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label: Cornerstone RAS

In today's hip-hop world, cluttered with the same gat toting, money throwing, pseudo tough guy personas, it's never easy to stand out from the pack. Enter AWOL One, best known for his work with seminal Los Angeles underground group The Shape Shifters. Known for his trademark, raspy, off cadence flow, AWOL has always been one of those MCs who can take a rhyme anywhere, over any beat. In the process, he�s established himself as a well respected subterranean rapper who can rock mics and shows with the best of them; he's performed alongside the likes of Common, De La Soul, Cypress Hill, Afrika Bambata, Jurassic 5 and countless others.

AWOL's new solo album, featuring KRS-One and production from the likes of Grouch, DJ Rhettmatic and Pigeon John, and slated for release on Cornerstone R.A.S., is a perfect example of the creative genius that has earned him his rep. Replete with soulful, synthesized, neck snapping beats and AWOL's vivid parables, clever rhyme schemes and sometimes sing-song delivery, this is, in his own words "the best work I've ever done." Of course, AWOL has been putting it down in such fashion since his days coming up in Los Angeles' San Gabriel Valley during the late eighties, the formative years for West Coast hip-hop.

Indeed, AWOL grew up going to the legendary Good Life's Project Blowed open mic sessions in Los Angeles and started hanging out with the likes of Mass Men, Aceyalone, Rob 1 and storied Cali graf crews CBS and LSD. With such companions, it was no surprise the aspiring hip-hop junkie fell into b-boying-tagging, djing and eventually writing rhymes.

During his early 20's, AWOL did all sorts of odd jobs to keep his passion for hip-hop alive and raise his baby daughter in the process. Soon, through his deft turntable skills, AWOL was afforded djing gigs for various low ride tours and found himself heading toward where he wanted to be. It was rapping and performing behind the mic that ultimately interested him most.

read more about AWOL here