There are at least four artists by this name. 1) In a time when the bar on lyrical talent has seemingly been lowered through mass consumption and general apathy, Californian versifier Encore keeps his bar higher than a gold medal Olympian. His conscious content and fiery flow have won him praise in the underground, but Encore has exercised his skills in assurance of going to the top in 2003. Born in Palo Alto and raised in Milpitas, Encore enjoyed b-boying and reveled in getting his hands on the hottest new Hip Hop music as a teen. ...show more

There are at least four artists by this name. 1) In a time when the bar on lyrical talent has seemingly been lowered through mass consumption and general apathy, Californian versifier Encore keeps his bar higher than a gold medal Olympian. His conscious content and fiery flow have won him praise in the underground, but Encore has exercised his skills in assurance of going to the top in 2003. Born in Palo Alto and raised in Milpitas, Encore enjoyed b-boying and reveled in getting his hands on the hottest new Hip Hop music as a teen.

Although he dabbled in writing raps with his friends, it was not until Main Source released their classic album Breakin? Atoms in 1990 that Encore had the epiphany to take emceeing seriously. "Everybody rapped, but nobody around my way was really rapping," he says. "I couldn't consider myself an emcee until after Breakin Atoms - that's when I was like ?this is what I want to do - this is the real shit." The initial connection in developing his sound was with long time friend Architect. The duo grew together in creating a unique musical vibe that bonded them for life, and the hard work began to show in both Encore's rhymes and Architect's production.

Encore's first big recording break came after he met producer Peanut Butter Wolf through a mutual high school friend, Charisma, who later passed away. After Charisma's death, the two mourning friends made some songs together, and the single "Think Twice" was included on PB Wolf's 1995 debut EP Step On Our Egos. The project was released independently on South Paw Records, and spawned Wolf's own Stones Throw label. Encore released "The Essence" single on Stones Throw in 1997, and in that same time frame met eclectic producer/deejay Dan The Automator, who beckoned the budding emcee to sign with his future 75 Ark label. ...show less