Maryland area based rapper Flex Kartel releases "Recognize" featuring Fat Trel.
The single off the TWO-18 album, has garnered exciting feedback and heavy rotation on the airwaves and has now deliverted the anticipated video filmed in the DMV.
GENUINE. DEDICATION. FLEXIBILITY. Each word reasonably describes the living breathing musical creed that resides in the chest of Flex Kartel. Posed to rest at the helm of the emergent tidal wave of talent currently hailing out of the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV aka the Diamond District aka the Tri-state) area.
Born Derrell Able, with roots in Jamaica and homegrown in Hyattsville, MD, Flex Kartel discovered his talent and strong passion for music relatively early in life. Flex Kartel’s music seamlessly weaves between the genres of old school hip-hop, rap with a message, pop with a pulse and R&B soul. His flexibility and, range in addition to his dynamic lyrical style has led to a strongly diverse fan-base due to his fearless ability to stretch the established molds of the music industry.
Flex Kartel is no stranger to adversity; he’s been able to triumph his past run-ins with law. In his early-life Flex had been arrested and tried for two felonies. One for attempted robbery and another for attempted murder. Regardless he overcame the cases formed against him and chose to put his focus into music rather than the streets. That adversity has also helped Flex Kartel become very involved in giving back to the community. In the past years he’s coordinated multiple Turkey and Toy Drives during the holiday season, in hopes the less fortunate experience the holidays just as well as everyone else. Flex has also worked at the D.C. homeless shelter for years assisting with the after school education program and providing mentorship to the youth.
Versatility is a pillar of his particular brand of artistry. Flex Kartel started to formally produce music in Spring 2013. In his latest artistic venture, Flex Kartel collaborated with his twin brother and fellow rap artist, Biggs Cooley. The project “Two-18” was released Febuary 18, 2018. Joining them in presenting the project to a world stage is, DJ Tay James, personal DJ to mainstream pop artist Justin Beiber.
Far from a freshman, Flex Kartel and has been thoroughly groomed for public consumption he was featured on a episode of HBO’s hit show “Crashing”. Flex Kartel is also a veteran at entertaining crowds at major venues ranging from 100 to 10,000 people. He recently accompanied Wale performing on his Shine Tour, which more than half of the 20 dates were sold out expanding his diverse fan base. He’s also joined Wale on tour with Nas during the summer/fall season of 2017. Flex Kartel has performed in arenas at colleges like UMBC, University of Maryland College Park, Towson University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, South Carolina State. Also, performing for local large crowd festival stages like Broccoli City & Trillectro (with Phil Ade) and national festivals A3C and SXSW. Other public appearances and resulting media coverage include BET Experience, VIBE Magazine, Complex Magazine, 106 & Park with Phil Ade, SOB’s, The Howard Theater, The LBCC Unity Festival, and The Fillmore.