The Los Angeles-area band Crown and the M.O.B. (Message of the Blues) has been getting a lot of positive buzz as of late. 

The alt/hip-hop band recently released their first full-length LP "All Rise." Critics have called their music infectious and inspiring. 

The band's style comes from many sources, and the members have played with a host of industry heavyweights, from Dr. Dre to Justin Timberlake. Bassist Colin Wolfe best described it as "gumbo." 

Here's their newest video from the single titled "Roam":

The band's frontman, Wilfredo Williams, better known as the rapper Crown, joined Colin Wolfe in the studio and talked to host Alex Cohen about their new album.

Alex began by asking Crown where and how he got his start:

CROWN: I grew up in Brooklyn, so you know hip hop was a heavy influence. I remember my older two brothers and their friends, they used to have cyphers and freestyles, we're talking about the early 80s, but they would't allow me to rap …

COHEN: Why not? 

CROWN: I was too little, so at that point they said, you know what - you get on the cardboard. So I started out breakdancing.  Eventually got better with writing … well, rapping actually, I used to steal my brother's lyrics ... and rap them at school ... and they were like, wait he can rap!
 

The band will be performing this Friday, June 5, at the Abbott Kinney First Friday in Venice.