MEET OUR 2025

FESTIVAL AMBASSADOR

If you have been listening to hip-hop for any period of time chances are you have heard the work of Kannon "Caviar" Cross. Growing up In South side Compton, Caviar aka Cavie witnessed the genesis of the gangsta rap movement firsthand. With his father locked up in the penitentiary and
his mother addicted to crack, it was the big homies in the hood who
Cavie looked up to.

At 12 years old Cavie, was blessed to be mentored by Eazy-E and was a regular in the studio when (at the time) DJ Train was working with a
little known rap group called, N.W.A. Cavie had a chance to see legendary artists at their craft, whether it was watching Ice Cube pen "Gangsta Gangsta" on a bunk bed, or seeing D.O.C. spit lyrics in the studio. By the time Cavie was 13, N.W.A. had blown up around the world, and he realized just how powerful music can be. One night while watching Dr. Dre, DJ Train, and DJ Yella at work, Cavie decided to quit gang banging for good and formed his own crew called, Torture Chamber. The group had a number 1 hit in 1993 with a song called "Wicked", featuring Ice Cube and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After that, Cavie became intensely focused on solo production, shopping his beats to the likes of Mack 10, Ice Cube, and Xzibit.

In 2000, Cavie linked up with Blackground Records and began working on several projects with Aaliyah including songs such as "Back in One Piece," featuring DMX. The song was a big hit on the "Romeo Must Die" soundtrack.

Blackground also hired Cavie to work with R&B artist, Tank, producing songs such as "Street Life" and "My Freak." In 2001 Cavie moved to Atlanta and began to produce tracks for T.I., beginning with work on "Urban Legend" and continuing to "King", where he produced the menacing track, "Undertaker." In the South, Cavie played his beats to Crime Mob, Young Dro and Ciara. Cavie also had the privilege of producing some of the late Pimp C's last recorded songs.

His 2010 hit record with Macy Gray, "Beauty in the World", generated several television placements including; "Ugly Betty", "Law and Order LA", "What Chilli Wants", and the Ashton Kutcher film "Killers". Other Macy Gray collabs also made it on the screens like "Kissed It" which became the Summer time theme the Bravo network and "Stand Up" which was in the movie "For Colored Girls".

Most recently, in 2011, Caviar was featured on the television show, Dr. Drew "Life Changers" where be became a Mentor/Life Changer for the show by offering internships to disadvantaged youth at his Recording Studio in Hollywood, CA. He has also participated as a Panelist during several music conferences as well as Motivational Speaking on the Laws of Attraction.

Caviar has been featured in several publications including the November 2011 Issue of Vibe Magazine. He is currently producing several projects for a wide range of artists including: Norega, Joe Jonas (Jonas Brothers), Goodie Mob, DMX, TI, Macy Gray and Cee Lo Green.

Kannon "Caviar" Cross