Cide.

Some leaders produce followers by the strength of their charisma, then lead their people to a place where they should’ve never gone to begin with. Other leaders are defined more by their strength and character, they teach the people how to reach from within and produce extraordinary results. Then there’s Cide., much more of the latter, but definitely a one-of-a-kind. Cide. (born Marvell Valentine) made his way from the depths of Maywood’s gang infested blocks and rose to become our generation...

Some leaders produce followers by the strength of their charisma, then lead their people to a place where they should’ve never gone to begin with. Other leaders are defined more by their strength and character, they teach the people how to reach from within and produce extraordinary results. Then there’s Cide., much more of the latter, but definitely a one-of-a-kind. Cide. (born Marvell Valentine) made his way from the depths of Maywood’s gang infested blocks and rose to become our generation’s most prominent and premier rap artist/lyrical poet to ever grace the mic. He was born and raised on the gritty streets of Maywood IL, an outskirt of Chicago’s infamous Westside. Even after Cide. discovered his admiration for music, he still began to test the boundaries of life at a very early age. Like when he decided to abandon the secure shelter and teachings at his grandparents’ home, and venture into the streets of Maywood to become his own man. By his 7th grade year when other kids his age were trying out for their school’s basketball teams, Cide was driving around Maywood in his 89 Cutlass Supreme, hanging on 15th and St. Charles “hustlin and representin”. During this time while Cide. was heavily involved in Maywood’s street activities he was living out of the imfamous Regal 8 motel on Mannheim Rd.; until one day he was offered residents with his then girlfriend and her family by their mother for a fraction of the cost. During his 8th grade year when other kids his age were getting fitted for caps and gowns and preparing for graduation, Cide. was incarcerated at Cook County’s Juvenile Detention Center, awaiting sentencing for a gun possession and probation violations. Even though he began crafting his rhymes and performing his songs very early in life, it was during his times of incarceration that Cide. would revisit his rapping abilities to hone his lyrical skills. Upon his release from IYC Harrisburg Cide. was armed with an arsenal of songs, and plenty of fuel and determination to reach stardom. Unfortunately, due to the lack of local resources, Cide. never found the chance to record any of that material. But never the less, he persevered, stayed focused, and held firm on his belief that one day he’ll get his chance to showcase his gifts to the world. With this same belief, a fellow artist and friend of Cide. put together a chance meeting with Maywood's local rap celebrity Sawbuc so the two of them could exhibit their skills at the then up and coming record label U~Chi Records. The results from this formal encounter was that Cide. and his friend were to record along side Sawbuc on two of his songs for his then scheduled double disc release. But due to U~Chi’s internal business differences, the record label dismantled, and things never materialized. So Cide. was back to where he’d never left, on his own. That’s when he decided to create his own label and promote himself and other Maywood artists as well. He then recorded his first street single with Sleepy Titled: "The One 4 Me", a lyrical ballet professing their admiration for the weapons of their choice, sort of like Makaveli’s Me and my Girlfriend. But due to more encounters with the law and more incarcerations, Cide. was forced to put these plans on hold as well. Upon being released from his very last bid Cide. began picking up his momentum on the streets from where he’d left off. So in early 2002 he sought out Maywood’s very own DJ Einstein for production and studio time and began working towards a new release. Cide. then invited to the studio some of his close comrades and fellow recording artists Jay (Jae Smitty), Sarah D, and Esse. 10 days later the break thru album titled: Jay & Cide was born, spawning huge hits such as Maywood Hustlers, Who Want What?, Outlaw, and Hey Yo!, garnishing notoriety, acclaim, and recognition thru out the entire Maywood, Cook County, and Dupage County areas. More focused than ever and more hungrier today then he was when he first started Cide. is truly admired by peers and fans alike for his unrelentless pursuit of his life vision, his raw talent and unmatched dedication by any other contender in the hip-hop arena. Read more: http://www.committeemenent.com/artists.htm