Kur

Born Chauncey Ellison in Philadelphia, PA on April 15, 1994, KUR, pronounced “core,” developed an early interest in music despite a challenging upbringing. He began writing songs as a teenager, honing his lyrical and delivery skills through online resources. His career officially launched in the early 2010s with the release of his debut mixtape, “Straight from the Kur,” in 2012, followed closely by “Straight from the Kur 2.

Throughout the mid-2010s, KUR consistently released new material, gaining local recognition within the Philadelphia hip-hop scene. A significant turning point occurred in 2015 when his single “33 Shots” received support from fellow Philadelphia artist Meek Mill, leading to increased exposure. This momentum culminated in the release of his breakthrough mixtape, “How It Never Was,” which featured collaborations with artists such as Omelly, Guordan Banks, and Meek Mill. His fourth mixtape, “Finally Happened,” also released in 2015, further solidified his presence in the industry.

In 2016, KUR expanded his professional reach by signing with Entertainment One. He released the “Have Not” EP and collaborated with New York rapper Dave East on the project “Born Broke, Die Rich,” which was recorded within two days. He continued his consistent output with “180” in 2017, featuring artists like Casey Veggies and Chynna from A$AP Mob. Subsequent releases include “Shakur” and “Spare Me” in 2019, the EP “Young 79” and album “It Shouldn’t Be Like This” in 2020, and the EPs “The Hold Over” (2022) and “Loyal to a Fault” (2022). His full-length album “THURL” was released in 2024, featuring Meek Mill on the track “Confidence Level.”