Born in New Brunswick, NJ (Exit 9), hip-hop artist, producer, and writer Eloh Kush has been one of the most creative and prolific figures on the East Coast underground scene over the past two decades. A founding member of the hip-hop collective Angelz Inc., he has performed and/or recorded with numerous other underground legends, including John Robinson, Wise Intelligent (Poor Righteous Teachers), 9th Prince (Killarmy), 60 Second Assassin, A.G. (DITC), Heaven Razah (Sunz of Man), and El Da Sensei (Artifacts). He has also worked with a wide range of talented producers in the US and abroad, including California’s Clypto Beatz, Japan’s Budamunk, NYC’s Ras Beats, and most recently, the UK’s Giallo Point.

 

Raised on the politically and socially charged music of the ’60s and ’70s — especially jazz and R&B — Kush was heavily influenced by The Last Poets, Gil Scott-Heron, and other revolutionary artists dedicated to raising Black consciousness. He has continued to build on that legacy, challenging the status quo through his collaborative work with Angelz Inc. and other artists, the launch of his record label (Noetic Music Group), and the release of a series of stellar recordings that demand our attention, both musically and philosophically. 

 

Kush earned his stripes in the early 1990s-2000s at various New Jersey and NYC clubs, including the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Club Cheetah, the Peppermint Lounge, and many other spots long gone or since renamed. During this time, he laid the groundwork for the emergence of his singular style.

 

In early 2018, Kush burst onto the recording scene with the release of three albums — Tut Talk, Angeldus, and Fly Emperor — that demonstrated a broad creative range and established him as an important voice on the hip-hop scene. Later that year, he released a fourth album, Rebelations, which further cemented his status. 

 

Over the next four years, Kush released 12 more albums and EPs, including recent outings, Clark Connoisseurs 3 and Dart Vader. On both records, we find him exploring difficult topics while reaffirming his role as a guardian of hip-hop’s legacy. As Kush explains, “So much of what originally inspired me about the music — the powerful social commentary along with strong, soulful beats — has been lost over the years. My intent and purpose is to restore intelligence and integrity to hip hop.”

 

An avid reader and collector of books, Kush joined the ranks of authors in 2017 with the release of a collection of poems and essays titled A Few Dayz in the County Maze. Created in collaboration with artist/illustrator Wil Swink and backed by Jahbaton’s hard-hitting bonus track “My Journey,” A Few Dayz “sheds light on the reality of confinement” while sharing Kush’s intimate thoughts about his experience in the penal system.

 

Whether he is writing books, producing records, or performing, one thing is certain: Eloh Kush will continue to be a creative force in hip hop.

 

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