Biography
Born into a middle-class household in White Plains, New York, Brian Ellis passed the bulk of his upbringing between New Jersey and Connecticut, relocating to the latter state just before high school. There his attention turned toward hip-hop, prompting him to produce rhymes without pause and to craft beats at every opportunity. Friends gave him the nickname “Raydar” in recognition of his constant drive to hunt down and verify information. He then enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University, where he pursued a degree in electrical engineering and formed Short Bus Crew alongside other aspiring rappers. Two years later Ellis chose to commit fully to music, transferring to Berklee College of Music in Boston to study music synthesis and business while maintaining his focus on beat-making and lyric writing. Performing with the group Hood Official, he appeared at the concert tied to the 2005 NBA All-Star Game; the following year he issued his first project, Late Pass, through Boston’s Brick Records. Shortly afterward he relocated to Atlanta, where he resumed work with the Short Bus Alumni.