V. Smith

----------------------One of Washington DC’s finest, Navon “Von” Smith, born May 13, 1979, is inarguably one of the most exciting artists to ever hit the underground hip-hop scene.A product of the late seventies in Washington D.C., formerly known as the, “Chocolate City”, Von’s interest in music began at an early age. He developed an appreciation of classic acts such as, Marvin Gay, The Temptations, Bob Marley, and many others. However, it wasn’t until acts like NWA, Ice Cube, Slick Rick, Will (Fresh Prince) Smith, MC Eight, Ghetto Boys, Scar Face, Dana Dane, Red Man, and 2Pac; took his love for music to a whole new level.Growing up, in an impoverished section of DC, east of the Anacostia River, made Von’s childhood an unforgettable struggle. The emergence of NWA and Ice Cube left a profound mark on his musical tastes and showed him how relevant hip-hop music actually was to his life and those around him. Thus, the seeds of his musical maturation process began. His cousin Kevin, an avid rap fan, played an integral part of his development. He exposed him to some of the best rappers of all time. His cousin had an ear for great lyrics and urged Von to listen closely to the words and the stories rap artists portrayed. NWA’s messages on police brutatlity, political disenfranchisement, amongst many other serious issues hit home for Von. As a direct product of this environment, with his mother addicted to narcotics and his father’s identity unknown, rap served as his avenue to let go of these realities.Von began rhyming at the age of seven and free styling not soon after. He practiced and performed for hours on the streets of D.C. before an audience of his peers and just about anyone who would listen. A young Von, already known for his ridiculous flow and artistic skills, was on his way to reaching the masses of the DC area and nation-wide. People throughout the city began to relate to his street, but conscious take on rap. Von has mastered the ability to compose lyrics without the use of pen and paper. He has also managed to keep a mental catalog of hundreds of rap songs, both original and from the critically acclaimed movers and shakers of the rap game.At the age of 15, he recorded his first single, “Rugged Bandit,” at D.C.’s most premiere recording studio at the time, Night Life Studios. He began performing in front of live audiences throughout the Metropolitan area. One of his first official live acts was at Ft. Washington High School’s “Showtime at the Apollo Talent Showcase.” He performed Rugged Bandit and won. He continues to perform for the masses at several local bars and clubs in the metropolitan area such as, Fast Eddies, Tacoma Park Station, Busboys and Poets, Pure (also previously known as Bar Nun), Duke City, Rose’s Dream, and many other venues. Von continues to strive for his fullest potential and learns from others and previous experiences.His catalog of music consists of: I’m Ready (mixtape 2004); Welcome to the Future (mixtape 2005); and most recently V for Vendetta with over 8,000 copies sold in the streets (mixtape 2008); and I’m Not a Thug I’m A King (Coming Soon!!)