A self-proclaimed nerd who had his life changed by the De La Soul album 3 Feet High and Rising, literate and witty rapper Spree Wilson blends many other genres with hip-hop thanks to his diverse background. His father was a doo wop singer in Memphis and he grew up listening to the giants of blues and jazz along with his beloved De La Soul. The quirky group was an alternative to the bleak world of gangsta rap that left Spree cold, but he later found another alternative, rock music. Pink Floyd, Nirvana, and Sonic Youth filled his world until the maverick hip-hop duo OutKast came along and brought him back to hip-hop. He soon joined one of Atlanta's more genre-free acts, Knives Out, as an MC and earned a loyal local following thanks to his smart words and laid-back flow. With the help of DJ Jamad of the Aphilliates, he released the solo mixtape Weird Science in 2007. The mixtape was recorded at superstar producer Dallas Austin's Darp Studios. ~ David Jeffries