by Jason LymangroverAs one of Philly's premier underground beat-makers (J-Live, Zap Mama, Bahamadia, Mr. Complex, and Pharoahe Monch), Hezekiah got his humble start singing in church and fronting his uncle's funk band. In 1986, he received some hands-on training when his cousin brought home a four-track recorder and drum machine, and from then on, through school, he spent much of his free time making beats as a hobby. After graduating, Hezekiah hooked up with one of the few hip-hop acts based out of Delaware and created a mixtape called Exit Wound Status. As luck would have it, in 1983 he met up with the Roots at the peak of their success and started involving himself with Philadelphia's flourishing hip-hop scene. In 2005, New York's Soul Spazm label took notice and released his debut solo album, Hurry Up & Wait..., which featured Hezekiah rapping among guests Bahamadia, Scratch, Chief Kamachi, and Grand Agent. For the following year or so he continued working behind the console, co-producing music for a Showtime series titled Street Time and creating tracks for singers Aaron Livingston and AAries, and in September 2007 he returned with his sophomore record, I Predict a Riot.