Since the beginning, Michael Colen was a risk taker and a musician. Michael was born in Memphis, Tennessee, son of John and Candas Colen. When Michael was two, the family moved to South Sacramento, CA, to find better jobs, and giving birth to brother Teran Colen. It was the third grade when Michael decided to play an instrument, the violin. Through the years, that interest moved to a range of instruments including the clarinet and the keyboard. Michael also belonged to school bands and choirs. Learning to play others music was fun, but Michael wanted more.
It was the sixth grade when Michael started rappin'. He decided to name himself The Pro. It was then when classmate and friend Maurice Wheatly, known at the time as Ace Of Spades, took Michael aside and helped him develop rap skills. Ace of Spades would also get a keyboard and teach Michael how to make beats. In high school, Ace had a group called "Black Rage". Black Rage was Ace, AK47, and a new female rapper named Ms. Marvaless. They would put out fresh underground tapes at their school, made straight out the house, foo! Ace of Spade, now known as Ace Mak, and "Black Rage" was the first group that Michael knew that had recorded themselves, giving Michael the belief that he could do it, too.
With this belief, The Pro kept writtin' and changed his name to First Degree, the extremist. First Degree then formed a group called "The Rat Pack". The Pack was First Degree, M.C. King, Cruicial Point, Teaboan The Lune, J Dubb, Big Sin, and Devonair, the straight homies. One summer, Ace let Degree use his keyboard, so First Degree wired up his room into a ghetto studio and The Rat Pack started making "The Volumes". The Volumes were entertaining and def freestylin' tapes made straight out the house, foo!
With three Volumes under his belt, First Degree wanted to be in stores. Looking for a label, First Degree found Brendan Connell and Ruff Chicken Records. Brendan, known as D.P. or Digital Presence, had a reggae act and was looking to work with rap. Ruff Chicken would then sign First Degree, D.J. Timebomb, and a new, bald, white rapper named Loki. Ruff Chicken then put out Degree's first local single, "Murder in the First Degree". It was in six stores.
First Degree conitued to hit the studio, making gangsta hits, and paying for sessions any way possible. Not working on any specific project, First Degree spent time, puttin' together songs, developing his skills, and trying to met people in the game. During this time, CEO of Death Trap Records Dalvin Pipkins, producer J.B. The Phonk Beta, and a local rapper named Hellraiser agreed to put out an album, a real album that would be in all the stores. Hellraiser then chaned his name to "Be Gee" and they put out Be Gee "Ya Gotta Be Gee". Be Gee was the first rapper that Degree knew that had a tape out in stores across the nation, eventually giving First Degree the belief that he could do it, too. After the success of the album, Death Trap was looking to expand but First Degree went off to college at Hampton University in Virginia. Death Trap then signed Young Joker. Back on break, First Degree recorded two solo songs on Young Joker's "Who's Laughin' At Cha?", which pissed Joker off major. The album was another hit.
With his new popularity, First Degree moved back to Sac, continued to make underground hits in the Death Trap garage, and eventually released First Degree's first album "Southbound". During this time, Degree transfered to Sac State and tutored troubled youths from 29th St. Death Trap was soaring high until Death Trap's legal problems took over, ending the label's west coast underground reign. After Death Trap, First Degree continued to make music, working with Soupbone and M Sane, and still going to school. Eventually First Degree decided to put an untitled album together and try to shop it to labels. It was then, while calling Phonk Beta for beats, that Degree met up with Brotha Lynch Hung, fresh off of "Season Of The Siccness" fame. "Hello, what's up, this is Lynch". Damn.
Degree loved Lynch's music and was excited to met up with him. Most times First Degree went to Lynch's house, his crew, Siccmade, was freestylin'. Siccmade was Lynch, Beta, Zagg, Loki, Sicx, P Folks, D Dub, Polo, Twamp Dogg, Hiest and a few more. I could tell that major drama had just happened with "Loc To Da Brain" and they had just decided to break up. One day, while freestylin' Lynch turned to Degree and said, "Let me hear what you've got." It was then that First Degree became First Degree The D.E. and was forced to instantly take his game to the next level. During these days, The D.E. was working on "Planet Zero", and Lynch was working on "Loaded". Lynch and First Degree began to feed off of eachother, started making songs together, and became influences in eachother's work.
After the "Loaded" success and completing "Planet Zero", The D.E. started his own label, Fahrenheit Records, spent a year looking for distribution and found it with City Hall Records. The D.E. continued tutoring in G Parkway. Mr. Colen also began teaching after school math at Burbank High School. The rest is history.
First Degree The D.E. has released eight albums, has been on many other albums, two movies, and has worked or done shows with E-40, Bizzy Bone, Brotha Lynch Hung, B Legit, Too Short, Ice T, Andre Nickatina, and many more. Mr. The D.E. has performed in Sacramento, S.F., San Jose, Santa Cruz, Chico, Portland, Seattle, Reno, Denver, Kansas City, Louisville, Indiana, Omaha, and more cities. First Degree The D.E. is the Head of The Sunz Of Fahrenheit, a superior group of male humans across the nation that has dedicated their lives to the Truth of The Fahrenheit Shlangz. The D.E. is also the lead recruiter of The Bitti Club, a group of fine, young women, also across the nation, that have dedicated their lives to promote The Shlangz. Michael Colen has a B.A. degree in Communications and a minor in Criminal Justice. Mr. Colen is still a math teacher and enjoys influencing the young in the classroom and in the raps. Mr. Colen's students can't believe he raps and First Degree The D.E.'s fans can't believe he teaches!
First Degree The D.E. "Before There Was Fahrenheit" is a collection of the gangsta songs made inbetween "Murder in the First Degree" and "Planet Zero". Stay tuned and NEVER take your eyes off First Degree The D.E. and the Fahrenheit Shlangz!!
First Degree The DE
"Before There Was Fahrenheit"
DOUBLE CD!!
Late November
It was the sixth grade when Michael started rappin'. He decided to name himself The Pro. It was then when classmate and friend Maurice Wheatly, known at the time as Ace Of Spades, took Michael aside and helped him develop rap skills. Ace of Spades would also get a keyboard and teach Michael how to make beats. In high school, Ace had a group called "Black Rage". Black Rage was Ace, AK47, and a new female rapper named Ms. Marvaless. They would put out fresh underground tapes at their school, made straight out the house, foo! Ace of Spade, now known as Ace Mak, and "Black Rage" was the first group that Michael knew that had recorded themselves, giving Michael the belief that he could do it, too.
With this belief, The Pro kept writtin' and changed his name to First Degree, the extremist. First Degree then formed a group called "The Rat Pack". The Pack was First Degree, M.C. King, Cruicial Point, Teaboan The Lune, J Dubb, Big Sin, and Devonair, the straight homies. One summer, Ace let Degree use his keyboard, so First Degree wired up his room into a ghetto studio and The Rat Pack started making "The Volumes". The Volumes were entertaining and def freestylin' tapes made straight out the house, foo!
With three Volumes under his belt, First Degree wanted to be in stores. Looking for a label, First Degree found Brendan Connell and Ruff Chicken Records. Brendan, known as D.P. or Digital Presence, had a reggae act and was looking to work with rap. Ruff Chicken would then sign First Degree, D.J. Timebomb, and a new, bald, white rapper named Loki. Ruff Chicken then put out Degree's first local single, "Murder in the First Degree". It was in six stores.
First Degree conitued to hit the studio, making gangsta hits, and paying for sessions any way possible. Not working on any specific project, First Degree spent time, puttin' together songs, developing his skills, and trying to met people in the game. During this time, CEO of Death Trap Records Dalvin Pipkins, producer J.B. The Phonk Beta, and a local rapper named Hellraiser agreed to put out an album, a real album that would be in all the stores. Hellraiser then chaned his name to "Be Gee" and they put out Be Gee "Ya Gotta Be Gee". Be Gee was the first rapper that Degree knew that had a tape out in stores across the nation, eventually giving First Degree the belief that he could do it, too. After the success of the album, Death Trap was looking to expand but First Degree went off to college at Hampton University in Virginia. Death Trap then signed Young Joker. Back on break, First Degree recorded two solo songs on Young Joker's "Who's Laughin' At Cha?", which pissed Joker off major. The album was another hit.
With his new popularity, First Degree moved back to Sac, continued to make underground hits in the Death Trap garage, and eventually released First Degree's first album "Southbound". During this time, Degree transfered to Sac State and tutored troubled youths from 29th St. Death Trap was soaring high until Death Trap's legal problems took over, ending the label's west coast underground reign. After Death Trap, First Degree continued to make music, working with Soupbone and M Sane, and still going to school. Eventually First Degree decided to put an untitled album together and try to shop it to labels. It was then, while calling Phonk Beta for beats, that Degree met up with Brotha Lynch Hung, fresh off of "Season Of The Siccness" fame. "Hello, what's up, this is Lynch". Damn.
Degree loved Lynch's music and was excited to met up with him. Most times First Degree went to Lynch's house, his crew, Siccmade, was freestylin'. Siccmade was Lynch, Beta, Zagg, Loki, Sicx, P Folks, D Dub, Polo, Twamp Dogg, Hiest and a few more. I could tell that major drama had just happened with "Loc To Da Brain" and they had just decided to break up. One day, while freestylin' Lynch turned to Degree and said, "Let me hear what you've got." It was then that First Degree became First Degree The D.E. and was forced to instantly take his game to the next level. During these days, The D.E. was working on "Planet Zero", and Lynch was working on "Loaded". Lynch and First Degree began to feed off of eachother, started making songs together, and became influences in eachother's work.
After the "Loaded" success and completing "Planet Zero", The D.E. started his own label, Fahrenheit Records, spent a year looking for distribution and found it with City Hall Records. The D.E. continued tutoring in G Parkway. Mr. Colen also began teaching after school math at Burbank High School. The rest is history.
First Degree The D.E. has released eight albums, has been on many other albums, two movies, and has worked or done shows with E-40, Bizzy Bone, Brotha Lynch Hung, B Legit, Too Short, Ice T, Andre Nickatina, and many more. Mr. The D.E. has performed in Sacramento, S.F., San Jose, Santa Cruz, Chico, Portland, Seattle, Reno, Denver, Kansas City, Louisville, Indiana, Omaha, and more cities. First Degree The D.E. is the Head of The Sunz Of Fahrenheit, a superior group of male humans across the nation that has dedicated their lives to the Truth of The Fahrenheit Shlangz. The D.E. is also the lead recruiter of The Bitti Club, a group of fine, young women, also across the nation, that have dedicated their lives to promote The Shlangz. Michael Colen has a B.A. degree in Communications and a minor in Criminal Justice. Mr. Colen is still a math teacher and enjoys influencing the young in the classroom and in the raps. Mr. Colen's students can't believe he raps and First Degree The D.E.'s fans can't believe he teaches!
First Degree The D.E. "Before There Was Fahrenheit" is a collection of the gangsta songs made inbetween "Murder in the First Degree" and "Planet Zero". Stay tuned and NEVER take your eyes off First Degree The D.E. and the Fahrenheit Shlangz!!
First Degree The DE
"Before There Was Fahrenheit"
DOUBLE CD!!
Late November
