1985, U.S. President Ronald Reagan is sworn in for a second term in office. Nelson Mandela rejects an offer of freedon from the South African government. Israel begins withdrawing troops from Lebanon. The first full length Def Jam album, L.L. Cool J’s “Radio” is released. Ocean is born.

May 14th, 1985, San Diego, CA; Kaliq Hasan was born to Jamal and Martha. He was named after one of the 99 attributes of Allah. Kaliq is translated from Arabic as creator or one who creates. The name suited him well. As a child Kaliq was heavily involved in visual arts, painting, drawing and writing his way into the Denver School of the Arts by the 8th grade.

Kaliq’s love of hip hop began where his father’s left off. Many Saturday mornings were filled with bus trips to the downtown record stores. Only build for Cuban Linx, Resurrection, Reasonable Doubt, Illmatic; these were the soundtracks of Kaliq’s life.
Despite his love for the music Kaliq never wanted to be an emcee. His father who was at the time producing local acts in the Los Angeles area would bring his son to studio sessions and try to inspire his son to put his poems to rythym, but Kaliq refused to record. He had no intentions of ever making music.

Over the following years Kaliq began performing his rhymes for friends and battling his peers in high school. He recorded his first song at the age of 13 and hasn’t stopped. The name Ocean came from his ability to switch cadences seamlessly, but much of the inspiration behind the name came from a book he read as a child, “Haroun and the Sea of Stories” a fictional tale about an ocean who’s waters were filled with fables that were brought to life when sipped upon. Versatility is his calling card, unique is his style, different is his dimension and universal is his appeal. Ocean’s journey has just begun as an artist and as a man. At 22 years of age Ocean has a definite sense of self and an air of maturity seldom seen in young men his age. A true MC that also understands the importance of commercial success, this young griot’s main focus is making quality music of moral and relevant density.

Ocean has managed to make a mark in Arizona’s Industry, conitnues to make continues hits, his recent release RefResh:mints is just a warm up of whats to come. Those that are close to him say that what he has for his album is definitely going to make a mark like no other. As Ocean continue’s to bring his fresh and versatile style to the Arizona scene we all should just sit back and enjoy for this is a unique and rare talent that come seldom.

For exclusive music:

www.myspace.com/youngocean