Elzhi

A skilled rapper known for his sharp critiques of mainstream hip-hop, eLZhi launched his path by connecting with Waajeed, Dwele, and other talented Detroit figures during the city's vibrant late-'90s underground hip-hop community. His guest spot on Jay Dee's pioneering 2001 album Welcome 2 Detroit led him to join the producer's outfit, Slum Village. As Jay Dee pursued projects elsewhere, eLZhi stepped in as his stand-in, debuting in that role on the crew's 2002 release Trinity (Past, Present and Future). The collective followed with two further projects, 2004's Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit) and a self-titled set in 2005, before eLZhi shifted attention to his own work via the 2008 solo album The Preface.

He rejoined Slum Village for the 2010 LP Villa Manifesto, though fellow member Baatin passed away prior to its arrival. The record featured contributions from an array of hip-hop notables such as Posdnuos, Phife Dawg, Little Brother, Dwele, and DJ Babu. Villa Manifesto marked eLZhi's final effort alongside the group. He returned to solo projects through the mixtape Elmatic, crafted as an homage to Nas' Illmatic with all rhymes penned by eLZhi and beats supplied by Will Sessions. Crowdfunding via Kickstarter supported his subsequent release, Lead Poison, which arrived in 2016.