COGNITO

COGNITO:

PAST:

The Fairfield, Calif.-raised father of two has poured his heart into albums, toured relentlessly, and stayed in the studio late numerous Friday nights when he could’ve been chilling at home with his family – all for the love of the game.
Growing up in the North Bay, COGNITO fast became intrigued with the burgeoning local hip-hop scene led by E-40 and B-Legit. The two hip-hop heavyweights exposed the young emcee to the hip-hop community, tapping his services at the Sick Wid It offices and schooling him in the art of promotion. He is the first to admit he was not the best student. But writing stories was his strong point in school. He started writing rhymes at 16, taking his cue from the people he was around. Yet it was hard to take rapping seriously as a career. A white rapper just wasn’t considered normal yet. It wasn’t until three years later, when Eminem’s The Slim Shady LP released, that COGNITO’s path became clearer.
“I don’t think being a white rapper has held me back,” relays COGNITO about the always-controversial topic of the White Rapper. “It got me seen more. It got me out there. I stand out because I am white. But let my music speak for itself.”
As for the Eminem comparisons, COGNITO is flattered but suggests otherwise.
“When Eminem dropped minds were blown. I look at the Eminem comparison as an honor. He’s the best rapper in game. But never once has a guy I work with said I sound like Eminem.”
At age 21 COGNITO earned himself a new title; father. In order to care for his family, he put hip-hop on the back burner for the next year, popping into the studio every so often to record tracks with producing partner D Buck. Mike Mosley, who had worked with E-40, TQ, C-Bo, Richie Rich and Tupac, heard COGNITO’s music, and in 2002, offered him a deal with his Steady Mobbin’ label.
“When Mike wants to offer you a record deal,” COGNITO states, “you take your career serious.”
COGNITO never dropped an album, but he did make a handful of important connections in the industry, one being QD3 producer Femi, one of the two producers he still consistently works with today. He continued doing shows and brushed up on the record industry rules.
2006 was a big year for COGNITO. He hooked up with Master P and his newly formed Gutta Music to release Recognition. It was an honor to be affiliated with P, a hip-hopreneur COGNITO had admired since hearing his West Coast Bad Boyz compilation in 1997. COGNITO would score his biggest hit to date, “Shift Kits,” from the Shift Kits and Hood Chicks DVD.
COGNITO stayed busy touring with fellow Bay Area rapper Andre Nickatina. When Nickatina took some time off, COGNITO hit the road solo. As fate would have it, COGNITO and Strange shared the same booker. Together on a string of show dates, COGNITO witnessed Strange’s impressive stage show and extreme professionalism. COGNITO even shared a joke with Tech: He had previously recorded over Femi’s “Slacker” beat, a song that appears on Tech’s Absolute Power (2002).
The groundwork for the COGNITO-Strange merger was set in motion. Three years later when hip-hop activist Violet Brown, a longtime supporter of Strange, approached COGNITO about shopping a deal to the indie powerhouse, he was with it.

PRESENT:

California Hip-Hop Artist & Entrepreneur Cognito independently releases his new Single: "SEASONED STRANGERS". featuring: TAUWOO.
Independent Label Anarchy Nation Music Group Owner Cognito spent over a year in the Studio preparing & writing "Seasoned Strangers".

Cognito's Album "AUTOMATIC" which Debuted at #32 on the Billboards Top 200, which followed with an outpouring of fan support and die hard followers to this day helped continue his career with Anarchy Nation Music Group, with releases such as "Spoiled Milk" LP & Singles such as "Twisted Love Pt. II.

Building on his own persistence, COGNITO is quick to admit his success has been buoyed by his supportive team: Violet Brown, Femi, Mike Mosley, and Darien Smith his "Studio Engineer" for the past 15 years. Cognito has had a amazing team behind him, which has catapulted him to where he is today. Currently Cognito is working closely with the people who he has been proven successful with. Producers such as: Freddy Machete, Demolish Beats, DJ Pause, as well as hooking up with Carlso of JLM Entertainment & Distribution. Cognito has formed a new multimedia platforms with his associates which include full streaming outlets, as well as creating a new merchandise line and launching his new Anarchy Nation Music website.
Linking his Powerhouse team of people Cognito recruited Brandon Mills with Crew Marketing Promotions in 2020 to successfully market & promote everything that is Cognito & the Anarchy Nation Music brand, which they both continue to strive for to this day.

Cognito is not slowing down anytime soon with dropping 5 new music singles over the course of 2020/2021 & is hard at work on his new music releases. Cognito is proof that Quality over Quantity is what it's all about.