Vocab Slick’s roots in Hip-Hop stem from his teenage years spent rhyming in the northern Bay Area of California. Like so many , he fell into a life of drugs, hustling and eventually stints in jail.

The young rapper—then known as Vocabulary Slick—turned things around, cleaned himself up and transferred that energy into his music. And in 2003, he not only released his solo debut, Lyrically Conscious, but also formed the group Distant Relatives with his childhood friend, Emotionall. Shortly thereafter, Vocab and Emotionall were joined by rapper Maynee. Their first full-length release, “For The Passion”, followed in 2006.

What followed is a time of personal challenge and growth for Vocab. Emotionall was deported shortly after their debut. In the summer of 2013, his mother passed away and his daughter was born. Then in January of 2014, the unthinkable happened- his longtime friend and Distant Relatives partner, Maynee, died suddenly. Facing tragedy and pain, Vocab did the only thing he could do- he took that heartbreak and emotion, and put it all into his art.

He has been doing that since. With a run that includes standout performances, a critically acclaimed album, an award and cofounding the Slap Frost Tour, Vocab Slick is in no way ready to slow down.