EL-P

EL-P, aka El Producto, is one of hip-hop's most obstinate and adventurous pioneers. Born on March 4th, 1975 in Brooklyn, New York, he combines a mid-'80s lo-fi old school aesthetic with a progressive rock musician's inclination to push boundaries. He has never succumbed to the whims of corporate hip-hop, instead choosing to pursue his own decidedly uncommercial leanings.

In the mid-'90s, EL-P developed a strong reputation with the groundbreaking trio *Company Flow*, a band whose achievements include their first LP on *Rawkus Records*, a label that is considered by many as the best for intelligent hip-hop. Over their auspicious stint together, EL-P proved he was himself capable of intense lyricism and sonic production so powerful it could stand on its own.

In addition to his work with *Company Flow*, EL-P collaborated with notable artists such as *Aesop Rock*, *Killer Mike*, and *Cage*. In 2001, after releasing one last album with Harlem rappers *Cannibal Ox*, the group chose to amicably pursue their own directions. EL-P started his own label called *Definitive Jux* and also worked on former *The Mars Volta* frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala's first solo album.