“De facto” is the term many use to describe this emcee. Born in Northwest D.C. and raised in Northern Virginia, Crisis Black reps the DMV (the District, Maryland and Virginia) proudly with his versatile, yet honest approach to the mic. His lyrics touch on a wide variety of subject matter—from social justice to the party scene—but unlike many of today’s more mainstream hip-hop acts, he remains true to his own experiences.

Crisis Black first took the stage in 1994 as a member of the group En...