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Wordsmith

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Lyrically the 90's; conscious & commercial HipHop with an out the box approach

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Hometown	Baltimore, MD
Genres	Urban, Hip_Hop
Band Members	Wordsmith
Achievements	» more
Upcoming Shows	None

Contact Information:	Manager Tracy Randall omegrandall@gmail.com 888-445-8708 Ext. 1 Label Anthony Parker wordsmith@nurevcamp.com 443-854-4628
# Years Experience Performing Live:	5
# Live Perfomances Past Six-months:	7
Market Draw:	Baltimore: 76-100; Washington DC: 51-75; Virginia: 31-50; California: 76-100; New York: 76-100
Venue History:	SOBS - New York, NY Sonar - Baltimore, MD Ottobar - Baltimore, MD Bourbon Street - Baltimore, MD Fletchers - Baltimore, MD 9:30 Club - Washington DC, DC Love Nightclub - Washington , DC
Opener Experience:	Chubb Rock, Brand Nubian, Boot Camp Clik, Skyzoo, Digable Planets, Jim Jones, Nappy Roots, Jaz-O, Poor Righteous Teachers, Rass Kass, Sheek Louch, Roc Marciano, Jaz-O, Mambo Sauce, Wale, Tabi Bonney, Nipsey Hussle, Sha Stimuli
Performing Rights Society:	ASCAP
Discography:	Statements & Stipulations Special Edition Mixtapes LP—2006; Statements & Stipulations Mixtapes LP—2006

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About the Artist

Wordsmith has been busy building a loyal fan base and garnering critical acclaim over the past few years with a Hip Hop style that can’t be labeled. Boosted by the 2DopeBoyz/Frostwire.com sponsored, “Prelude to the King Mixtape” that dropped in April 2012, The Baltimore native released his life lesson album, “King Noah,” on June 19th, 2012. The independent album was released through his NU Revolution Entertainment LLC imprint in conjunction with a national distributor. Powered by four lead singles, “Music for the Masses,” Never Be the Same Feat. ELiM,” “Eye for the Spotlight Feat. Phil Ade,” and “On My Job,” Wordsmith has set out to prove he is ready to make an impact on the charts.

“King Noah” is a life lesson album that I dedicated to my son Kingston Noah Parker, so he would have blueprint for life through my music,” stated Wordsmith. “Everything is coming together from the music and business side with this release. I have a style that allows me to stay ahead of the curve in terms of musical creativity and hip hop fans are at a point where they want fresh sounds and energy from artists.”

Far from a Hip Hop newbie, Wordsmith originally caught the attention of critics within Hip Hop circles by teaming with the legendary Chubb Rock and the release of their “Bridging the Gap” album which was powered by the lead single, “OId 2 the New,” which had a huge following within collegiate circles. Bridging the Gap sparked the release of his 2010 debut “Vintage Experience” which garnered him praise for his creativity, witty wordplay and soulful melodies.

Recognized in the Allhiphop.com, “Breeding Ground” section for new artists, the acclaimed site states, “After only a few moments of speaking with Wordsmith one can see his advantage over other rappers. He is not only a talented lyricist; he also has a keen business mind and a willingness to learn.”

In an era where both established and emerging artists struggle for economic prosperity, Wordsmith has been able to utilize his business savvy and songwriting skills to garner a ASCAPLUS Award for 2011-2012 and licensing deals with Nintendo, ESPN, VH1, Golf Channel, Six Flags, ABC, CBS and PBS to build his revenue and expand his fan base. Wordsmith attributes this business know-how to his college education and experience running his independent label which taught him to be creative and resourceful.

Fans new to Wordsmith will soon learn he is far from the typical rapper. The German born artist and son of a U.S. Army Colonel traveled the world as a child and developed a broad musical taste which included commercial, alternative, hip hop rock and the pure lyricism within hip hop. The heart of his devotion to lyricism can be attributed to his true influences within Hip Hop which include Redman, Tribe Called Quest and Rakim.

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- "King Noah" Album accepted in Pandora Radio Library
(2012)

- 2011-2012 ASCAPLUS Award Winner

- Urb Magazine Feature (2012)

- MP3 Feature w/ CBS MP3.com for the song Generation X
(2012)

LICENSED MUSIC 2010 - PRESENT

* NEVER BE THE SAME (ESPN Unite)

* ON MY JOB (Cici's Pizza Hogfest Commercial, Van,
Tantrum, Vampire Mafia)

* WE DO IT BETTER (NFL Networks Top 100 Players of
2012, Multimedia Plus Retail Training, Top 25 Overlooked
Plays in MLB History, MLBN CD: 50 Fan Moments of 2011,
SEMA and Haney Project)

* EYE FOR THE SPOTLIGHT (ESPN - SportsCenter Special
Year In Review 2011, College Football Plays of the
Week & Frostwire.com Gesture-Based Audio Player
Promotional Video)

* SHOW ME THE MONEY(Style Network - How Do I Look,
VH1 - 40 Most Shocking Breakups/40 Most Shocking
HipHop Moments, Richie Rich, Meet our new CEO: Ariel,
Nets Magazine, Connecticut Lottery "Powerball", Young
Drivers)

* STEPPERS STUDIO (Mind & Body & Cruze-arti)

* BLOCK BANGER (VH1- 40 Most Shocking Break-ups,
Mind & Body, The Outdoor Room, )

* HOOK-UP HOTLINE (Mind & Body)

* TOUR GUIDE TO NEW BRIDE (UFC 3, Homemade Simple
& The Ring Leader)

* AS THE ART FADES AWAY (Six Flags Theme Parks
US/Canada, PBS - Design Squad Nation,
Swagg Merchant Videos, American Latino TV & UFC 3)

* GOD'S MORNING (PBS - Design Squad Nation, The
Beachead Trailor, Swagg Merchant Videos)

* BEG FOR MERCY (CBS - The Defenders)

- Participated in Radio One's IVote Campaign Concert Series
(2011)

- Under My Armour licensed to the Maryland Youth Football
League Championships & Under Armour (2011)

- Hook-Up Hotline Music Video Featured on MTVmusic.com
(2010)

- Hook-Up Hotline Single Peaked at #14 on Mediabase Indie
Charts (2010)

- Performed at Artscape & A3C Festivals (2010)

- Vintage Vault Mixtape Featured in The Washington Post
Newspaper (2010)

- Urb Magazine Feature (2010)

- Mixtape distribution through #1 Download site Frostwire
(2009-Present)

- Selected as HipHop Weekly Magazine's Next 2 Blow
Sponsored by Burger King (2009)

- Chubb Rock & Wordsmith "Bridging the Gap" Album
Peaked at #9 on the CMJ Top 40 HipHop Charts

- Chubb Rock & Wordsmith "Old 2 The New" Single Peaked
at #2 on Rapattacklives/Rapnetwork College Radio Top 30
Charts (2009)

- Chubb Rock & Wordsmith "Bridging the Gap" Album
Featured on Myxer.com (2009)

- Myspace Music Feature (2009)

- Opened Independent Record Label NU Revolution
Entertainment LLC (2009)

- Scored Death & Honor for Nintendo Wii’s Madworld by
Platinum Games/Sega (2009)

- Ode to the Pioneers record peaked at #4 on the Rap
Network Top 30 College Charts in (2007)

- Selected as Unsigned Hype in HipHop Weekly (2007)

- Opened 24/7 Internet Radio Station/Blog Revolt Radio
(2007)

- Statements & Stipulations Mixtape Notable Mention on
MTV's Mixtape Mondays (2007)

- Opened for Chubb Rock, Brand Nubian, Boot Camp Clik,
Skyzoo, Digable Planets, Jim Jones, Nappy Roots, Jaz-O,
Poor Righteous Teachers, Rass Kass, Sheek Louch, Roc
Marciano, Jaz-O, Mambo Sauce, Wale, Tabi Bonney,
Nipsey Hussle, Sha Stimuli (2006-Present)

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Music

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Never Be the Same Feat. EliM

Play

Music for the Masses (Produced by Strada)

Play

Generation X Feat. Substantial, K. Sparks, CuzOH! Black & J The S

Play

Grudges & Growing Pains

Photos

Videos

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Music for the Masses

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Wordsmith "Never Be The Same" Feat. EliM

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Achievements

Reached 55th in Best of Urban chart in 2014. In the top 100 for 3 weeks.

Reached 37th in Best of Urban chart in 2013. In the top 100 for 5 weeks.

Reached 50th in Best of Urban chart in 2011. In the top 100 for 7 weeks.

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Press Coverage

"King Noah" Album Review via Pop Matters (2012) by Pop Matters
This is a storyteller concerned with other things than violence and degrading women. There’s varied guitar moments, there’s a lot of narration, but mostly there’s a continued commitment to an...

"King Noah" Album Review via Jasen T. Davis (2012) by Jasen T. Davis
Baltimore rapper Wordsmith is another talented emcee in a long line of musicians who make rap that hits your soul by way of the cerebrum, combining stylized vocals with hard-hitting hip-hop to deliver an album you could either place next to your Arrested Development and KRS-One LP's or between Frank Herbert's Dune and Yamamoto Tsunetomo's Hagakure in the philosophy section of your personal library.

"King Noah" Album Review via HipHop Authority (201 by HipHop Authority
Outside the confines of Baltimore, Wordsmith isn’t necessarily a household name. Like most independent artists in hip-hop, he does what he can musically while balancing reality (family, children jobs, etc.) In an era where releasing an album is definitely taking a financial risk, he’s been able to carve out a name for himself and create a successful niche by licensing music for television shows, commercials, and video games. On his new album, King Noah, he is hoping to show his talents off to a more musically appreciative audience looking for some music to bob their heads to....

"King Noah" Album Review via Rap Reviews (2012) by Rap Reviews
This album is literally a dedication to Wordsmith's recently born song Kingston Noah, with an intro before the title track explaining that numerological coincidences abounded when he was brought forth on the Earth. Even without those coincidences, any father will tell you that bringing a son or daughter into the world is a life changing event, putting all of your priorities into a totally different focus. It hasn't changed Wordsmith's focus on being a musician though - it just enhanced it. Wordsmith is already an unconventional emcee who purposefully decided to ignore modern day trends, "Bridging the Gap" to days gone by to record an album with hip-hop legend Chubb Rock. There's nothing nihilistic or excessively indulgent about Wordsmith - he's all about the "Essence of Life":

"King Noah" Album Review via Black Grooves (2012) by Black Grooves
Wordsmith isn’t your average, everyday rapper. With a college-level business education, he has an understanding of the inner workings of the music industry. Building on this experience, he has been able to establish licensing deals with entertainment companies like Nintendo and CBS while establishing his own label. However, one should not understate the lyrical ability that got him there. First gaining recognition with Chubb Rock on Bridging the Gap, Wordsmith has continued to gain critical acclaim throughout the hip hop community for his creative wordplay and uncommon content, which is evident on his latest album.

"King Noah" Album Review via Okayplayer (2012) by Okayplayer
Wordsmith is a very skilled rapper. He has a nice flow, an aggressive delivery, introspective subject matter, solid lyricism and raps over pretty good production for the most part. He reminds me a little bit of a young Talib Kweli, and definitely could develop a solid underground hip-hop following, but tracks like “Never Be the Same” and “On My Job” even show flashes of mainstream potential. The posse cut, “Generation X,” for instance, features a pretty memorable hook as well as a pretty dope verse from fellow Maryland emcee Substantial.

"King Noah" Album Review via Slug Magazine (2012) by Slug Magazine
Wordsmith King Noah NU Revolution Entertainment Street: 06.19 Wordsmith = Eric B. & Rakim + Big L The hardest things to combine in music are spirituality and hip hop, but Wordsmith has done it on King Noah, garnering major respect for his vision and narrative. The LP is a tribute to his young son, “his blueprint layout for life.” Wordsmith spits an emotional intro to every track. Dancing vocally on every bar, his infamous skill shines as he takes us on this life journey. The beats are rose colored, the vibe that of hope and positivity. Speaking of our hungry age on ”Generation X,” it seems as though he is pursuing the most important conversation of his life (he completely is) and that, my friends, is straight powerful. This hip-hop lullaby is well worth a listen, even if you’re out of the cradle and way beyond being saved. –Meera Masud

"King Noah" Album Review via Baltimore City Paper by Baltimore City Paper
ONCE UPON A TIME, rappers like Baltimore MC Wordsmith—labeled indie, conscious, or backpacker—dotted the mainstream hip-hop landscape like conscientious objectors, avoiding the violence, self-hate, and misogyny upon which so many radio MCs built their empires. Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, and the Roots even busted through on occasion, reminding their hit-making brothers that another world was possible. But these days, conscious MCs have either dulled their creative swords to reach broader audiences or faded into the woodwork. Enter King Noah, the fourth LP from Wordsmith, a creative explosion in the form of a musical treatise to newborn son Kingston Noah. Released the week of Father’s Day, the album includes lessons about ambition (“On My Job”), exploring the world (“Globetrotters”), and letting go of hate (“Grudges and Growing Pains”), all backed by up-tempo, often piano-driven tracks produced by the likes of Centric, Benny Rome, and DJ Eclipse. When Wordsmith, vocally a dead ringer for Kweli, raps earnest double-time rhymes like, “Only peace and love can be the centerpiece/ Then at least we show the world that life can be sweet” on the title track, those weaned on Waka Flocka Flame and Curren$y mixtapes are tempted to dismiss him as corny—especially when it veers to the evangelical—but the deep personal passion and vocal dexterity are hard to deny. The MC, who owns his label, isn’t likely to see the broad breakthrough he hopes for, at least lyrically (“This is a revolution in music right now/ All that garbage that’s out there is about to be abolished”), but, like artistic standard-bearers in every generation, he’s keeping the torch alight so someone, someday might. And, in the meantime, Kingston Noah has a hell of an audio blueprint to live by. Wordsmith has his CD release party at sonar june 22. Doors open at 8 p.m. $15, $10 Advance.

"King Noah" Feature via Performer Magazine (2012) by Performer Magazine
To be continued via the link

"King Noah" Video Feature via AllHipHop (2012) by AllHipHop.com
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"King Noah" Feature via Shockwave Magazine (2012) by Shockwave Magazine
ShockWave-So we hear you’re about to release a new album, can you tell us a little more about it? Wordsmith-The album is called "King Noah", short for my son Kingston Noah Parker. I created this project as a musical blueprint for my infant son; something he can go back and listen to over the years. It’s a very catchy project with an eclectic beat selection that really symbolizes the different sounds I acquired by growing up around the world. I can't even say it’s a Hip-Hop album; it’s more just good music with deep messages.

"King Noah" Feature via Platform 8470 (2012) by Platform 8470
‘I don't feel like a lot of artists today care to put messages in their music’, Wordsmith claims. ‘So I would like to fill in the gap’. In 2009, Wordsmith - don’t confuse with Wordsworth- already filled a gap along with Chubb Rock on the album ‘Bridging The Gap’. That gap was old and new school rap. In 2012, the Baltimore rapper and single father turned his third release ‘King Noah’, into a guideline for his son with words of wisdom and experiences explained…

"King Noah" Top 10 Album for June (2012) by About.com
Appealing to your compassion and tenderness, Wordsmith titled King Noah after his son, Kingston Noah. How ki-yooot. The single-poppa designed King Noah as a life blueprint for his kidlet to help him navigate issues like race, envy, politics and allathat. If you like Skinnyman, if you like Shad, if you like the thinking emcee, then this album is right up your zone.

"King Noah" Feature via MP3.com (2012) by MP3.com
In the vein of hip-hop greats like Gang Starr and Talib Kweli, Wordsmith is an MC with a social message to deliver. A breathe of fresh air in these days where most hip hop lyrics celebrate material excess, Wordsmith’s endeavor to promote social values is commendable.

"King Noah" Feature via Urb Magazine (2012) by Urb Magazine
Despite its vibrant musical history, Baltimore has never been known for hip-hop. That doesn’t bother emcee Wordsmith, who has been reppin’ his B-More proudly since releasing his first record Bridging the Gap in 2009 with Chubb Rock. This summer, he released his second album “King Noah” which featured on up-and-comer talent Skyzoo (known for his work with 9th Wonder), among others. Sky, whose debut LP A Dream Deferred will drop this Fall and features 9th Wonder, Jahlil Beats, Dj Khalil, Black Milk, sat down with Wordsmith, one rapper to the other, and asked the seasoned vet about the new record, fatherhood, and what it means to rep the city he calls home.

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Wordsmith

About the Artist

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Achievements

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