BIOGRAPHY

RAVAGE (aka MeccaGodZilla aka RYU BLACK) was originally born in Brooklyn and raised in Long Island, NY. He began breakdancing at the age of 4, training with a graphic artist from the legendary Hanna-Barbera at 11 and djaying at 15 years of age. He cites these early experiences as formative in his later artistic work.

While studying at Northeastern University in Boston in the late 90s, RAVAGE became engrossed by the underground style of hip-hop, including fellow New Yorker MF GRIMM. After coming back to New York, RAVAGE helped create The Grassroots Artists MovEment with the help of Omowale (formerly, L Rebel), mentor M1 of dead prez, Francis Pena, Diop, Neh, and So Soon. The Grassroots Artists MovEment is an organization dedicated to unionizing predominantly hip-hop artists, developing youth leadership and securing healthcare for working-class people.

Artistically, RAVAGE exhibits his music and graphic talents through artwork, production, and lyrics on a multitude of projects on Day By Day Entertainment, including Megalon’s A Penny For Your Thoughts, production on Rodan's album Theophany, and appearances on MF GRIMM's triple-CD to be released in 2006 entitled American Hunger. In addition to the arts, RAVAGE also A&R'd Hasan Salaam's first album Paradise Lost, as well as running the sales, marketing and promotions operations of Day By Day Entertainment from the summer of 2006 until early 2007.

RAVAGE is also a part of the Monsta Island Czars, a New York rap group, where he uses the name, MeccaGodZilla. At the beginning of 2007, RAVAGE joined the artist collective call NY Tributary. NY Tributary is an art movement that brings together various artistic disciplines by concentrating on the message of the art work.

Recently, RAVAGE teamed up with NY Tributary partner, *Urban Envy to paint live at Tompkins Square Park in NYC. The event was titled ART Around the Park an event held during the annual HOWL! Festival. Visit *www.nytributary.com to learn more.