ARTABLAZE

Meet powerhouse rap duo Artablaze. Coming together via Myspace, these group members come from two different backgrounds, yet found a common love: rap music. K$TAR grew up in Providence Rhode Island. Though Providence was not well known, nor exposed to the rap community, K$TAR still found her way to rap. During her family visits to NYC, she was introduced to great rappers like the Notorious BIG, TUPAC, Dr Dre and more. After deciding to write her first verse at 14, it was obvious what she wa...

Meet powerhouse rap duo Artablaze. Coming together via Myspace, these group members come from two different backgrounds, yet found a common love: rap music. K$TAR grew up in Providence Rhode Island. Though Providence was not well known, nor exposed to the rap community, K$TAR still found her way to rap. During her family visits to NYC, she was introduced to great rappers like the Notorious BIG, TUPAC, Dr Dre and more. After deciding to write her first verse at 14, it was obvious what she wanted to do with her life. K$TAR soon began to attract other aspiring rap artists in her hometown. She started the ARTABLAZE team, A group of talented young local rappers who wanted success in not only the industry but in life. In 2006 she released her first mixtape: The Gossip Vol 1, which was widely received locally, as well as in Miami, New York & Dominican Republic. After the unexpected success of her first mixtape, she immediately set out to make her next one. On the other side of the country in San Diego California, HARD HITTA, then known as Sammy Castro, was on a different lifestyle path. With his gang affiliation and numerous violate acts, Sammy found himself in and out of trouble and in and out of jail. At some points homeless, Sammy roamed the streets of Southeast San Diego becoming involved in every possible negative thing. Sitting in jail, early in 2003, Sammy made the difficult transformation to HARD HITTA. Someone who was ready to change and turn the negative energy that he harnessed and tunnel it into writing. Writing lead to rapping. Soon after, HARD HITTA began to record his music and marketing himself. One way was via Myspace. It only took a short amount of time before HARD HITTA and K$TAR found each other. First only doing cross promotion, they became great friends and business associates. HARD HITTA joined ARTABLAZE a little while before the release of K$TAR's sophomore mixtape The Gossip Vol 2-Im Hungry. Due to distance, HARD HITTA was unable to make the second mixtape. HARD HITTA soon realized that he needed to be on the east coast with his team. After listening and mentoring each other, they decided to go into the studio together recording their first track earlier this year, Hated By Many. Magic occurred. And it hasn't stopped since.