Born in Suffolk, VA, rapper Kenn Starr grew up listening to artists like Nas, 2Pac, A Tribe Called Quest, and Ras Kass, writing his first rhyme at age ten. While at the University of Maryland Starr, he formed the Low Budget crew, which consisted of him, Oddisee, Kevin Brown, Critically Acclaimed, and Cy Young, among others. Thanks to his friendship with Oddisee, Starr was able sign to D.C.'s Halftooth Records, first making his name known on their 2004 compilation You Don't Know the Half with his song "If," which also featured performances from Talib Kweli and Asheru. It wasn't until 2006, however, that his full-length debut, Starr Status, came out. ~ Marisa Brown