Zo West is an artist that bridges the gap between the Old School and modern Hip-Hop, with his hybrid style of lyricism AND energy.
Hailing from a small town in Tennessee, Zo West grew up all but certain he would spend his life working in the family business of iron work. However, Zo also grew up around music. From the church choir to long road trips listening to “Oldies”, it’s no wonder his love of music runs deep. From Conway Twitty to The Temptations, from Frankie Valli to Johnny Cash, the love of music was always there. However, it wasn’t until he discovered hip-hop that his love grew to a new level.
During 1997, while trying to cope with the loss of his grandmother and sister, music took on a whole new meaning for Zo. It was an escape. A way to cope with the problems of the world. The Album: No Way Out, The Artist: Puff Daddy and the Family. From that point forward, he knew there was something different about hip hop.
Fast forward to 2004, as a freshman in high school, one day at lunch some kids were freestyling outside in the courtyard during their lunch period. This is how he met a local rapper named Tyler Lyons. Zo had never given thought of him rapping but something about that day sparked a fire inside. After hanging around hearing Tyler and his buddies freestyle, Zo finally found his calling. Every day after school he would go home, get on the internet, listen to beats, and try to develop his own style. Sending his verses to his friends on MSN messenger and battling with them to improve their skills. However, he never had the courage to put a verse on wax.
In 2008, after graduating high school, that would finally change. Upon learning that his friend, local singer Brad Lay, had recording equipment (a cheap microphone and a laptop in the loft of a barn behind Lay’s house), they decided to give recording a shot. The two went on to team up and form the group Tricken, and a small buzz started to form around the pair. Later the duo would become a trio with the addition of Lyons. The three went on to record only a few songs to later break up and go their separate ways.
After spending the better part of a year doing no music at all, West reunited with the man he credits for inspiring him to do music…Tyler. After a few months of learning to write songs and a few recording tips, they finally released a song to their family and friends which was met with a very positive response. This served as motivation to keep pushing and see where music could take him. As it turns out, it would lead him to meeting and joining forces with Cav’lier to become a full time artist for Cav’s independent record label Hunted Down Entertainment.
Helping his fellow members of Hunted Down Music Group, they put out a mixtape in 2011, followed up by Lil’ Sickka’s album “Sickest In the Game, Volume 1” the next year, also featuring Zo. Since then, he has appeared on the HDMG singles “No Sleep” and “Change”, as well as released his own debut single “Ball Hard” which has been very well received among his peers. Zo planned on releasing his debut album in the year 2020, but studio concerns with COVID slowed the creation process down slightly. As soon as Zo is able to get back to recording, he will have a full-length album, of his very own, under his belt.
