Breakout: "25/8"

"25/8"- Nio Tha Gift from Jonathan Benavente on Vimeo.

Also Check: "One Life To Live"

And: "The Coldest"

Name: Nio Tha Gift

Age: 23

Reppin’: Richmond, CA (Bay Area)

My style and/or skills have been compared to: I'm 1 of 1

I started rapping: Age 9

My standout records and/or moments have been: My album titled H.I.P.H.O.P. (which was only released digitally Dec. 15th,2009) was as high as 38 on itunes top 100 albums chart. I also have worked with Super Producers The Runners, Singer/Songwriter Kevin Cossom, Jim Jones, E-40, Too $hort, Mistah Fab, and more. Lastly in 2006 I became the very first U.S. hip-hop artist to perform and distribute an independent album in China in the Southeast Province Guangzhou, where I introduced the culture of Hip Hop to their people. There are nearly 120 million people in that province alone and I was the first to reach out and touch the people. I graced the cover of their national newspaper titled The Guangzhou Daily which was printed up and delivered to over 20 million homes as well as places of business. My whole visit was documented being that it is history. I entered the country shortly after Jay-Z's departure where he was said to be turned away by the ministry of culture due to his lyrical content.

I’m gonna change the game by: Bringing my own sound to the game. I'm involved in many genres of music. I write, rap, sing, and co-produce my material. I take pride in being an artist from the West Coast with a very global unique sound. Most of the time people can't tell where I'm from because my universal sound can't be boxed in or categorized regionally. From hip-hop in its purest form, to the art of storytelling, to street rap, to soulful R&B, to Pop....I'm multi-faceted.

My goal in hip-hop is: To share my story with the world in hopes to rearrange the thought process inside the minds of our lost youth in America. I feel it's necessary that I deliver reality through beautiful music. Instead of feeding my audience garbage I give them food for thought.

I’d Like to Work With: Kanye West, Jay-Z, Nas, Marsha Ambrosius, Latonya Givens, Santigold....my list can go on and on but I'll stop there for now.

I’m gonna be the next: Topic of discussion for many years to come.

To check out more of my music you can go to: My site or Twitter

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