In every local music scene, there are artists who don’t just participate, they help shape the culture. For the Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County Hip Hop scene, Prol’e is one of those artists. Born Tony Thompson, Prol’e’s journey in music started early. Born in Detroit with a strong musical background in his family, stepping into music wasn’t a question, it was a calling.

There’s something about artists from Ypsilanti that just feels different. Maybe it’s the environment, or the way creativity gets built authentically between real life responsibilities instead of inside perfect aesthetic driven studio sessions. To me it’s just that the stories tend to run deeper. J DUB feels like one of those artists.The first thing you notice isn’t even the music. It’s the presence. The kind of stage energy that makes people stop what they’re doing and pay at