Monti Cristo

Dubbed the "swiss army knife" among his peers in the music industry, East Bay native Monti Cristo refuses to follow the conventional and traditional. The Filipino and African-American rapper, producer, engineer and DJ is slowly rising up the scene, captivating listeners with his left-field production and artful lyricism.

Monti Cristo (born Mark Jon Rosel Harris) got his start in music learning piano at the age of 7, attending classes and watching YouTube tutorials on popular song covers. While in high school, his passion expanded to encompass jazz and music theory, ultimately leading him to take on music production and audio engineering.

In 2019, he assumed the moniker, "Monti Cristo," drawing inspiration from the main character in Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novel, "The Count of Monte Cristo." He also became a member of the Bay Area entertainment collective, Rich City Misfits (RCM), joining forces with RCM Julius, Ricky Smoov, and BL. In April 2021, Monti released his debut studio album, "GARBAGE MAN," under his imprint Grand Isle of the Very Exquisite Music. The half-an-hour album delves into poignant themes spanning grief, depression, race, politics, art, religion, and generational trauma. His second single, "BRIAN GRIFFIN!," gained further recognition after premiering in Lyricology 101's B4B Live Breakdown series, receiving praise for its hypnotic production and lyrical depth.

Two years later, Monti's musical aspirations continue to reach new heights. Following his initiation to Studio X Recording in 2022, he has ramped up collaborations with many local artists and producers: from his frequent collaborations with Bay Area rapper and producer Triimurtii, to the emerging Filipino R&B sensation Phil Q., to the up-and-coming pop and corrido singer Lio Desario. Currently, he accompanies the "Clean Up Crew" as a keyboardist for The Office Hours, and continues to expand his discography with "The Monti Special" series, a curated collection of beats, remixes, and previously unreleased music. In between his own releases, Monti Cristo remains a driving force, actively producing, engineering, and curating as a DJ for local talents.