Manny Duke Indie Rock Band from Minneapolis, MN

Emmanuel Minter born July 13, 1986 and raised on Chicago, IL. Performs as Manny Duke formerly known as Manny Da Duke. As a youth growing up on the South Side Woodlawn and Roseland neighborhoods learned how to play the piano at age 8. After experiencing a concert from Common Sense (Common) in the first grade at Carnegie Elementary gymnasium, he began writing lyrics. At age 11 he learned how to compose complete songs. After moving to south suburbs of Chicago during his High School years, he linked up with Charles "Chacho" Smith and Dam13n Chan. Dam13n and Charles who led the rap group "Da Sickness" who also included members Stylefree, and G taught Manny how to mix, master and record music. Dam13n taught Manny how to make instrumentals using the knowledge he'd gathered from his earlier years. The 5-man rap group toured colleges in the Midwest as well as the greater Chicago-land area from 2006 to 2009. The group broke up in late 2009 and Manny Duke emerged creating solo projects, "Summer Slam Mayhem Mix-tape", "Love, Sex & Hip-Hop mix-tape", "Doppler Effect LP", "Proper Gander LP", and his latest project "Legal Thievery LP" released on October 5, 2012. Manny has opened and hosted/sponsored shows for Big Sean, Smif-N-Wessun, GLC, Rymefest, Willie Da Kid, Mikey Halsted, Twon Gabs, DTP artist Shawna. Toured with Jeru Da Damaja YP, Milla Boi, The Mighty U.A.C, Microphone Misfits, Adebesi, Jargon and more. His major influences are Andre 3000, Outkast, Common, Juelz Santana, Kanye West, Phil Collins, Prince, Quincy Jones, T.I, Missy Elliot, Black Sabbath, Jay Z, White Stripes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime and The Roots. What sets Manny apart from other bands is his versatility of style, music speed and arrangement. In 2010, Manny added another element to his live performance when he learned how to play the drums. When he raps without drums, the instrumentals he composes himself has an electronic/dub-step vibe with a drum and bass mix followed by mellow uptempo to dark heavy melodies. When he performs with Scottie Meyers who plays guitar/bass, they form the band Black2Con playing at a punk rock pace and slowed down at times to a blues tempo with hard hitting lyrics about current events. Then speeding the tempo of their music with menacing drums like someone marched in rolling thunder meshed with a guitar producing a sassy melody that resonates off the walls. Since 2010, Manny Duke and Blak2Con have toured Kansas City, Houston, Milwaukee, Iowa, and Indiana.They continue to Gig multiple times each month out of their home base Chicago,IL and the Midwest. Blak2Con will release an EP "Sessions in The Blue Room" in Fall 2013.