Verbal Kent
A native of North Chicago's Rogers Park, Verbal Kent began his career in the winter of 1998 when he set out to find a group of musicians who were interested in being involved in a live hip-hop band. What resulted was the Organic Mind Unit, a five-piece live hip-hop band, comprised of Kent and Lance Ambu as well as a rhythm section of Shaye Robeson (bass), William Kirk (keys), and Anthony Reid (drums), who combined the sensibilities of a jazz combo with varying musical styles and the essential sounds at the core of contemporary hip-hop. By late 1999, the group released its self-titled debut, Organic Mind Unit, followed by The Unusual Suspects in 2001. Over the next few years, Kent lent his guest verses to several projects, including Rusty Chains' "Battle Scars to Prove It," LongShot's "Civil War, Pt. 2," and DJ Anomaly's "Mountains Rise." In 2004, Verbal Kent released his debut album, What Box, on Gravel Records, a 16-track LP with guest appearances from underground artists such as Wordsworth, One Be Lo, Qwazaar, and Iomos Marad. Instead of including backing by a live band, What Box featured more traditional hip-hop production. While his debut was receiving considerable buzz on the underground hip-hop scene, Kent survived an attempt on his life when his throat was slashed in an alley near his home. He used the near-death experience as motivation for his sophomore album, Move with the Walls, a rugged and deeply personal album -- featuring production help from Oddisee, Overflo, Earmint, and others -- that Kent used as catharsis. Since the release of his debut, Kent has toured nationally with renowned acts such as Sadat X, Count Bass D, and Edo.G., as well as having shared the stage with KRS-One, De La Soul, the Pharcyde, and the GZA.
© Vincent Thomas /TiVo
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Discography
8 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Blade of The Short Cut
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by HiPNOTT Records on 9 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Move With the Walls
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Gravel Records on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sound of the Weapon
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Mello Music Group on 18 Feb 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anesthesia
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Mello Music Group on 11 Sep 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bill's Gates
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by HiPNOTT Records on 6 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bacon & Eggs (feat. Chris Orrick)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by HiPNOTT Records on 8 Sep 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Band Logos On My Right
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by HiPNOTT Records on 25 Sep 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo