Birthed from the hip-hop roots of Houston, Texas, 21-year-old Ingrid Burley, known to the world as IB3 – as in Ingrid Burley from the Third Ward, got her debut in the music business at a very early age and on a different path. As a close friend of Solange Knowles, IB3 and the singer started a group at the age of nine. "It was around the time that Destiny’s Child was developing, so as the younger girls, we really wanted to be like them," IB3 recollects. The young ladies took vocal lessons and began creating routines, mostly out of fun. "One thing I learned early from growing up around the Knowles family is that Mathew is serious about business," IB3 explains, "so it was a big deal when he said he would give us a chance." For a while, the pre-teens stuck to their guns, aiming to be a great girl group full of fun songs and good times. But the more the business aspect came into play, the more IB3 realized that, as an adolescent, she wasn’t really ready for the big time. "Basically we were just too young, so the group split up." But IB3 did not give up. She revisited music some odd years later, this time in the form of her true calling - rhyming.

"I was always the tom boy with a good ear, like the Left Eye of TLC, so rapping fit me perfectly," IB3 declares. Beginning to wholeheartedly pursue a career as a rap artist, IB3 recorded songs in the studio and learned the mechanics of a good stage show and most importantly, she kept working. "I watched Destiny’s Child work so I knew I couldn’t just ask Mathew for a deal, I had to earn it." IB3 hustled hard, making music with other budding artists and building a local Houston fan base. Constantly writing and recording, she went off to college in New York City in 2005 and spent much of her time borrowing Kelly Rowland’s studio time. Learning the ins and outs of creating a record, IB3’s skills improved exponentially. Finally, on a holiday break from college, she lucked up on an opportunity to perform at Music World Entertainment’s annual Christmas

bash. As the only artist not contracted to the label, IB3 wooed the crowd with her live band, proving to Mathew that she was worth signing.

Since that fateful show, IB3, now a Music World Entertainment artist, has performed at both the 2006 and 2007 South by Southwest Music festival, honed her talents as an emcee, and virtually completed work on her debut album tentatively titled Honorable Mention. Getting into the studio with legendary rap artist Pos from De La Soul and producer Cameron Wallace (Beyonce’s "Upgrade You") has resulted in a spell-binding hip-hop creation by IB3. One listen to the percussion heavy, head nodding, live instrumentation of the lead single "Like I’m From the H" confirms IB3’s necessary role in hip-hop. With an unmatched lyrical forte, witty one-liners, and a brusque and edgy, yet feminine delivery, IB3 fulfills the void in female lyricist representation. In addition, she successfully shows her dexterity and versatility on songs like "Your Fault" which introduces listeners to another side of IB3. A slower paced, introspective piece, IB3 passionately speaks volumes to fatherless children over a grand piano arrangement. IB3’s Honorable Mention is much more than a mention. It is a brilliant statement of what is to come from one of Houston’s most promising emcees.