Rising Star: Get to know up-and-coming Hackensack rapper Crimeapple

Hip hop might have been born in New York City, but it lives in New Jersey. Some of the genre’s most influential stars — Run (RUN-DMC), KRS-One, Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) and The Notorious B.I.G. — have all called New Jersey home at one time or another. This local influence has sparked the next generation of MCs, producers and DJs from the area, including Hackensack native Crimeapple.

“I’ve been rapping seriously for about two years, before that it was a hobby since I was a child,” says Crimeapple, who got his nickname from a juice he used to make.

His career gained momentum after being invited to freestyle on DJ/producer Statik Selektah’s radio show on Shade45 (Eminem’s channel on Sirius XM Radio). He built on that experience with multiple releases throughout 2017, including four EPs produced by Dumont native Buck Dudley.

In March, Crimeapple teamed up with producer Big Ghost Ltd. to release the well-received full-length album Aguardiente, and has several other projects in the works for 2018.

“I have a plan now for the year, but there are a lot of things that can happen. It’s pretty whimsical,” he says. “We just go with the flow."

Bergen County is certainly in Crimeapple’s DNA. He purchased his first album at Sam Goody at Westfield Garden State Plaza and saw one of his first concerts, The Grateful Dead, at Giants Stadium.

For news on upcoming releases and shows, follow Crimeapple on Twitter @__CRIMEAPPLE__ or visit crimeapple.bandcamp.com. His latest album, Aguardiente, can be streamed below and his new EP, Salud Y Plata, is available now from Tuff Kong Records.

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