Hopsin

Marcus Jamal Hopson, known professionally as Hopsin, was born on July 18, 1985, in Panorama City, Los Angeles, California. His early exposure to entertainment included acting as a background extra in television shows like ‘That’s So Raven’ and ‘Even Stevens’ during his teenage years. He began his music career by self-producing his debut project, ‘Emurge,’ in 2003. In 2007, Hopsin signed with Ruthless Records, releasing his debut studio album, ‘Gazing at the Moonlight,’ in 2009. Citing issues with promotion and support, he departed from Ruthless Records shortly after. This turning point led him to co-found his independent label, Funk Volume, with Damien Ritter in the same year. Under Funk Volume, he released significant albums such as ‘Raw’ (2010) and ‘Knock Madness’ (2013), which contributed to his increasing popularity and critical attention, positioning him as a key figure in independent hip-hop during this period. In 2012, Hopsin was recognized by XXL as part of their annual ‘Top 10 Freshmen list,’ further solidifying his presence in the hip-hop scene. His work ethic also included directing many of his own music videos and serving as a composer for a majority of his tracks.

Hopsin’s career continued to evolve with the release of ‘Pound Syndrome’ in 2015, which reached number 17 on the Billboard 200, marking it as his most commercially successful album to date. This album was distributed through a deal with Warner Bros. Records. The independent label Funk Volume dissolved in 2016 due to business disputes, leading Hopsin to establish a new label, Undercover Prodigy. Through Undercover Prodigy, in collaboration with 300 Entertainment, he released his fifth album, ‘No Shame,’ in 2017. The album debuted at number 42 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Throughout his career, Hopsin has maintained a consistent output of music videos, often directing them himself, including popular series like ‘Ill Mind of Hopsin’ which garnered millions of views. He has also engaged in various acting roles, appearing in films like ‘Fame’ (2009) and ‘Bomb The World’ (2010), and more recently in the TV series ‘Paradise City’ (2021). His commitment to his independent artistic vision is reflected in his continuous development of his music and media platforms, culminating in his role on the board of directors for Artist Republik in 2020.