Bryan Winchester
Encyclopedia
Bryan "Braille" Winchester (born 1981 in Portland, Oregon
) is an American recording artist. He has been writing and recording hip hop
music since he was 13 years old. For a short time, Bryan and his family relocated to Marlton, New Jersey
where he attended Eastern High School
in Voorhees Township
. Fully focused on music, Bryan Winchester adopted the stage name Braille Brizzy and headed back to experience the Portland music scene.
The concept behind the name Braille relates to "Helping People Understand the things they can't see." He has worked with a host of premier hip hop recording acts including his group Lightheaded, with rapper-producer Ohmega Watts
and rapper Othello. He was signed to Syntax Records in 1999 and continues to record for the label." The majority of his recordings are credited to his own label imprint "Hip-hop Is Music." Influenced by the positive vibe of the group A Tribe Called Quest
, Braille started recording Christian hip hop music. His first CD called Lifefirst: Half the Battle was released when he was 17 years old.
In 2009, Braille shut down his HipHop is Music label and started a label called Humble Beast with his friend and fellow musician Thomas Terry (aka Odd Thomas), which is dedicated to giving all its music away for free. Artists currently signed to Humble Beast include Theory Hazit, Braille himself, Foreknown, Propaganda, Alert, Odd Thomas, and producer Xperiment.
, and Othello), ManCHILD
of Mars ILL
, Sharlock Poems of LA Symphony
, Tony Stone
, Celph Titled, Kno of Cunninlynguists
, the Masterminds, 9th Wonder
and Rob Swift
to produce the album and accompanying video for "Shades of Grey". That year the national publication URB Magazine recognized him as an up and coming "Artist to Watch." He was also named "Lyricist of the Year" with the CD Shades of Grey and awarded "Album of the Year" honors by Sphereofhiphop. The following year Braille was selected to open for the Godfather of Soul James Brown
's World Tour in 2005 -2006.
The publication R&B Showcase Magazine recognized Braille as "Hip-Hop's New Force" and honored him with a feature and cover story in the fall of 2006. He joined hip hop group De La Soul
touring throughout the summer of 2007. The same year Braille added speaking engagements to his tour dates and spoke at a South Jersey benefit for Hold on to Education Foundation Inc. A youth motivational speaker, Braille was chosen by the organization as an honorary board member.
The spiritual collection called Box of Rhymes was Braille's third full length CD. The album was first released exclusively in Japan on the Universal/Handcuts record label.
from Arrested Development. The titled track is included on the video game NBA Live 09
. In addition to his U.S. performances, Braille continues to tour internationally including in Europe and Japan. His most recent projects include Cloud Nineteen, an album release and interactive DVD. He is also planning a special concert tour and youth presentation aimed at students of the arts, emphasizing the importance of education to all children.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
) is an American recording artist. He has been writing and recording hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
music since he was 13 years old. For a short time, Bryan and his family relocated to Marlton, New Jersey
Marlton, New Jersey
Marlton is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Evesham Township in Burlington County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population of Marlton was 10,260.-History:...
where he attended Eastern High School
Eastern High School (New Jersey)
Eastern High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school for students in grades 9 - 12 from three communities in Camden County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Eastern Camden County Regional High School District...
in Voorhees Township
Voorhees Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,126 people, 10,489 households, and 7,069 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,424.0 people per square mile . There were 11,084 housing units at an average density of 955.2 per square mile...
. Fully focused on music, Bryan Winchester adopted the stage name Braille Brizzy and headed back to experience the Portland music scene.
The concept behind the name Braille relates to "Helping People Understand the things they can't see." He has worked with a host of premier hip hop recording acts including his group Lightheaded, with rapper-producer Ohmega Watts
Ohmega Watts
Ohmega Watts, real name Milton Campbell, is a hip hop producer and vocalist from Brooklyn, New York. He releases music under the name Ohmega Watts and as a part of the Lightheaded crew.-Biography:...
and rapper Othello. He was signed to Syntax Records in 1999 and continues to record for the label." The majority of his recordings are credited to his own label imprint "Hip-hop Is Music." Influenced by the positive vibe of the group A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
, Braille started recording Christian hip hop music. His first CD called Lifefirst: Half the Battle was released when he was 17 years old.
In 2009, Braille shut down his HipHop is Music label and started a label called Humble Beast with his friend and fellow musician Thomas Terry (aka Odd Thomas), which is dedicated to giving all its music away for free. Artists currently signed to Humble Beast include Theory Hazit, Braille himself, Foreknown, Propaganda, Alert, Odd Thomas, and producer Xperiment.
Hip-hop honors
In 2004, Braille collaborated with his group Lightheaded (consisting of himself, Ohmega WattsOhmega Watts
Ohmega Watts, real name Milton Campbell, is a hip hop producer and vocalist from Brooklyn, New York. He releases music under the name Ohmega Watts and as a part of the Lightheaded crew.-Biography:...
, and Othello), ManCHILD
ManCHILD
manCHILD is a Christian hip hop rapper and an avid contributor to alternative hip hop. His real full name is Gregory Lamar Owens...
of Mars ILL
Mars ILL
Mars Ill is an emcee/DJ hip-hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia. The duo consists of Gregory Owens and Nathan Corrona . They are also part of the hip-hop collective Deepspace5....
, Sharlock Poems of LA Symphony
LA Symphony
L.A. Symphony is an independent hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. Current members of L.A. Symphony are FLYNN , UNO Mas, CookBook, Joey the Jerk, and Sharlok Poems. Past members include Pigeon John and BTwice, J-Beits a.k.a...
, Tony Stone
Tony Stone
Tony Stone is an American music producer and project developer for Christian Hip-Hop artists. He has produced the music to hundreds of songs in the genre...
, Celph Titled, Kno of Cunninlynguists
Cunninlynguists
CunninLynguists are a hip hop trio from Lexington, Kentucky and Atlanta, Georgia. The group currently consists of Deacon the Villain, Kno, and Natti...
, the Masterminds, 9th Wonder
9th Wonder
Patrick Douthit , better known as 9th Wonder is a hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, professor, and lyricist from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the hip hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with Mary J...
and Rob Swift
Rob Swift
Rob Swift is an American hip hop DJ and turntablist. Swift is a former member of the turntablist group The X-Ecutioners as of late 2005 and as of 2006; with Mike Patton’s project Peeping Tom.-Early life:...
to produce the album and accompanying video for "Shades of Grey". That year the national publication URB Magazine recognized him as an up and coming "Artist to Watch." He was also named "Lyricist of the Year" with the CD Shades of Grey and awarded "Album of the Year" honors by Sphereofhiphop. The following year Braille was selected to open for the Godfather of Soul James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
's World Tour in 2005 -2006.
The publication R&B Showcase Magazine recognized Braille as "Hip-Hop's New Force" and honored him with a feature and cover story in the fall of 2006. He joined hip hop group De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
touring throughout the summer of 2007. The same year Braille added speaking engagements to his tour dates and spoke at a South Jersey benefit for Hold on to Education Foundation Inc. A youth motivational speaker, Braille was chosen by the organization as an honorary board member.
The spiritual collection called Box of Rhymes was Braille's third full length CD. The album was first released exclusively in Japan on the Universal/Handcuts record label.
New projects
The appropriately titled fourth album The IV Edition was released in 2008 and featured a special guest appearance from Grammy Award winning recording artist SpeechSpeech (rapper)
Todd Thomas , better known by the stage name Speech, is an American rapper and musician. He is a member of the progressive hip hop group Arrested Development and has released a number of solo albums.-Background:...
from Arrested Development. The titled track is included on the video game NBA Live 09
NBA Live 09
Critics praised the new pick & roll system, though the new feature ,"Dynamic DNA", was called "not deep enough". GameSpot nominated it for the dubious award of Least Improved Sequel in its 2008 video game awards. However, the Wii version received mediocre score from critics.-External links:* * *...
. In addition to his U.S. performances, Braille continues to tour internationally including in Europe and Japan. His most recent projects include Cloud Nineteen, an album release and interactive DVD. He is also planning a special concert tour and youth presentation aimed at students of the arts, emphasizing the importance of education to all children.
Discography
- LifeFirst: Half the Battle: CD (ESPW 1999)
- Shades of Grey: CD (Syntax Records / Hip Hop is Music 2004)
- Hiphop Music: vinyl single (Hip Hop is Music 2005)
- Box of Rhymes: 7 inch vinyl single (Hiphop Is Music 2006)
- Box of Rhymes Enhanced CD Japan (2006)
- Box of Rhymes: CD worldwide version (Hip Hop is Music 2006)
- The IV Edition: CD worldwide (Syntax Records / Hip Hop is Music 2008)
- Cloud Nineteen: CD worldwide (Hip Hop is Music 2009)
- Weapon Aid: CD worldwide (Syntax Records / Talking Textures 2010)
- Native Lungs: digital download (Humble Beast 2011)
External links
- Official site
- Braille profile - Humble Beast Records