Cipher(I)

Independent hip-hop artist Cipher was born on a U.S. Army base in California to a family who immigrated from Germany. The artist grew up in Dallas, Texas, but moved around considerably. Some of the places Cipher lived include Texas, California, Germany, Kansas and Florida. As a young boy, Cipher spent a lot of time in children's homes and foster care before finally reuniting with his mother in Dallas when he was 14. The constant moving, however, proved to be quite a challenge and made it difficult for him to keep friends, stay in school, graduate, and stay away from trouble.

Music has always been a refuge for Cipher, most especially when times got tough. In 2006, he created his first record with a little help from some headphones he got from the school computer room. His love for rap music started very early in his young life, and it became his source of inspiration and a form of self-expression. Despite the adversities he faced in life, Cipher managed to graduate high school with honors.

Knowing that he could not afford to go to college, Cipher enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school and was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Three. He participated in VBSS exercises and was part of the military operation that involved the capture of 15 Somali pirates and the release of 13 Iranian hostages. Throughout his military career, Cipher always found the time to write songs. During his time in the service, he was able to connect with mentors who helped develop his skills in marketing, investing, and starting businesses.

Four years and several medals later, Cipher was honorably discharged from the military, and he moved on to pursue his college degree. It was during that season in his life that he focused more on his music, learning to combine a southern sounds with a quick cadence. After establishing his personal style, his music has generated over a million streams across platforms. His music also appears in 50+ Spotify playlists.