About The iCONS
Fred Williams, widely known as CoolFreddyGeez. A visionary who makes sure to put all of his love for life and every experience of it into his work. He was first introduced to a love for music at the age of 10 by watching his older brother freestyle and learned that he could use music and lyrics in a new way to express himself. And express himself he did. Most would describe his particular style of expression as a psychedelic spiritual experience or a "Stoner's Sunrise" made for the everyday person who just wants some nice chill vibes to relax to after dealing with the various ups and downs of life. Although he is passionate about rapping, it's only one of the vast passions he possesses. Also making its way onto the top of the list are writing and producing. He enjoys creating and recreating the collective perspective of the human experience and sharing it with others to find a connection with. The thing he is most passionate about is networking, meeting new people, and getting to know their experiences to help him gain deeper knowledge of the souls beneath the skin.
The thing that makes his sound special is that he creates what he feels to keep in tune with himself, yet also keeping it open to interpretation so that everyone can come together and find common ground within all of the different human experiences. He remains different from the typical artist by living in his truth and openness and knowing that, as he stated, "Nobody else can bring me" into their work like he can. His dream is to, in 10 years, have a studio of his own to create a safe space for children who want to pursue music in hopes to help them achieve more drive and vision for their future. He wants every young child who grew up like him to know that there's not one single way to do things and express yourself and shared, "You can be as free, open, and creative as you want. Just create!" One of his first showcases of his talent was a mixtape called Synergy that he released in 2014, which was about two different parties coming together to create something better. If you'd like to listen to it or catch up on any of his latest projects, you can find him on all streaming platforms.
Jonathan (Andy) Knipp, better known as Jonathan The Artist. Most would describe him as reserved but when it’s time to perform he’s never shy to put himself out there. Born in Huntington, West Virginia this gifted virtuoso has always been musically inclined. From toddlerhood he has played a variety of instruments including but not limited to the guitar, sax, bass, drums, piano, and even the french horn. He's also proficient in singing, rapping, and song writing. Even though he has been classically trained from youth he never really saw himself stepping into the light of performing until he hit freshman year of high school and noticed that people really enjoyed hearing him sing. Although it started as a way to gain attention from the ladies he’d found that performing had turned into a love of creating and expression that he just wanted to share with the world. While his main style of music is hip hop and R&B he also seems to have a natural inclination to other genres as well. He may like to keep to himself most of the time but those around him find he is a valuable part of their lives.
Music isn't his only passion, he's a proclivity towards politics and debating. And he’s learned how to use that in his process, using his voice to prove a point to the world about the world and taking a stand against injustices. He has a voice that can shake the world if used correctly, but what makes him special is the things he uses that voice for. Constantly exposing the wrong doings in the world and focusing on the things that really matter. He’s adamant to reveal the shit show behind the curtain and share his knowledge and experiences with everyone. Some of his best hits are EP’s called Blessings pt.1 & pt.2, and Cursed. If you’d like to get an idea on his fresh take. He’s excited to release some more developed and in depth songs late in the summer of 2023 with a more specific type of style that he’s hoping to dive further into. You can catch his unique music on all streaming platforms.
James Phillips best known as J. Onyx. This young prodigy has always had natural skills and talent, he just needed a platform to showcase himself. He grew up in the arts and has always had a love for all things music. Most would describe his distinct style of music as a mixture of lyricism, and contemporary storytelling, all coming together into conscious rap. As a child his grandmother would play James Brown and sing and dance with him around the house, this sparked his love of music. As he grew older and learned more about the different styles of music he found himself listening to Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Common. Hearing them rap ignited an interest in rapping and song writing.
His dedication is inspiring and is what keeps him ahead of the rest. He uses the things he goes through on a daily basis and his love for creating to motivate him to succeed. He’s learned how to evolve and expand his mindset to keep himself focused on getting the job done and following his dreams. He refuses to give up on his dream because there is no alternative for him so he does all that he needs to stay dedicated to making it work against all odds and obstacles. Always making time for it and willing to lose sleep to accomplish his goals. His biggest supporter in his corner is Marcus ”Ewokiez” Phillips, his older brother who partially founded iCONiC Records, LLC in support of James stating “There's no excuse not to work with family.” James said he wouldn’t be able to do this without him and he’s glad to have that kind of love and motivation in his life. He’s inspired in knowing that he has a gift and he can share it with the world, in a way that is unique to him.
Ashantii Phillips, preferably known as SmokeDawwg is what we call a jack of all trades. Not only can he make his flow match just about any beat, but he's also naturally talented in all things music. Which shouldn't be a surprise considering his deep-seated love for it. He has never known a time before music and has always been passionate about it since birth. However, he will never forget the first artist he truly felt inspiration from, MC Skatcat. That was the first album he'd ever bought. His pursuit of music and crafting his own form of expression was decided purely because he loves it. His style is best described as a wild card, you never know what kind of style and beats you'll get when tuning in to his songs but they all have an underlining feel of unfiltered raw energy.
What makes his music original aside from his ability to rap and sing to any genre that piques his interest, is the fact that he's an amazing lyricist. Who can not only keep the flow but can also add finesse to the way he delivers his words to keep the audience enraptured. With a musical style that is so versatile it can fit any mood or function while still being indistinctly his alone. The first showcase of his talents was in Denver, Colorado at a venue called Roxy, while his most recent performance was in January '23 at a bar and grill by the name of Jumbos. SmokeDawwg thrives to work, create, and perform his next EP to be released by summer '23 will be called B.O.N. (Better Off Neglected). And, if you can't wait until then to get ahold of his music you can find him on all major streaming platforms.
Ewokiez
The ringleader.