Cool Cee Brown

Cool Cee Brown is a native of Washington, DC. He is the world’s first, self-proclaimed “soul rap” artist. According to Brown, a die- hard hip-hop fan, the genre has transformed into something unrecognizable over the years. The way he sees it, you only have two choices if you consider yourself a true devotee: take it back to the basics or start something completely new and different.
He grew up in our nation’s capital at the unfortunate point in history when it was also the nation’s murder capital. His colorful childhood in upper northwest Washington accounts for the otherwise inexplicable edgy feel of his music. His compassion and love for his people accounts for the substance. But it doesn’t stop there. Brown, superhero of sorts, teaches English to high schoolers with special needs when he’s not behind the microphone.
The Clark Kent aspect of this shell-topped crusader is paradoxical. It fills him with a sense of responsibility that most emcees don’t have to be bothered with. Thus, you’ll find that his music is devoid of the misogyny, materialism and violence that seem to have become synonymous with urban culture.
Brown technically began his career in 2000 when he formed the group Dirty Water with college classmate and friend, Joe D. Together, in 2004, they released the underground classic album Drowning.
One song from this project, a track initially conceived as a joke, called “Eat My Breakfast Alone”, earned them the respect and admiration of DC’s small but vibrant hip hop community as well as a handful of radio spins.
In 2005, he released his first solo project, the critically acclaimed, Sinnerman. Two years later, with several independent albums under his belt and armed with some hard earned knowledge of the independent music industry, he formed Black Broadway Records with long-time friend, high school classmate and frequent collaborator, Heron Gibran. Together they put out his latest release, Magnificent Bastard, available now at most online retailers.
This project, recorded almost entirely at Depth Charge Studios in Arlington, Virginia features production from Supa C, Team Demolition, Du, Joe D, Mr. Hu, Kokayi, Slimkat78 and Decompose. It also features guest appearances from local legends Asheru and W. Ellington Felton, as well as Brown’s college classmate, Phonte of Little Brother.