Biography
Brooklyn rapper Starker has established himself as one of the most consistent and well-regarded names in the New York underground rap scene. Starker has always shown a finesse with fashion which has caught the eye of industry influencers. The rapper is one of the foremost collectors of vintage Polo Ralph Lauren in the world. In 2021, Teddy Santis’s Aimé Leon Dore enlisted Starker for their 2021 New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore ad campaign. Starker’s raspy delivery, DIY aesthetic, and distinct NYC fashion sense has garnered him an ever-growing cadre of diehard fans, both in his hometown and abroad.
First gaining major attention with his 2013 release "Starker USA" featuring production from NY stalwarts such as Juju of The Beatnuts and J-Love of mixtape fame. In 2015, Starker would first collaborate with fellow New Yorker YL and they would release their first project together that same year entitled "Lo.Ceasar." The group also work together under the umbrella "RRR" (Real Recognize Real). In 2019 they would release a collaboration with producer DJ Skizz entitled "Smoke" as well as a full project with Zoomo in 2022 entitled "RRR: The Album."
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Despite his New York roots, Starker has found a creative haven and committed listenership in Japan. In 2017, Starker played his first solo show in Morioka, Japan, despite making music for close to a decade prior. Presented by SLICK CARTEL and PLUG, the tour served as a major milestone in his career giving him an enthusiastic international fanbase that he has noted profoundly changed his life. “It probably changed my life forever,” Starker said in an interview with The Harvard Crimson. “Like Japan is one of those places that when you get there it feels like a bonus round in life.” One of his seminal projects "The Bootleg Collection" would be released shortly after in 2018.
His $25.00 series (five volumes) was released very privately in 2019 sold only via Instagram DMs or through his website. The series featured material spanning across Starker's career including multiple collaborations with YL. It was eventually released on 2xLP vinyl by GoodFelons.
In 2022, the Brooklyn MC painted the cover art for Westside Gunn’s July 2022 album “Peace ‘Fly’ God” with his friend and collaborator, Masschussetts rapper al.divino.
Starker's most recent output is 2026's LIVING TYPE DANGEROUS Vol. 1 "North Face Nace" which was released to critical acclaim with Pitchfork awarding it their coveted "Best New Music" title. The album's artwork is designed like a late '90s mixtape sold on the streets of NY (most notably those of Lo LIfe founder Thirstin Howl The 3rd). Production was handled by a variety of underground names including Nicholas Craven, Laron, Benji Socrate$, $moove, Noface and more.
Discography:
as a solo artist
U.S.A. (2013)
The Dutch Masterpice (2014) produced by Golden Child
The Bootleg Collection (2018)
$25.00 Vols. 1-5 (2019)
$100.00 (2020) produced by Benji Socrate$
3.5 (2020) produced by NV
The Greenest Block (2020)
Secrets (2020) produced by al.divino
STARK'TERYX (2021)
KNG JHSPHTS (2021) produced by Benji Socrate$
MOTHRA (2021) produced by Gee Dubs
Sacred (2021) produced by al.divino
The Riviera EP (2022) produced by Slim One
Spiridon (2023) produced by Theravada
Good As Stone (2025) produced by Markus Da Indigod
SUMMIT SHOOTOUT (2025) produced by Zoomo
LIVING TYPE DANGEROUSLY Vol. 1 "North Face Nace" (2026)
as a group or collaborations
Lo.Ceasar (2015) with YL
Made in Japan (2018) in group RRR (with YL & MID)
Knuckleheads EP (2019) with YL
Smoke (2019) with YL, produced by DJ Skizz
Lo.Ceasar 2 (2020) with YL
Rap Money (2020) with ???
LoFace (2022) with YL (prod. NoFace)
RRR: The Album (2022) with YL
Chango Macho: The Book of Dreams (2023) produced by Mr. Rose (aka Estee Nack)
Diamond Collection (2024) with YL
https://starkerusa.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ghostnacekillah/
https://www.youtube.com/user/ghostnaceeee
https://www.sneakersnstuff.com/en-gb/blogs/editorials/an-interview-with-starker-ltd
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/2/9/starker-rapper-new-york-profile-harvard/
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/starker-living-type-dangerous-vol-1/
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.