Fuel

2016 release. Koncept & J57 create earnest Big Apple stadium bangers that carry a deep emotional resonance while still keeping the party rockin'. They were weaned on crate digging and local deep cuts, but have always kept one foot in the mainstream. It was this deep immersion into NYC's hip-hop scene that brought the two together. Lyrically, Koncept delivers intimately biographical rhymes that explore where he's at now by dissecting his past. His friend and cohort J57 adds his A-game production to the mix in a sweeping tapestry of boombap revival, orchestral synths and clever hooks. Now, as an ambitious producer/emcee team, the young veterans are ready to take their epic, relentless sound to the masses. In the wake of this incendiary performance, Red Bull Music chose Koncept as part of it's artist development and discovery program SoundSelect. With this platform in mind, Koncept & J57 refocused their energies on music that would resonate with a wider audience. The result is the EP The Fuel-a riveting underdog tale told as if the duo is looking back on it's legacy a la ESPN's SportsCentury. Fired up, Koncept details his hip-hop hustle over J57's big-statement music, the whole affair filled with ecstatic anticipation for the real-life successes on the horizon. With The Fuel, these rising artists build on their underground hiphop success, proving that in addition to being technically proficient (as they'd already displayed with Brown Bag AllStars), they're also capable of adding a strong emotional core to their music.