About Me
Before I get deep into the bio, just want you all to know that I'm a regular dude. I rap because I love it, not for the fortune or fame...I don't have either of those anyway, so it works out great. Feel free to drop me a line; I'll drop you 16 if you ask me right. 1
Also, check out my new webcomic, Earth Tones!
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Born in West Covina, CA in 1982, Fundamental (born Craig Tinsley) wouldn't be officially exposed to a budding Hip-Hop culture until five years later, after moving to Indiana, when he sat in his cousin Jay's room as he played music from the premier rappers & rap groups from the East & West coasts alike.
Even after the exposure, however, a teenage Craig would only really get into Hip-Hop after listening to late-night mix shows from the nearby Chicago radio station WGCI. The mix of old school, new school and underground hits gave him a deeper appreciation for Hip-Hop, and he eventually became inspired to write his own raps.
From high school talent shows to college theatrical performances, Fundamental gained experience in the emcee artform. After graduating college, he moved back to his place of birth, California, and now looks to further hone his rhyming skill by performing raps and spoken word at local poetry spots and open mics. A perfectionist in his own right, the developing emcee continually seeks to master the arts of writing and rocking a stage.
Fundamental claims to be a fan first, then a student of Hip-Hop, and lastly an aspiring emcee.
"I didn't start off wanting to spit; I started off getting hype off of dope lyrics and delivery," he explains.
His list of 'top 10 emcees' is constantly evolving as his understanding and appreciation for rap deepens, but some usual suspects on his list include Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, Elzhi of Slum Village, and Wordsworth of Punch & Words.
Is Fundamental a backpack rapper or conscious rapper? He doesn't really care about labels, claiming, "labels only limit people. As a rapper I talk about what I see and how I feel, so if you label me, you're going to be wrong soon enough."
In recent years, the role of student has had a more prominent standing in Fundamental's development as an emcee. Groups like Slum Village, Dilated Peoples, Little Brother, and Tanya Morgan have all brought a flavor to Hip-Hop that challenges the current trends of the mainstream, and they all have the attention of this aspiring emcee.
"Eventhough people are sleeping on most of the quality Hip-Hop these days," Funda explains, "the fact remains that it's good music, and it's still getting put out there. I wanna be able to do what those emcees are doing, because I'd rather be good than popular."
With his eyes on the footsteps of his Hip-Hop role models, Fundamental plans to begin blazing his own trail, and giving his world a voice.
Who I'd like to meet:
Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, Tanya Morgan, Little Brother, Wordsworth, Mos Def, Common, Masta Ace, The Roots, J-Live, Dilated Peoples, Kanye West, Slum Village, De La Soul, Royce Da 5'9, Pharoahe Monch, Slick Rick, Eyedea, Kardinal Offishall, CunninLynguists, Tonedeff, Ras Kass, Dead Prez, A Tribe Called Quest, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Amerie, Musiq, Hi-Tek, 9th Wonder, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Just Blaze, Russell Simmons, Bill Cosby, Spike Lee, Allen Iverson, Denzel Washington, Nia Long, Vivica A. Fox, Gabrielle Union, Serena Williams, Sanaa Lathan, Queen Latifah, whoever my future wife will be, and my late brother Austin one day in Heaven.
