Biography In the 5th century AD, Augustine of Hippo wrote the book The City of God, which focused on the conflict between society’s obsession with fame and fortune and the true standards of goodness and quality. Some 1600 years later, an underground alt-pop group has adopted the name. In the winter of 2006, City of God exploded on the music scene showcasing their fresh new style of music and incredible musical talents. City of God is a band that has transcended from their hip-hop roots to combine tranquil hip hop lyrics, up beat dance music and smooth R&B melodies. Their influence from all music genres has combined to create their unique sound that has been capturing more and more audiences. A wide variety of musical influences ranging from Jamiroquai, N.E.R.D, Earth Wind & Fire and John Legend show through in the diverse music catalog of City Of God.
The Ft. Lauderdale based band, has created a loyal fan base of supporters with their live show. Their highly energetic show has left its mark on audiences across various regions. Many have said City of God’s Show is a non stop party. “We actually have a lot of fun performing and look like it too!” says Smalls, lead vocalist of the band.
The Hip Hop/Pop band is complete with many essential components that make any band successful. Band members include drummer Raphael Ramos known as “Industry”, bass Guitarist Rocco Milord, lead guitarist Gunnar Vingren, Vocalist Stephanie Magro, Tiago Magro also known as DJ Zion on turntables and Synthesizer and lead vocalist Danny Foganholi also known as “Smalls”.
Foregoing major control for creative freedom, the City of God collectively released their debut album, Rebirth of Swag, this past August, to mainstream fanfare. They’ve recently headlined North Miami’s “Independence Day by the Bay” event and were recognized by the city and mayor of North Miami Beach for headlining their first major music festival. They were also prominent in October’s “Beats on the Beach” music industry conference in Miami where they won 1st Place in the new artist showcase category.
With influences spanning all genres -- from classic R&B to hip-hop, pop, rock and the progressive neo-soul movement – City Of God members promise a party on stage in every performance, non-stop energy, and memorable songs. “One night the band can be laying down slow R&B rhythms at a Jazz Club, the next they’re shaking the walls at a rock venue”, says the Florida Sun Sentinel.