Verbal Kent

Verbal Kent has been recording and performing Hip-hop music since 1998. He got his start as a rhyme writer during the early nineties, a treasured period in the young history of rap music. You see, back then Hip-hop music was really good. Inspired by the climate of the era, Verbal would spend hours writing raps in the basement of his parents Chicago home. Diving deeper into hip-hop’s form and power, what started as a hobby quickly turned into a positive addiction. Once simply something to do, the art of creating Hip-hop music became his first true love.

By the age of 18, Verbal took the show on the road. He moved out of his parents basement. After years of “thinking about taking it seriously”, VK founded the late nineties ground breaking Chicago Hip-hop band “Organic Mind Unit”, or “OMU” Together, VK and OMU would release two albums and play over 180 shows within three years. In 2003 the group would disband, mostly due to Keyboard player William Kurks’ decision to “just not show up to practices anymore” Not letting that stop him, Verbal released his first solo record “What Box” on Chicago’s Gravel records in late 2003 and began to gig as a solo artist. The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Reader took note of his release and received it well. URB, Elemental, and Vibe magazines also took to the LP. However, within months of his debut release, Verbal Kent survived an attempt on his life. His throat was slashed in an alley near his home, the wound just missing his jugular vein by centimeters.

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