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Lyrical verses and memorable hooks are common ingredients in the output of Mez, a rapper and producer who hails from North Carolina. The Raleigh native issued his first mixtape in 2009 and soon became known for his ability to excel with a wide variety of collaborators, from nearby heroes Little Brother to gangsta pioneer Dr. Dre. Most notably, his writing and guest verses were key to the latter's Compton (2015), and he also contributed to Dreamville's Grammy-nominated Revenge of the Dreamers III compilation (2019). Mez stepped back from releasing solo material for a few years to focus on directing and producing music videos and commercials, but he returned with The Loading EP (2024), an album prelude issued in affiliation with Mass Appeal.

Mez (Morris Wayne Ricks II) was born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. As King Mez, he released his first mixtape, LLTK, in 2009, and the next year teamed with producer Commissioner Gordon for another tape, The Paraplegics. Lasting associations were made at the same time with other North Carolinians, heard on projects such as Rapsody's Return of the B-Girl and 9th Wonder's The Wonder Years. Mez paired with Durham's Khrysis for the 2011 release The King's Khrysis, an EP featuring an appearance from Phonte on its title track. My Everlasting Zeal, issued the next year, was highlighted by production from J. Cole on "The Allure." Mez's next big move was a contribution to Lecrae's Church Clothes 2, followed by his 2014 tape Long Live the King.

Through Rapper Big Pooh, Mez was brought to the attention of an A&R representative at Aftermath Records. This led to Mez working on Dr. Dre's Compton. Featured beside the likes of Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius, and Kendrick Lamar on "Talk About It," "Dark Side/Gone," and "Satisfaction," Mez also co-wrote nine additional tracks on the album, which entered the Billboard 200 at number two. More in demand than ever, Mez made subsequent contributions to high-profile projects like the Game's Documentary 2.5, SiR's Her Too, and Andy Mineo's Always in a Rush, plus Dreamville's Revenge of the Dreamers III and the soundtrack for Creed III. Mez also issued three volumes in his noncommercial mixtape series Data Plan, but eventually worked more behind the scenes; he directed videos for J. Cole and also directed "Sleep Deprived," a Revenge of the Dreamers III track on which he appeared, and branched out to commercials. He returned in 2024 with The Loading EP, a seven-track effort with Isaiah Rashad, Leon Bridges, and SAINt JHN among the guests. ~ Andy Kellman

A mishmash of varying styles, including rock, metal, punk, and psychedelia, Cargo Cult formed in Austin, TX, in the mid-'80s. A quartet consisting of Big Boys member Randy "Biscuit" Turner on vocals, eventual Jesus Lizard and Tomahawk member Duane Denison on guitar, Don Davis on guitar, and James Bonney on drums, Cargo Cult released their only album, Strange Men Bearing Gifts, on Touch and Go in 1986. The same label re-released the album in 2002. ~ Christopher M. True

With their combined influences of '77 punk and vintage surf rock, the three piece of Bob Rydman (guitar), Marty Sparks (bass) and Jim Kruzie (drums) took the moniker of Plank upon their 1995 formation. Hailing the likes of The Ventures, Dick Dale, The Clash and The Misfits as an inspiration for their hybrid, Plank would spend the next two years gigging around their Northwest territory of Seattle before releasing their first full-length Sounds of Manahoa in 1997. ~ Mike DaRonco