Royalty Life Records was created in part in the UNM dorms.
Lameck Lukanga, also known as Humble, and Byron Davis established the hip-hop record label. With the help of residents in Redondo Hall, his dream is now a reality.
"Me and B came up with this idea sitting in a garage," Lukanga said. "It was a dream we had since freshman year in high school."
Lukanga is a freshman at UNM majoring in business and marketing.
The 14-member business was founded last year. Lukanga invited helpful young men such as Myron "Knowledge" Jefferson, Byron "Pretty B" Davis, and William "Ill Will" McMullen.
With the chief executive officer, president and executive manager positions covered, Lukanga was in search of talent to get his label off the ground.
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Royalty Life's debut artist, Christian Lupton, or Young Jigzaw, will perform tracks from his forthcoming, as yet untitled album at the SUB on Saturday.
Lupton is an 18-year-old MC who has been rhyming since he was 12. He said he admires Lil' Wayne, Fabolous and Tupac Shakur, but he is adaptable in his taste and style.
He said he doesn't limit himself, and his wordplay is versatile.
Lukanga discovered Lupton when A&R man Lavone Ealy called him after hearing Lupton's poetry at a local talent competition.
Lukanga wasn't interested at first.
This changed when Lupton recited his original composition, "Bass," over the phone.
Still, Lukanga wasn't totally convinced.
"I told him to meet me at the mall, and we talked for like an hour and a half," Lukanga said.
Lupton said he wants his music to be heard all over the world, but he doesn't mind starting in New Mexico.
"I appreciate the love New Mexico is showing me," he said. "It's a low-profile place I can reside in."
After that meeting, Lukanga signed Lupton as the first artist, and more followed.
Sincere, another young MC from Albuquerque, saw his friends driving for success and wanted to get involved, Lukanga said. Sincere knew Davis and Lukanga in high school and in UNM's hip-hop scene.
"Sincere's always been like our little brother. We (Lukanga and Davis) have raised him since he was real young," Lukanga said. "He was always incredible at writing."
He said Sincere honed his MC skills and showed them to Lukanga, who signed him on the spot.
With two MCs, things were going great for Royalty Life.
Then Andre "Kingston" Cunningham, a native Jamaican, became friends with Lukanga and the Royalty Life family when he arrived in America. He began battling local MCs. His talent was noticed, and he was swiftly signed to the label.
Lukanga said Royalty Life has come together well.
"The love we have in this family goes so deep that making music just comes naturally," he said. "Our whole goal is to make it to the top in music and fashion, but to make it there as a family."
All three artists and everyone else who contributes to Royalty Life will be at Saturday's event.
Young Jigzaw
SUB Ballroom
Saturday 9pm-1am
$5
Free to women before 10pm
