Stevie Stone

Based out of St. Louis by way of Columbia, Missouri, Stevie Stone first discovered a love of music through his mother, a singer and choir director who introduced the rapper to gospel, blues, and soul at an early age. In 2007, Stone signed on with Ruthless Records, which released his debut, New Kid Coming, in 2009. Not long afterwards, the MC left the label to join up with Tech N9ne's Strange Music. Strange Music's emphasis on touring was a perfect fit for Stone, who loved performance, and the label's knack for connecting with its fans helped him grow as a rapper. His second album, the more personal Rollin' Stone, arrived on Strange in 2012. ~ Gregory Heaney