G*LEE (born as Grace Lee) is a NYC bred multi-faceted artist riveting
G*LEE (born as Grace Lee) is a NYC bred multi-faceted artist riveting as an MC/rapper, DJ, producer, singer-songwriter, composer, and a creative of many. She is the founder and creative director of the rising collective El Capitan and Liaison Femme. Alongside her music repertoire, G*LEE extends her venture as a visual artist whom she collaborates with prominent NYC based visual artist Awol Erizku in projects arranging from all mediums of visual art and in media.
At the age of 14 she attended the prestigious Juilliard Pre-College Division majoring in composition, and thereafter graduated from the acclaimed Professional Performing Arts High School of New York City.
Her craft as a DJ/turntabalist/remixer began at the age of 15 being mentored alongside notable DJs from DJ Fatfingaz, DJ Jay Jung (of Scratch Academy NY), and Nujabes. Through the years she achieved to work with record companies, festivals/tours, collaborative projects, and DJ at prolific venues all across the nation. Her versatility gleamed forth with an eclectic roster of clientele reaching from Vogue to Autism Speaks Organization. On note, her aesthetic to apply performance art raises her leverage to deliver a concrete voice in the male dominated DJ community. G*LEE continues to grow and raise the bar to be one of the youngest leading female DJs in the industry to date.
As a cross-disciplinary artist, her repertoire reaches from an array of elements embodied by her musical influences. A pivotal moment in her childhood, living and traveling in robust cities gave the means to gravitate on various components of music – significantly to hip-hop and street subculture. Not being labeled to one, she brings forth a well-distinct approach that forces to be recognized within and against the odds.
Over the years, G*LEE centered her circuit in collaborating and working with several prolific artists to name a few; from Pras (of The Fugees), Illmind, Twilite Tone (YNot | Great Weekend), Gilbere Forte, Jelly Jells (a/o The Harlem James Gang), The Suzan (Fools Gold/Downtown), NewVillager (IAmSound), and many more entitled to her frame.
In 2009-2011, G*LEE began her first debut EP production (More Than This) executive produced by herself and award-winning composer Woody Pak (Chaos Theory Music). Also featuring production from guest producers by Twilite Tone aka. YNot and Mario Hills with an additional package of bonus production and a three part EPK film series.
Presenting “From the Inside Out” Part 1 of EPK Film Series by G*LEE. Check out the debut film series for the awaited More Than This EP! Filmed in Los Angeles.
“From the Inside Out” is a closer look into the root of multi-artist G*LEE, a deeper glance at her personal upbringing and influence.
In 2010, G*LEE and DJ Whitney Fierce joined together to create and establish a DJ collective “Liaison Femme” focused for only female DJs and beatmakers. The roster for Liaison Femme will and be reserved for both renowned and upcoming breakthrough female DJs empowering within the industry.
In spring of 2011, G*LEE and acclaimed producer Illmind officially collaborated for a three volume project.
Illmind is hugeIllmind (often stylized as !llmind) (born Ramon Ibanga, Jr.) is a Filipino American hip hop producer from Bloomfield, New Jersey. He participated in Beat Society, competing against well-known acts like Kanye West and Just Blaze. Illmind has created music for underground artists such as Little Brother, Boot Camp Clik, Akrobatik, Supastition, and El Da Sensei. At Sha Money XL’s Money Management production company he has produced tracks for 50 Cent, Eminem, Redman, Scarface, LL Cool J, Talib Kweli and others.
Illmind released a mixtape project featuring some of the artists he produced for throughout 2008 entitled Blaps, Rhymes & Life. It was followed by the second volume in early 2009, the third volume in the summer, and the fourth volume in December 2009.
He has been featured in multiple publications, such as Scratch (“Top 20 Best Producers”), Mass Appeal, The Source, XXL, Hiphopgame and Hiphopdx.
In 2008-2010, Illmind taught at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.
Says G*LEE,
“Growing up in such an unrealistic upbringing, the way I was influenced and became influenced was an important survival kit for me. Since my childhood I was always teased around because I over analyzed everything and exaggerated about how something was. The way I read art and acted out my expression all draws from the immediate reaction of being influenced.”
Karmaloop TV catches up on her upcoming debut EP
www.coupdegrace.co