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XXL Freshman 2015 Nominee
Searching Sylvan Named Most Underrated Album by Huffington Post and HotNewHipHop
2008 winner of Jermaine Dupri’s Tag Records Survival of the Freshest MC Battle Competition
“…Fortune and [Sylvan] LaCue are able to create a project with such a vulnerable focal point sound appealing to the masses.” – Pigeons & Planes
When you think of Miami hip-hop, chances are very high that Rick Ross instantly comes to mind. You donât realize that thereâs a whole new wave of South Florida artists that have been solidifying their place in the game for a while now and donât sound anything alike. 25-yr old artist Sylvan LaCue, is one of the leaders seeking to carry on tradition by bringing back pride to his city, & a new identity to go with it.
[wpex click for full bio]Born in Miami Fl on September 2nd, 1990, Sylvan is the son of Cheryl Herring & Michael LaCue. Sylvanâs interest in music began at the early age of 7, being introduced to acts such as NaS, & The Roots. âIt was fairly new, & I had no idea what I was watching, but The Roots was on The Box music channel. The Baby You Got Me video was playing in my room. From there I started writing a lot. By the time I was introduced to Nas, I was hooked. All I cared about was rap & how to do it better than any & everyone else.â
Sylvan first popped onto the radar in 2009 as champion of the âSurvival of the Freshest MCsâ contest under his former alias QuESt, where he beat out 660 other hip-hop artists to win a first-look deal with industry mogul Jermaine Dupri and the then-newly-formed TAG Records. He was only 18 years old. After seeing the label fold only a few months later, Sylvan maintained a positive attitude about the whole experience. âI learned the process of âmaking itâ isnât a âone-two, buckle my shoeâ chess move. It takes hard work and dedication. You have to genuinely love this and have a desire to achieve greatness if you have any chance of survival.â
Despite the setback, Sylvan joined the online mixtape culture right at height of Drakeâs success of So Far Gone. After releasing a slew of music online, Sylvan began to find his true break through with Visionary Music Group, signing to the independent imprint in 2013. Touring with Def Jamâs own Logic on two national tours [1 of which he co headlined], Sylvan began building a show history & tour experience that garnered him a hardcore fan base. He then released his critically acclaimed project Searching Sylvan in September of 2014. His highest release to date, it garnered collectively over 70,000 downloads between HotNewHipHop & DatPiff.com.
Searching Sylvan was deemed by Huffington Post as one of the âmost underrated albums of the yearâ, and maintained a fluid sound that can only be mastered by those who have written down every thought all while downplaying the importance of sleep. He was nominated for XXLâs 2014 Freshman list, & received critical praise for his honest body of work. But even with a promising project under his belt, Sylvan still felt his legacy was far from cemented.
Taking a bold step forward, Sylvan left Visionary Music Group December of 2014 to focus on his own brand, sound & direction. âIt was a decision I made knowing that it could either be the best or worst thing Iâd ever done for my career. It was a risk, but a necessary one in order for me to continue growing as an artist.â Since then, Sylvan has launched his WiseUp collective seeking to create a platform for himself & for other artists in the future. With his new project Far From Familiar on the horizon, Sylvan has only one thing on his mind. âI just want to be the best in the world at being myself. Iâm proud of what Iâve accomplished so far, but Iâve spent a lot of time doing things in order to fit a certain criteria I thought would get me to where I wanted to be. At 25, Iâm realizing I can only achieve greatness, by fully embracing the man God has intended me to be all along.â
[/wpex]Press Releases
Sylvan LaCue Goes Down to the Ocean to Pray in Wrenching “Loner” Video, Debuted by VIBE
Miami Rapper Sylvan LaCue (Formerly QuESt) Switches Up His Sound, Releases Soul-Searching Far From Familiar LP
From the City of Gold Teeth and Mangos, Sylvan LaCue Goes Home on “Back To The City,” Premiered by Okayplayer
With His Far From Familiar Album Set to Release in April, Sylvan LaCue Shares “Heavenly” Loosie Recorded at HotNewHipHop
Sylvan LaCue is On A Spiritual Journey, Mass Appeal Debuts “Fall From Grace” Visual
Sylvan LaCue Finds Love In New Single “Emeryville,” Debuted By Pigeons & Planes
Complex Premieres Sylvan LaCue’s Self-Realizing “Fall From Grace,” The First Single From Upcoming Far From Familiar LP
Produced by Flow-Fi Collectiveâs Fortune, the Evangeline EP is a Story of Self-Discovery, Debuted by Pigeons & Planes
Premiered by Complex, the Miami Artist Releases First Single from His Evangeline EP Releasing This Friday, 12/18
Press Photos
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