When choosing your stage name, it’s important that you select a moniker that describes your very essence. Hip hop artist, Sertified, did just that.

Born John David Flores jr. in Austin, TX , music started out as something to do for fun while in high school. It wasn’t long before Sertified realized that creating music was his true calling. The feeling he received from manifesting a song from a thought in his head gave him the desire to continue upon his musical journey.

In 2009, Sertified began his musical career professionally. His first project, ‘Filthyfckinghumans,’ produced entirely by German producer Heartbeatz, was released in July 2013 and embodied his side of “country rap tunes'” sound that he would become most known for. Drawing inspiration from his peers & musical idols Scarface, Ice Cube, Pimp C and B-Real of Cypress Hill, Sertified’s debut spawned singles, "Drug 2 Me,” “Make it Happen” and “Where I Live,” which were all highly acclaimed among the masses.

His latest release "Chips and Salsa" dubbed "The Side Order" is an ode to culture.

Teamed with producer Haris The Terrorist to create a platter that embodied his roots with tracks such as "Fresco" & "Back 2 Tha block".

This 11 track project only serves as an appetizer for what he has in store for 2017.

Sertified’s budding hip hop career has afforded him the opportunity of working with those he once looked up to. From working with hip hop icons such as DJ Burn One, to sharing stories about UGK with producer Cory Mo, who worked heavily with the Texas duo throughout their career, Sertified has gained the respect of many notable influencers in the industry.

Due to his independent label status, Sertified’s music and success is completely his own in every sense of the word. Although he has yet to sign to a major, the Texas rapper has used his knowledge of branding, marketing and his massive stage presence to garner an incredibly large fanbase. His work has been featured on reputable hip hop publications such as Thisis50. Dayandadream, Dirty Glove Bastard, ThaFixx, Earmilk and Ovrld. Sertified has embarked & been apart two independant tours, also gracing stages as part of the annual SXSW (South by Southwest) and A3C music festivals.

When not on stage, Sertified dedicates countless hours to perfecting his craft and his career. “I like to write, so when I have the beats and the free time I usually get prepared for the studio,” he reveals. “When I’m away from the studio I’ve been making all sorts of imagery designs in my spare time. I love the idea of brand marketing & management. I’ve always been hands on with the ideas behind my campaign, so I like to wear several hats aside from just being an artist.”

Sertified is the epitome of a well rounded talent, who understands the importance of being hands on with his career and outworking the competition. Stay connected with all things Sertified by visiting: http://www.sertified.biz and following @Sertified on Twitter and Instagram.