Virtuoso

By age 17, Virtuoso was making his own vinyl records, appearing on international releases and touring across the globe. Virtuoso’s fiery, intellectual battle raps and honest, cutting-edge social commentary quickly caught the attention of the international underground hip-hop community. With a deep, powerful voice and a versatile, unique flow, he debuted on wax in 1998 and was immediately recognized as a force to be reckoned with on the exploding Boston hip-hop scene. After whetting appetites with devastating off the head freestyles and a string of show-stealing guest appearances, Virtuoso released his first single, “Incinerator,” b/w Orions Belt, featuring Mr. Lif and Esoteric…………

After dropping two more 12s he released his self-distributed debut album, “WW1: The Voice of Reason” acclaimed by fans and critics alike for its lyrical prowess and diverse soundscape…. He followed up this succesfull debut with the Molemen produced 12? “God of Thunder” and appeared on many notable releases in the international music scene………….

Virtuoso has performed extensively in the United States, opening for such popular acts as A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, The Beatnuts, Eminem, Rakim, Bravehearts, Black Moon, Wu-Tang Clan, Deltron 3030 & M.O.P. He has toured Europe four times, including two stints with Oakland lyrical legends, Hieroglyphics. He has also collaborated on record with such musical luminaries as Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Jaz-O, Tatyana Ali, Bahamadia, Mr.Lif, Akrobatik, Jedi Mind Tricks,7L & Esoteric, Torch and DJ Vadim. His trail-blazing lyrical genius, packaged in a unique blend of hard-edged hip-hop containing elements of rock, funk and dramatic orchestra has garnered significant notice. Virt has been featured in magazines such as URB, XXL, Mass Appeal and Insomniac and was awarded a Boston Music Award in 2002 faor Outstanding Hip-Hop act. His dazzling freestyle skills also earned him an appearance on CBSs The Carson Daly Show and resulted in a final-four finish in the HBO Blaze magazine MC Battle.

Staying true to the ferocious energy that gained him recognition, he came back with a vengeance for his RYKO distributed sophmore LP, “WW2: Evolution of the Torturer.”…………

Released in an election year, his former label Omnipotent Records partnered with the maverick NYC imprint Raptivism Records to unleash his fury. The album provides some of the most radical content in recent memory, including the controversial lead single Farenheit 9/11 b/w “Military Intelligence f/ Akrobatik” that plays like a hip-hop soundtrack for the war in Iraq & Afghanistan.

In 2005 Virtuoso released his explosive new mix CD “Big Bangers” on his newly founded Big Bang Records, and getting ready to start a tour in support of his upcoming 2009 LP “The Final Conflict” which he has delayed more than Chinese Democracy but is sure to give his diehard underground fans exactly what they want….but hey thats why he is the Axel Rose of shrapnel flows…..