HB & Lady E
HBC Hardbody Crew the name says it all. HBC was born through the mind of Carlton Gaffney aka HB aka Hardbody, and Rowena Perry aka Lady E, as a way of transitioning from the streets to a more positive path in his life. At 23 years of age he has lived a life which has brought inspirations to others leading those who follow him to believe that there is a way to rise above negativity and corruption. That with hard work, fortitude and the will to succeed the stars is not only reachable but obtainable. From a young age, you could see his determination and motivation to succeed. He says “My mom couldn’t give it to me, so I had to go out and get it.” That is exactly what he did; he made money the only way he knew how. He says he had, “12, 12, 38, 58, dimes, smoke, coke, dope.”, but his motivation would soon be redirected. After serving time for his past discretion HB came to live with his aunt Rowena Perry (age 30 aka Lady E) he started using music as a way of surviving without resorting to his old ways. Lady E being the supportive aunt she was started to get involved in his projects. She had always loved music and had done some singing in the past, but it was her love of poetry that came into play, soon lyrics came like flowtry and the RB/Hip Hop fusion was born it is strongly presented on their collaborations on the first mixtape ‘Straight From The Streetz Vol.1” with hits like “All My Love” and “Harlem Ballers”.

From the kitchen table to the protocols, bar by bar, track by track they started to construct their first mixtape “Straight from the Streetz Vol. 1” with hits like “Lames”, “Bird Ass Nigga” and self titled “HB Song”. The pavement was buzzing with the sounds of HB soon after he shot his first video for the “HB Song”

Sour D
Next HBC was in search of a voice to fill the void, with so much RB material they needed a singer and HB did not have to look far, during a visit to meet his sisters in Connecticut from his father side which he had only seen once in his life. HB begin to brag about his music and his father said “oh you sister can sing listen”, As the family sat around 16 year old Serina Dejesus began to sing, HB said “Yo E the hairs stood up on the back of my neck”. Serina Dejesus (age 18) aka Sour D had the voice of an angel, her soulful sexy voice turned tracks from flames to a four alarm fire, with soulful hits like “Without My Love” and the “Day After”.

Shies B
And then came Shies….
Cahnard Roundtree (age 22) aka Shies B grew up side by side with HB from the cradle to the streets they were inseparable. Their mothers were best friends and so it was natural that they would be, so when Shies found out HB was doing music he natural became apart of the team. Being that he was straight from the streets he brought a gangster swag that was like no other, you can hear his unique style on his hit tracks like “I’m the Boss” and “Red Bandanna”.

With new members it was time to change their style so they did. “Switch Ya Style Up Vol. 1” mixtape CD/DVD number two drop December 2007 with music video “Nothin To Lose Remix”, and exclusive behind the scene footage the cd feature hit songs like “AK On My Back”, “Dear Friends”, “Big Hammers”, and “Without My Love” soon after “Switch Ya Style Up Vol. 2” mixtape CD/DVD drop in June 2008 with hit songs “Prada’s” “Dangerous Girl” and “Weekend Girls” with music videos “All That Matters” “We On The Come Up” and “Criminal Minds” and feature new artist Splurge. They worked with such producers as Mr. Instrumental (NYC), James Jay (Switzerland), Sonar (France), and Colisee (France). The streets went crazy every where you went in Harlem they was talking about HBC.

Splurge
Shaniqua Griffin aka Splurge (age 23 ) was featured on the first mixtape (Straight From the Streets Vol. 1) on hit single “Duck Down”. Now as an official artist of HBC she has proven that she is a force in her own right with, with a unique style all her own. Her delivery and swag is on 1000 no other female artist is on her level, she is proving to be one of the best with bars like “the bars come trickling down, like rain from the clouds, significant sound, flooding the towns, forcing artist under ground, evacuate now” the squad was complete.

Since then they have established HB Production which showcases short films, urban topics from newly unsigned urban artists, displaying their skills. HB Productions has been working closely with Trey Videos and Director Tenesha K.Hartsfield and has produced five music videos; “All That Matters” was featured along with exclusive interview with HBC on the popular cable show “Royal Soul” in February of 2008. HBC will also be featured in the newly up and coming magazine/DVD /mixtape “Da Pavement” (CEO and Founder Chill Will of NYC) which will be released soon, and look out for Source Magazine april 2009 issue HBC will be featured as one of NYC hot and up coming new artists. In additions their new hit song title “in the streets” has been featured on hot 97 “who’s next”. mixtape, and also on the new dj gemstarr presents “death proof”(in stores now) Their third addition in the “switch Ya style 3” up saga was release in june of 2009. the streets was a set a blaze with such hit as “i got five on it”, “watch ya mouth”, “Who’s Real”, and “Bullet proof” the game will never be the same.
Currently HBC is filming non-stop & back in the booth blazing up the mic for their for their 1st album hbc presents “it is what it is” due to be completed this later this year. HBC is a force to be reckoned they write & perform their own material, engineer, and mix down their own tracks, direct and produce their own videos, they are the entrepreneurs of the future, no one is on their level, they can’t be stopped, they can’t be top, and they won’t stop not until they reach the top.