City the Great

Brooklyn, NY Artist and CEO of Certified Nation Entertainment (CNE), City The Great born Ronald Dixon developed a passion for hip-hop at an early age. City wrote his first song titled, "F**k School" at the age of 9. After the loss of his father at age 11 and experiencing a near brush with death himself, City's anguish was further heightened by his mother falling ill. By this time, a lot of pressure was placed on him as he cared for his younger sibling. The fear, hurt and rage he felt fueled City to utilize his pen and write. His passion grew and he wrote vigorously each day. As a teenager, City began to take his craft more seriously, hosting and competing in various hip-hop battle ciphers. Winning many, he continued to pursue a career in music and released his first CD, titled The Journal. He acquired the nick name "Ill Dramatic" by his peers due to his lyrical ability of painting a picture much like artist, Nas. City was granted access to the nuances of the industry but chose the indie music route. He released several mix tapes online, frequently participated in shows and took interviews to promote his music and brand. Globally, City received notice after connecting with Certified Hitz Music Group's founder DJ Bad and Philadelphia underground producer Mizzy Beats. Through the success of mix tapes, "Reloaded" and "Carry The Casket" and overseas buzz, City established several business relationships and collaborations with many including Jinxy Music, Charlie Brown of LESFLO Entertainment, producers Pluto and Buck 3000. Eventually, City caught the attention of hip-hop alumni, Special Ed. Impressed by City's talent, Ed focused on signing City as his first artist on his label, Semedia (formerly SEMI Records). He has since released several projects including studio album, The Inevitable and the Why Not EP. In 2021, City and his CNE team established a partnership with the legendary Kool Rock Ski (Disco 3/ The Fat Boys). City and the team participated and performed at Kool Rock's event, the 1st Annual Classic Hip-Hop and R&B Cookout. Kool Rock passed the torch to City and fellow CNE artists, It's Only Write and Pengame Classic. From there the deal was sealed to orchestrate the event every year along with events and projects in between. As City continues to create music and elevate, he maintains his goal of reaching the masses through his story telling and bringing the true elements of hip-hop back into the forefront.