Puzzle Pieces

When Nas released It Was Written in 1996, he was unaware that eight years later, 12 year old Terence Oliver would take one listen to “I Gave You Power” and it would change his life forever. It was Nas’ first person narrative from the perspective of a gun that inspired Terence, who we know as Khemist, to begin writing poetry. Growing up in the heart of North Philadelphia, Khemist was not oblivious to the poverty, crime, and misfortune around him. Unlike many of his peers, he steered clear of the streets and used writing as his escape from the madness. Following in the rich tradition of Philadelphia natives such as Kenny Gamble, Fresh Prince, Jill Scott and Black Thought; Khemist began writing music at the age of 14. Citing Lauryn Hill and Nas as his major musical influences, Khemist aims to become one of the most influential writers of his generation. In 2008, Khemist released his first mixtape, Weirdo Language, which became a favorite amongst his fellow students at The Academy at Palumbo. The following spring, Khemist was hired to perform at Palumbo's 2009 junior prom. Coming off the high of performing in front of his classmates, Khemist went on to perform at Temple University, St. Joseph's University, and Howard University's 2009 Homecoming Yardfest with artists such as Fabolous, The Clipse and Big Sean. In 2010, Khemist won the Hampton Idol competition and had the opportunity to perform for Hampton University’s Homecoming festivities. In June of 2010, Khemist released his second mixtape Exotic Prodigy Pluto Distributors (EPPD), hosted by the world's number one blind DJ, DJ Touch Tone, which served as a proper introduction to his thoughts. Currently a student at Hampton University, Khemist has built a dedicated audience in Virginia in addition to Philadelphia. The Summer of 2011, Khemist has managed to perform at 20+ venues this summer including the legendary S.O.B’s in New York City, in addition to performing live on NBC 10! in Philly and NBC6 in Miami. Puzzle Pieces was recorded with Dilemma of Hello World Music at the legendary Sigma Sound Studios in downtown Philadelphia. An explosive mix of hip-hop and soul, Khemist's sound is one of the most unique heard from the Philadelphia area. His lyrical content and poetic flow draw you in while Dilemma's production keeps you nodding and swaying to the beat, adding the perfect piece to the puzzle. Khemist shows his wide musical influences and adds color with features from many of Philly’s budding talent including, Gilbere Forte, Selina Carrera, Chill Moody, and many more.