Hoodie Allen

Born Steven Markowitz and raised on Long Island, Hoodie Allen was frat-rap from the beginning, having met producer RJF during an Alpha Epsilon Pi-hosted party at the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater. The two would release the street albums Bagels & Beats and Making Waves and win MTV's Best Music on Campus Award in 2009, but his big hit came with the 2010 track "You Are Not a Robot," which sampled Marina and the Diamonds' hit "I Am Not a Robot" and landed on his popular mixtape Pep Rally. Putting a bit more pop into the pop-rap of folks like Asher Roth and Sam Adams, Hoodie Allen went from Internet favorite to charting artist with the release of his 2012 EP All American. A headlining tour across the States followed before Hoodie made his official debut with the All American EP in 2012. Released on his own label, the EP debuted at number ten on Billboard's Top Albums.

Make every word count. This has long been the mantra of the rapper and songwriter. With a penchant for candid storytelling and witty punchlines, Hoodie has always been an emcee who understood the importance of connecting with the audience through his lyrics. A purveyor of summertime anthems, Hoodie Allen has gained notable buzz on the internet for his unique genre-blending style, unafraid to sample from unconventional sources.

His early work samples a diverse array of artists and sounds from UK pop singers (Marina & The Diamonds & Eliza Doolittle) to indie rock staples and upstarts (Death Cab for Cutie). The idiosyncrasy of the music is very fitting as Hoodie Allen is not your typical rapper. A self-described, college educated music nerd, Hoodie Allen embraces his individuality and promotes it as the main message in his music. His latest project was the release of his free mixtape, "Crew Cuts," in February, 2013. The mixtape received millions of downloads and boasted features from the likes of Chiddy Bang, Chance The Rapper, Shwayze, G-Eazy, Skizzy Mars, and OCD. He also recently collaborated with up and coming artist, Kina Grannis, with a hit single titled "Make it Home" in an effort by Fuse TV to promote both artist. The future is bright for Hoodie Allen. He plans to continue providing the masses with feel-good music for a long time.