Steph Pockets
Latest Release
Artist Profile
Steph Pocketsbegan rapping for family
and friends at the age of nine, and soon focused on learning how to
program beats and write lyrics. As she developed her skills, she would
often look to her neighbor, Will Smith, for inspiration (Smith even
accompanied Steph to her fifth-grade career day!)
Later, while a student at Philadelphia's Temple University (she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude in Mechanical Engineering), Steph began performing at local clubs and at music conferences around the country - SXSW in Austin, Texas; NEMO in Boston,
Massachusetts; the PMC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and the Route 1
Music Conference in Richmond, Virginia. In 2001 the song "Bum Bum
Bum", written and produced by Steph Pockets, was included in the
soundtrack album for the critically acclaimed film "O", starring Julia
Stiles and Josh Harnett.
Steph's career blossomed after she licensed two albums for release in
Japan-- "My Crew Deep" in 2004 (Handcuts Records/Media Factory),
and "Flowers" in 2005 (Handcuts Records/Universal Music). "Flowers"
was ranked #5 on the Tower Records Japan Top-10 Hip-Hop list for albums sold in 2005, and both albums made the weekly charts in multiple
categories at Tower Records as well as HMV in Japan. Steph's popularity was cemented by two major tours of Japan, where she performed at
the world-famous Blue Note in Osaka and Nagoya, and sold-out clubs in
Tokyo, Nagasaki and Fukuoka.
The success of these two albums led to numerous producing opportunities for Steph in Japan. She produced two tracks for Universal Music
Japans' recording artist A.I., whose 6th album, "Mic-A-Holic," contained
the Steph Pockets track "Party", and sold more than 500,000 units.
Steph also produced tracks for pop artist Aya Ueto (star of the "Azumi"
movies and various other films and TV shows), and collaborated with
reggae artist Karukaya Makoto, J-pop artist Can'no, and reggae artist
Minao.
Steph's third album, "Can't Give Up", was released in Japan, Hong
Kong, and Taiwan early 2007 by JVC Victor Entertainment. "Can't Give
Up" was ranked #1 in pre-order sales by Tower Records, and ranked #7
in the top selling Hip-Hop albums of 2007. The title track, which features
Speech from Grammy Award-winning musical group Arrested
Development, was added to Japan Airlines' in-flight audio playlist.
World-famous Japanese visual artist Dragon created the album cover
artwork.
Early 2007 Steph received her first commission to score a commercial
for McDonald's, which still continues to be aired worldwide. In November
2007 her fourth album, "The Early Works" (a compilation of her first
three albums along with new songs and remixes), was released by JVC/
Victor in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
After completing a 16 city sold-out tour of Japan (sponsored by Carhartt
Japan, Nov-Dec '07), she immediately started working on a collaboration
with Japanese music producer/recording artist 45. The album, "Hello
Friends," (containing "Night Life" featuring Steph Pockets) debuted at #1
on iTunes Japan for Hip hop in Feb. '08. "Night Life" was featured on the
AND1 DVD in Japan Dec '08. In Dec '07 Steph headlined the AIDS/HIV
charity event "Nippon Jam," presented by the New York Japan Student
Association at the Knitting Factory in NYC. The concert and Steph
Pockets exclusive interview were broadcast on all Japan FM Network
radio stations (26 stations and 10 million audience) a week later.
On August 12, 2009 Steph Pockets, signed on with BFM Digital for the
release and distribution of four digital LP's , containing a catalog of
nearly 50 songs, together with video content. The four digital LP's,
titled, Friend, Can't Give Up, Life Goes On, and Mr. D.J. are available on
all major digital platforms. "We are very excited to be distributing Steph
Pockets' digital LP's and look forward to helping grow her already
successful career outside of Japan. Her style is a great addition to
BFM's catalogue, which we continue to diversify with artists such as
Steph," says Steven Corn, CEO of BFM Digital.
In Spring 2009 Steph Pockets released her 5th album on JVC Victor
Entertainment, Friend, and toured throughout Japan (18 shows in 14
cities). Steph was favorably mentioned in Sarah Morgan's article "8
Lessons Bands Can Teach Your Business" published August 4, 2009 by
Wall Street Journal's www.smartmoney.com. She is also featured on a
song, titled "Fight The Power", alongside Sadat X (Brand Nubian),
Sonny Cheeba (Camp-Lo) and Anna Tsuchiya (Kamikaze Girls)
produced by Volta Masters, that was released March 2011. A year later
she teamed up with Volta Masters again and they remixed the theme
song from Japan's popular cartoon, Lupin the 3rd. Steph completed her
album, Forever, 2012 on Victor Entertainment, Inc. (JVC). She toured
through-out Japan after the release of Forever to sold-out venues. The
lead single off of Forever, "Round & Round", was played on JAL Airlines
domestic flights. On March 11, 2012, Steph Pockets & Naoya Fukada
released "Memories - A Song For Japan" produced by Asahi Suzuki, in
memory of those lost and affected by the events that took place in
Japan on March 11, 2011. Steph once again toured Japan in 2013 after
releasing a single, "You Can Do It", with DJ TAMA. "You Can Do It" is
currently being played on Air-Do flights throughout Japan. In 2014 Steph
teamed up with producer Avens from Poland and released the single
"Everybody Loving It" in South Korea. Steph collaborated with DJ KOU
and completed an album, 10 TEN which was released in the winter of
2014.
Her 6th album "ON THIS JOURNEY" (Goon Trax) was relased in 2016.
The first single "My Crew Deep Together feat, Ai Ninomiya" produced by
GEMINI was also included on IN YA MELLOOW TONE 12 compilation
(Goon Trax). This compilation album series has sold over 400,000copies
throughout the world.Steph Pockets toured for 3months promoting "ON
THIS JOURNEY" in Asia(Japan, Korea and Taiwan) in early 2017.
Her first reggae full album "STEPH POCKETS in Roots & Dub
Culture" (1Five3 Donuts) was released in 2018. Japanese rasta band
Oiso Rockers, Black Blood recorded live instruments for all tracks. She
worked with Japanese singers Chan-Mika, Marcy and Fortune D, DJ
SHARK scratched on them. She has tour with Oiso Rockers in Japan
on 2019.
Steph's music combines rap with reggae, rock, folk and R&B. As a female in a male-dominated industry, Steph Pockets is committed to pushing the envelope of music. Look for this artist/producer to keep on giving
but never giving up.
Genre: Hip Hop/RapActive Area: USA
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