Zee Santiago is an grassroots organizer, Hip Hop academic and even more talented emcee. He has opened for Hip Hop superstars such as Lupe Fiasco, Dj Unk, and Common and performed at legendary hip hop venues such as the New Yorican Poetry Café, Bowery Poetry Club, and the Apollo Theater. He has also shared the stage with some of hip hop’s biggest underground stars such as Blitz the Ambassador, Amanda Diva, Akrobatik, Akir, Hasan Salaam, Skyzoo, La Bruja, Bocafloja, Siete Nueve, The Readnex Poetry Squad, Homeboy Sandman, Eternia, Rebel Diaz, Invincible, Pack FM & Icon The Mic King, Foundation Movement, Self Suffice, Hired Gun and Sun of Nun, and some of the biggest international stars in music such as Les Nubians (France) and Sam the Kid (Portugal).
In the fall of 2006 (with the help of Minister Server), he founded the first College Chapter of KRS-ONE’s organization Temple of Hip Hop. As an organizer, Zee has worked with Hip Hop luminaries such as Jeff Chang (author of Can’t Stop Wont Stop), Charlie Ahern (Director of Wildstyle), Toni Blackman, Byron Hurt (Director of Hip Hop Beyond Beats & Rhymes) and pioneers like Grandmaster Caz, Tony Tone of The Cold Crush Brothers, DJ Disco Wiz, Fab 5 Freddy and Pop Master Fable of Rock Steady Crew.
His extensive internship experience in the music industry also sets him apart for many of his peers. At the age of 14 he interned with Bryan Leach (President of Polo Ground Records) in the Urban A&R department at TVT records. Here he had the opportunity to network with industry heavyhitters like Lil Jon & The Eastside Boys, Pitbull, The Ying Yang Twins, Busta Rhymes, and Treach of Naughty By Nature. In the summer of 2008 he did another internship in the New Media and Marketing department for Bad Boy/Atlantic Record. During his time there he did online marketing for the Bad Boy roster and associated brands such as Sean John, Making The Band Season 4, & Ciroc Vodka. Performing, and organizing as Zee expands his network he is becoming a guiding light for the younger generation of Hip Hoppers. Zee intends to take the experience he has garnished in his young career on stage, in the industry and within the academy to build the bridge between the underground and mainstream music. To view show updates, songs, and footage visit www.myspace.com/zeesantiago . For more information he can be reached at Zee.Santiago@gmail.com
