Rob Crooks

Rob Crooks (fka Grubbs) first gained notoriety in the Winnipeg hip-hop scene as a teenager, when he began independently producing, recording and distributing the music that he and his friends made. Thanks to local promoters taking notice of him, his success in rap battles, and his hunger to get on any microphone available, Crooks’ reputation as a unique on-stage presence had spread through-out his local scene by the time he was in his early twenties. Soon, his hard work and prolificacy had gained him the attention of Michael Arnone (aka DJ Kutdown, DJ and producer of Winnipeg’s legendary Frek Sho crew); and the two immediately began making music together.

Along with Arnone, Crooks played a pivotal role in shaping the Foultone imprint early on. As a rapper, he was featured as a guest on each of Foultone’s first full-length albums, before releasing his own album on the label, Plague City in 2005. Since then, Crooks has continued to devote himself to pushing the label forward, from the grass-roots level. Besides his multi-faceted role as a promoter, performer and anything else that he can help with, Crooks has also contributed his song writing ability to Foultone’s highest- and longest-charting release to date, Magnum K.I.’s Gun Shy (2008). Currently, Rob Crooks is working on his follow up to Plague City, due out for release in Spring 2010.

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