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Band Website: www.lyrycystmusic.com

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The name Lyrycyst is likely to ring a bell in rap, hip-hop, pop and alternative rock circles as an innovative underground force who's literally built his storied career from the ground up thanks to tireless work ethic, extraordinary artistic ambition and a gripping story sure to leave listeners reeling.

Steven Cooper was born on the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri where he was raised by his fifteen year old single mom. After having two more children, his mother found herself trapped in an abusive marriage which escalated out of control, often leaving the kids to watch the violence in disbelief. After leaving the relationship, the family was forced on the run, living out of hotel rooms and even their family vehicle, as the ex-husband searched to find them. With an eighth grade education and very little money for food, Lyrycyst’s mom was forced to become a strip-dancer to pay the bills. The party atmosphere quickly led to a drug addiction, which continually grew into a $2,000 dollar a week habit, and sent the rest of the family on a downward spiral of depression, violence, and heartbreak. However, the road to recovery for the entire family would soon be in sight thanks to one of Lyrycyst’s old classmates and former party buddies, who stepped out on a limb and invited him to church. After hearing the name of Jesus for the very first time, eighteen year old Steven Cooper made a commitment to follow what he had heard, and in one year saw his entire family radically changed as they all made the same decision. It was during this time that Lyrycyst dove head first into his passion for music, and watched as his dreams unfolded before his eyes.

After debuting in the Kansas City area on the mainstream side of the coin, the genre crossing creative force released an indie album that sold over 3,000 copies, launching the hopeful emcee throughout a whirlwind of local concerts, club dates, and collaborations. And throughout that time (which also included over 100,000 downloads), the singer/songwriter soon saw his distant dreams being conceived in reality, paved with his first prize placement in the National Christian Artist Talent Search (on the Inspiration Network), continuous recording and tireless touring that included everything from dates with Relient K, Jeremy Camp, and TobyMac to the mission oriented Impact World Tour, (showcased in over 40 states and 45 nations across the globe) to this year's Shoutfest (alongside the likes of Pillar and Superchic[k]). Intense live shows and a distinct sound is why Lyrycyst is considered one of the most dynamic and passionate performers in his genre.

Indeed the past six years have been ramping up to a significant worldwide breakthrough, not to mention unwavering support from Lyrycyst's label home Kikstart Records, who's rolling out the red carpet for his official label debut Masquerade. The disc combines a series of tried and true cuts all tied around a variety of intense subject matter and cutting-edge musical advancements. Overall, Masquerade is a great contrast to the shape of the rap industry today. It provides a fresh and original sound that is sure to capture an audience in today’s popular music scene.

"When I first started, I knew rap had several stigmas and one of my goals was to change the way people thought about it," Lyrycyst asserts. "People always complain that they can't understand the words, there's never much of a positive element, and the music is often a boring loop pattern. As I've grown as an artist, I've sought out to change all three- rapping in a clear way people can understand, making the content clean and relevant to the issues of the day, plus setting a standard for innovative arrangements and creative music tracks. Because of these three things, I’ve seen people who never really listened to rap or hip-hop before stand behind something they never thought they would."

All any skeptic needs to do is visit the diverse swath of stylistic influences on Masquerade, which transition between the barometer of Eminem, Jay-Z, Linkin Park and The Beastie Boys. From there, the lyrics disclose an extremely bold account of today's troubled society, including issues as wide spread as loneliness, celebrity obsession, political divide and even abortion. In fact, that latter topic is boldly addressed throughout "What If I?" a soulful duet with Dove Award winning/chart topping hit maker Rachael Lampa.

The no holds barred pop culture assessment "Showbiz" is also finding on air and online prominence thanks to a much buzzed about music video, while also bringing to greater light Lyrycyst's evolving versatility that bridges rippling rap attacks with raucous rock riffs. The chunky, funk-infused beats of "Today" also demonstrate a mash-up of eclectic instrumentation, wrapped around a message about shedding the shame of your past and learning to forgive yourself. The epic and emotive Linkin Park-esque "Need To Be Loved" dives even deeper, unveiling Lyrycyst's most overt look into his personal religious beliefs.

Ultimately, the future of this debut rap/rocker is a promising one. Besides a heavy touring schedule, Lyrycyst is currently busy promoting his new release to the mainstream music markets. This includes a debut music video for the single “Showbiz, a television and radio media tour, and a full blown marketing campaign to help build a strong foundation under the album and launch Lyrycyst into a brighter public spotlight.

“I want the people to know what I’m about as an artist,” says Lyrycyst. “I think each song I write represents something different and has something unique to offer. I took my time making this record so that my first release would be something people could get excited about. I’m just anxious for the public to get their hands on it.”