Melvin “Knuckles” Barnes, recording artist, songwriter, and producer, reaches on past the ‘hop you’ve heard to fill you up with REAL hip-hop that delivers some soulful sounds. He’s performed nationwide from Detroit to Atlanta with platinum artists like Juvenile and BoneCrusher, receiving advice to “keep it going, you’re unique. It won’t be a 15-minutes-of-fame thing with you, you’ll be around a long time.” Other comments made to Knuckles include, “…you have a kind of Smoky Robinson quality, man, and that’s special,” and “…very diverse! From hip-hop to sounding like a Marvin Gaye, that’s ingenious!”
“Tha NonStop Hustler”, just released in May 2009 by his own record label (NonStop Records), has already sold 1000 copies. Knuckles has high-hit videos on YouTube, performs regularly throughout Memphis, TN, and will be in his hometown of West Memphis, AR at Tilden Rodgers Park on October 10, 2009.
A native Arkansan, Knuckles says his roots run deep in his southern home state. He says “Musicians in this state don’t get the attention they deserve. It’s an open market for producers with a host of talent in all music genres. It’s time for Arkansas to be put on the map musically, and it’s my plan to be a big part of that.” He attributes his passion for music to his grandfather, Lee Williams, a Grammy Award-winning Gospel recording artist from Tupelo, MS, and his mother, a single parent and singer who has performed across the country. Over the years, many performers have influenced his music, the most current being Master P., Eight Ball, MJG, UGK, Scarface, and Jay-Z.
Singing and performing since the age of 13, Knuckles also attended college, majoring in Audio and Video Production, and founded his own record company in 2005. He’s rich with talent and smart too! He’s a member of the Memphis Music Foundation and the National Recording Academy (Grammies). Along with his newest CD “Tha NonStop Hustler”, his past CDs include “Justa Sample” and “Y.A.H. Squad Mixtape”. Knuckles is determined to give the world a hit of unique music in the style of soulful hip-hop, and help others along the way; he says that it’s “more than a passion, more than a drive, it’s like breathing, I HAVE to do it if I’m going to live!” He truly believes he will one day be the youngest CEO of a major record label. He’s young, he’s fly, he’s Knuckles, and you gotta have him!
(read less)Melvin “Knuckles” Barnes, recording artist, songwriter, and producer, reaches on past the ‘hop you’ve heard to fill you up with REAL hip-hop that delivers some soulful sounds. He’s performed nationwide from Detroit to Atlanta with platinum artists like Juvenile and BoneCrusher, receiving advice to “keep it going, you’re unique. It won’t be a 15-minutes-of-fame thing with you, you’ll be around a long time.” Other comments made to Knuckles include, “…you have a kind of Smoky Robinson quality,...
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