Okwerdz

Best known as a battle rap pioneer, Brian "Okwerdz" Peeples started swinging his axe as a teen in his hometown of Stockton, California in the late 90s and early 2000s. The same gritty landscape that shaped hardened warriors like UFC's Diaz brothers also gave birth to Okwerdz, a quick-witted, bullish emcee with a mouth like a grenade: explosive and detrimental to anyone who crosses his path. With his brash delivery and haymaker punchlines, he quickly rose to the top of the West Coast battle scene as one of its elite and most influential figures. He used that notoriety to showcase his depth and intricate songwriting ability on his debut LP, Random Acts of Music, in 2005, which featured rap titan Tech N9ne and Grammy nominated producer Jake One, among others. The record gave him an even wider fan base, leading to international tours and a collaboration with Australian hip-hop outfit Hilltop Hoods on their 2007 LP The Hard Road: Restrung, for which Okwerdz earned a certified gold record... [Details Intro]