Newest Million DJ March Performer: C.L.A.P. Cognac

Born in New York City & raised in the northeast region of The Bronx. C.L.A.P. Cognac resides in Co-op City in its secluded area mostly known throughout the city as Section 5.

He was raised in a West Indian household with his mother’s side of the family who were from the heart of Kingston Jamaica. His father was from the Ivory Coast.

C.L.A.P's first influences in music came as he grew up under his two older cousins that played the roles of older brothers. Always having the radio on, he was exposed to a vast array of artists. Everything from B.D.P, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Run DMC, Ultra-Magnetic, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest and NWA were played in that household, along with exposure to the Hip-Hop culture in the forms of music, graffiti, break dancing, etc.

One would have never thought back then that he would become the slick witted MC with the raspy voice who flips his words pertaining to his upbringing, college years & personal life episodes.

C.L.A.P's first attempt as an M.C came when he was in the 8th grade. It wasn’t until a local artist saw something special in him & said keep on writing and rhyming until you master your craft that he began to take the art form to a next plateau.

After years of sitting by the radio with instrumentals & making local mixtapes, C.L.A.P furthered his education in life & went away to Buffalo State College. There he gained added exposure performing at local clubs, doing radio interviews & learned how to make & format songs.

In college is where he adapted his stage name C.L.A.P which is an acronym for Camouflage Ladj Attacking Problems. It was a perfect fit for an M.C who has a witty way of expressing social issues. After graduating in 2004 with a B.A in Mass communication C.L.A.P went back to the Bronx to pursue his dream. He was given an opportunity to get on BET’s #1 video show 106 & Park’s Freestyle Fridays. After winning several times he was only beaten by himself with a loss for words when an entire show was based around his presence.

That didn’t stop this young bright & determined M.C. He continued to do freestyles on mixtapes, performing all over NYC, doing radio interviews and putting out CD samplers on his own. He has also broadened his knowledge of the music business by obtaining jobs at G-Unit & Interscope records.

The artists most influential to C.L.A.P's career are The Notorious Big, Big L, Big Pun, and rappers from his local neighborhood located in Section 5 of Co-op City. C.L.A.P is looked upon as the artist with a raspy voice that has real life content. With 6 mixtapes under his belt such as “Stay Hungry”, “The Love Outweighs The Hate” and his latest classic street mixtape “Made in the Bronx” hosted by Superstar Jay, C.L.A.P is ready to take on the music industry and show the world his talent.