The multi-talented (emcee, producer, promoter, songwriter and comedian) Marcus "Lyri-k.e.l." Kelsaw has been recording since 1997, and since then has been a force in Iowa's urban music scene. Although Lyrikel was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana in 1982, him and his mother and two sisters came to Cedar Rapids at the age of three, before moving to Austin, Texas at the age of 7. It wasn't long, though, before he found his way back to the midwest at the age of 13. Soaking up game from Texas and mixing it with midwest flavor, Lyrikel got his first start singing on tracks for a local rap group known as E.S.C. (Elite and Suave C). It wasn't long before Elite noticed the potential in him to become an emcee, and featured Lyrikel on "Can I Make U Purr". From then on, it was history in the making. Since then, Lyrikel's been featured on C.R.U: Cedar Rapids Underground Compilation, Lil' Bout It To Live and Die For, Country Niggs Ain't Afraid ta D.I.E., O.T.T. Compilation '04/05, an Ill-I-Niez mixtape as well as releasing two solo albums (Purgatory: Caught In Between, Always Outnumbered) and a maxi-single for "@ 2 AM" (due to differences from the short-lived partnering with another local artist, whom shall remain nameless, his latest effort never made it to press.) Lyrikel is currently adding the finishing touches on a project, title TBA, but will be released this fall.
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