Raised in the bay area at the height of the crack epidemic and witness to countless black on black murders exposed Sellassie to the ills of the world at an early age. The elder of two sons, he was raised in a family of love and independent thought. Sellassie’s father is an intellectual who taught his sons to seek knowledge, be imaginative and question authority. Sellassie developed an interest in history books at an early age and sought answers to his questions in American, African-American, African, Caribbean, French and Spanish books. Sellassie is self-taught and while his peers were in college, he was learning to survive on the streets.

Sellassie has been writing on the conditions of Black America for years and as a young black man in America, he knew he was set up to fail. Identifying with the underdog, Sellassie music represents survival, freedom and faith. His material explores socio-economic inequities, political injustices and the realities of ghetto life.

Exposed to a range of music from the Ohio Players to Bob Dylan, Too Short to Tina Marie, Sellassie’s influences are varied. He started writing short stories and screenplays in high school and it soon translated to writing rhymes. He decided to use Hip Hop is a resource to get his message out and incite change. Reaching a two-year goal of recording 200 songs, Sellassie has independently created a vast catalogue and is set to release his third solo release in Summer 2008. Bringing a fresh perspective to the game, Sellassie stands firm to his message, has a charismatic stage presence and is poised to hit a town near you.