Kartier

Comprised of four young men with a passion for music, the members of Gotham Citi possess vocal skills with the power to ignite the soul. Flip, Dijuan, Kartier and Marquel are all driven by a strong desire to take R & B back to its roots while infusing it with other various elements, combining a sinfully soulful quality , street edge and some of today's popular sounds. Each member has both a unique personality and voice, which brings an eclectic and harmonious feel to their work, and provides a rich emotional sound. Gotham Citi‘s sole purpose is to maintain the integrity of music and stay true to the notion of pure, raw talent as well as adding their own unique texture to “re-set the standard” of music. “We want to leave an imprint on music, something our kids can take pride in”
Both Dijuan and Flip have a rich musical background and history which has provided them with a solid foundation for their endeavors. As a child, Dijuan was entered into countless talent competitions and pushed to sing at a very young age. Flip, on the other hand, had been inadvertently influenced by his grandmother. “She would leave old R&B tapes lying around, and once I began listening, I was hooked,” he claims. The two were first brought together on the streets of Harlem in 1999 by a mutual friend and although each one’s reputation had preceded him, there was no question that they both had immense talent. Shortly after they began singing together, Flip introduced Dijuan to a fellow classmate and friend, Kartier.
As the son of a local church Bishop, Kartier had been thrust into the musical spotlight at the tender age of four. Heavily influenced by Gospel, the church nurtured his skills as a vocalist and a drummer. Once Kartier, Dijuan and Flip began to work together, their bond and vocal ability reached new heights and eventually, Flip’s suggestion to form a group became a shared vision. Gotham Citi was born.
To make ends meet, they would ride the New York City subway during rush hour singing acappella versions of both classic and original songs while continuing to chase their dream. Gotham Citi was determined that nothing was going to stop them, and continued to polish their sound and look for any opportunity to progress in music. They began to develop their skills as vocalists, writers, and producers. Using any and all resources put before them, they “hit the streets” in order to produce and obtain new music, squeeze in studio time, and find opportunities to perform. Music had become their life, “You can’t just love it, you gotta live it”.
Over the next several years, Gotham Citi had many ups and downs, introducing various new members on occasion, who never seemed to quite fit. Dijuan, Flip and Kartier had a strong desire to add a fourth member. They began an exhaustive search for a strong vocalist. While many talented people auditioned, they realized that the perfect person had been in their lives the entire time.
Born and raised in the Bronx, Marquel was birthed into a musical dynasty. His mother and siblings, all accomplished singers in New York, caused him to focus his attention on the rap game in a pursuit to be distinctive amongst his family. Then a movie changed his destiny. “I was watching ‘Lean on Me’ and the guys started singing the song, ‘Fair Eastside’. The harmonies were just beautiful and I realized I wanted to do that, and make music like that.” Unable to deny his natural abilities, at age 12, he became the youngest member of a group comprised of his cousins and brothers. “They made me audition for it because they felt I was too young,” he says. “But after I did my first show and tore it down they never wondered about me again.”
Fate dealt Marquel another wild card a few years later on Clay Avenue in Harlem where Dijuan approached him. The two talked for six hours and realized that not only did they have mutual friends; they both had vocal skills, which would develop a mutual respect. Neither of them knew that ten years later Marquel would be the missing piece to this musical puzzle. His powerful vocals and drive instantly fit with the other three members of Gotham Citi. It was as though he had always been there and as a welcome addition, solidified a four -part harmony.
Since that time, Gotham Citi has been working diligently to produce the sound that will re-define today's music. Their influences can be heard laced throughout their music and combine such elements as Pop, R & B, Gospel, and Hip-Hop.