TRIBE OF LEVI consists of Sacramento residents POOR, NON, MIC JORDAN, and DJ FILTH. Unsatisfied with the current state of the art, these purists have taken it upon themselves to make the music they wish they were hearing. TRIBE OF LEVI strives to bring hiphop back to an era where only the best rappers became superstars, where an MC was more concerned with his craft than his image, and when it was still considered wack to bite. As members of the Sacramento-based hiphop collective TPR, the emcees of TRIBE OF LEVI have performed with numerous hiphop luminaries such as Nas, Dead Prez, KRS-ONE, Prince Poetic (Organized Konfusion), Black Sheep, Butterscotch, Zion I, Illogic, Bru Lei, Chuck Taylor, The CUF, Righteous Movement, and the Neighborhood Watch. Featuring production by Daddy Longlegs, DJ Doin' Somethin', DJ Filth, Jeremy Pearson, MahtieBush and NON (among others), their sound is raw, old-school, circa-'94 hiphop...a throwback to what many folks consider the golden age of rap music. If you like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Souls of Mischief, MF Doom, People Under The Stairs, Shape Shifters, or Mr. Lif, you'll like the TRIBE OF LEVI.

a message from NON (NowOrNever) As kids, my brother and I would spend a lot of time with our aunts and uncles, who were from the Islands. One of our uncles would host little get-togethers in his yard. There was a sound system with a turntable, tape deck, and microphone set up at the back of the garden. He would cook Ital, and play mostly reggae songs and riddims (sometimes hip hop intrumentals). People would come over and chant on the mic, which inspired my brother and me to try ourselves, starting with songs we'd heard and learned and eventually moving on to some original rhymes. When I was in 7th Grade, I met Poor. Back then he was known as MC Kool-Aid, and he was already doing shows. Later, we both became members of the Cave, where I started to learn how make beats and continued writing and freestyling. After the Cave members each went their own respective ways, Poor and I decided to continue working on music together and even rocked a few shows in Sacramento. Later on, I met ENS aka Mic Jordan. We freestyled and got to know each other, became friends and even recorded a song. Around this time, Poor and I formed the Tribe of Levi, and quickly included Mic Jordan. This was in the fall of 2005. Since then, we've made mixtapes and albums, made songs, gotten radio play, and done dozens of shows with all kinds of artists in different genres. Check us out, I hope you like our music because we put our hearts into it.

a message from POOR To whom it may concern: My name is Poor. I've been into hip hop since i heard the song "Word up" by Cameo. I'm 24 now so that means I've had a 20 year relationship with rap. I feel as if I have a responsibility to speak to the people. There's a whole lot of misguided youth who are hungry for the truth, true art and something real. I don't play myself out like most rap artists today by trying to be something I am not (big shot). I'm just me. I've been putting together songs since I was eight years old and doing shows since I was 13, and I still feel as if there's more room to grow. peace to you. yours truly, poor.

a message from MIC JORDAN (aka EnsiteNonStop) My brothers introduced me to hiphop in the early 80s when they moved out from the East Coast, but by then I already loved jazz because of my dad. My mom taught me to be creative. I wrote my first rhyme when I was 11, but it took me years to gain the skills to execute the ideas I had; until then, I didn't rhyme in public. After recording my first track for my homie's mixtape in 1998, I got down with Dank Chamber in Pasadena (DJ Ironic, DCypher, NASA*1, me, Joself, ChekOne and others) and Neighborhood Greenhouse in Sacramento (DJ Carl Larado, Peabody Greene, me, and Hasani the Black Ninja). After years of making albums while going to school, I finally devoted my life to this and got down with the Levis and the TPR crew. I strive to be a complete MC, like KRS-ONE; I want to make classic verses, songs, and albums. My goal is to be a legend.

a message from DJ FILTH I have been getting down in the graf scene since '89, when I also got down with Excursions clothing. I am a true practictioner of the various elements of hiphop. I speak with my hands. I dance for and cater to the one called karma, repaying debts incurred as a young knucklehead with a big heart. I spun on my back at the Mine Shaft in '92. I remember the old days at the ABC Wall, and when Getta Clue sold tips. I am MTV Raps, when they actually showed music. I have sucked krylon from my fingertips. And if you run into me, I'll let you know why Sac should love hiphop. I am what you get; nothing less, nothing more. Only here to serve you. Enjoy.