sellassie is self-taught and while his peers were in college, he was learning to survive on the streets. Sellassie has been writing on the conditions of Black America for years and as a young black man in America, he knew he was set up to fail. Identifying with the underdog, Sellassie music represents survival, freedom and faith. His material explores socio-economic inequities, political injustices and the realities of ghetto life.

Exposed to a range of music from the Ohio Players to Bob Dylan, Too Short to Tina Marie, Sellassie's influences are varied. He started writing short stories and screenplays in high school and it soon translated to writing rhymes. He decided to use Hip Hop is a resource to get his message out and incite change. He's now built a catalogue of over 100 songs, independently releasing his first full-length album, and he is poised to hit a town near you. Dig Sellassie's debut album, I'm Tryin' to Make a Livin' Not a Killin', here.

RADIO ACTIVE

Originating from Boston, MA, Radio Active embodies the essence of hip hop life. He is an emcee, beatboxer, writer, and painter. He plays musical instruments, incorporates electronic beats with his beatbox and commands active audience participation during his always fresh, soulful original live performances.

Most recently he expanded his career to include voice over work and educational workshops for children and young adults. Radio Active has toured extensively the past seven years throughout North America, Europe, New Zealand, Japan and Australia where he received two gold records as a member of the politically charged musical group Michael Franti & Spearhead. Tours included performing to audiences in theaters and festivals upwards of 100,000 people, and Radio Active on national television programs such as David Letterman, Craig Kilborne and MTV with the critically acclaimed single/videos "Rock The Nation" and "We Don't Stop."