KinFusion

Kinfusion emerged in the mid-'90s as one of the scant rap acts to gain notice from Detroit, consisting of James "Flip" Griffin and his cousin Lake "Dolla" Bates. The two assembled the group during their high school years and performed at clubs and house parties throughout the local scene at that time. Working with hometown producer Art Forest, they completed a three-track demo and then traveled by bus to New York City carrying only 50 cassettes. A connection with Touchwood Records followed, resulting in a recording contract. Their debut single, "Crooked Green Papers," drawn directly from the demo, moved 15,000 copies under limited distribution. The first album, Da Unhatched Breed, arrived in October 1997.