Elucid

Elucid is a New York rapper associated with abstract hip hop, ambient, conscious hip hop, experimental hip hop, hardcore hip hop and sound collage. He is a US rapper whose work combines street knowledge with political ideas, delivered in a deep, forceful style.

Background

He is born in Queens, raised in Long Island and lives in Brooklyn. His lyrics often focus on hardship, struggle and the possibility of hope, and he is noted for writing detailed, personal verses that connect individual experience with wider social issues.

Early releases and self-promotion

His first album, The Bible and the Gun, appears in 2002 and he sells 2,000 copies of it through direct, hand-to-hand promotion while travelling from New York to Miami. That approach helps him build an audience and leads to performance slots at venues including S.O.B.’s, the Nokia Theater, the University of Connecticut, the Hartford Civic Center and the Maryland Civic Center.

Performances and collaborations

Elucid shares bills with Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Fabolous and Black Rob, and he also appears on college radio stations including WUSB Stonybrook and the University of Pittsburgh. The Progress Mixtape appears around 2004, and he follows it with several further releases.

Groups

He is a member of Armand Hammer, Nostrum Grocers and Small Bills.