Offwhyte

Owing to the mismatch between his birth certificate's designation of "white" and his actual identity, Filipino-American Ryan Fernandez selected the stage name Offwhyte when he launched performances across Chicago in the late '90s. The rapper had relocated from his native Alabama to study at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he co-founded the cutting-edge underground rap label Galapagos4 alongside Jeff Kuglich and graffiti artist JASH. After Offwhyte's graduation, both the artist and the label shifted operations to Los Angeles. He issued his debut, the critically acclaimed Squints, in 2000. Two years later, his sophomore album The Fifth Sun reached U.K. audiences through distribution by the renowned Peacefrog label. A brief stay in Switzerland produced a partnership with DJ Reezm and En Sayne on the 2004 EP Crossing the Potomac, released via the Ish imprint. Offwhyte returned to L.A. and Galapagos4 for the 2005 EP Bow to the Sceptor, his most politically charged effort to date. A grittier sound and a bit of reggae surfaced on his 2007 release, Mainstay.