Tarli and The Tribe
Tarli—formerly known as EL.i.BE—a dynamic force in the Twin Cities hip-hop scene for over a decade. Drawing from his Liberian roots, "Tarli," a name passed down from his mother's tribe, embodies the spirit of a "successful journey"—a message that pulses through his music. With a style reminiscent of J. Cole, Isaiah Rashad, Mick Jenkins, and Jay Rock, Tarli explores the nuanced realities of the immigrant experience, bringing depth and authenticity to every track as a first-generation refugee in America.
His path has led him from local venues to national stages, lighting up festivals and shows with unforgettable performances. Sharing stages with heavyweights like Mac Lethal, Libianca, Prof, and Slug of Atmosphere, Tarli has cemented himself as a rising powerhouse in hip-hop. Backed by The Tribe (Graydon Francis, Midievil, Diatonic, and IAMKAYE), Tarli seamlessly blends hip-hop and R&B, delivering a sound that is both soulful and hard-hitting.
"The Tribe" is a record label and collective of independent artists based in Minnesota, including Tarli, Wes., Graydon Francis, Stefan Wolf, IAMKAYE, MidiEvil & Diatonic, specializing in Hip-Hop/Rap, R&B, Afrobeat, Chillwave, Neo Soul, & Future Beats. After years of collaborating, touring, and performing together, the group decided on an official name. Tarli, as the leader of the group, created "The Tribe" collective to help promote each other solo work and collaborative efforts. They've landed music placements on ABC, VH1, MTV, Porche, and more.
Notable performances include:
- Prof (Aquarium, ND)
- Mac Lethal (Duluth, MN)
- University of Minnesota – The Art of Freedom w/ Libianca
- Icehouse
- Stone Arch Bridge Festival | Minneapolis, MN
- University of Minnesota - Art of Freedom - Juneteenth Celebration| Minneapolis, MN
- Jackson Indie Music Week | Jackson, MS x 2
- Duluth Homegrown | Duluth, MN x 2
- Big Turn Music Festival | Redwing, MN x 2
- Uptown Porch Festival | Minneapolis, MN x 2
- SXSW | Austin, TX
Graydon Francis - is a Liberian American singer/songwriter in the Twin Cities. In 2016, he joined the Grammy Award-winning "Sounds of Blackness" and has flourished as an artist and musician since. In 2017, he collaborated with St. Paul-based Liberian American artist, Tarli and was featured on his latest album, "Liberation." Later that year, the single from the album called "Come On" featuring Graydon was rated one of the best music videos of the year by the local Minneapolis publication, City Pages.
IAMKAYE - is a Minnesota-born R&B artist whose voice carries both soul and strength. Growing up singing in church alongside her mother, she learned early on the power of music to uplift and heal. That foundation led her to the legendary Sounds of Blackness, where she trained under the direction of Gary Hines and grew through the mentorship of Grammy-winning vocalist Jamecia Bennett. Their influence helped sharpen IAMKAYE’s artistry, resilience, and commitment to using her voice to empower others.
MidiEvil - is a producer and DJ hailing from the Twin Cities, heavily influenced by Hip Hop, Trap, and Wave styles, and has ten-plus years of producing and DJing. MidiEvil has been working with Tarli and the Tribe for numerous years, and there are no signs of slowing down. MidiEvil has features on DarkNet Recordings, a music label from California, and the music side of the business Vapor95, which creates Vaporwave clothing. He has two solo EPs and a couple of features on mixtapes.
Diatonic - Producer/Engineer/DJ. Previously a part of the Modern Filth Collective, Filthy Fortune Records, and Against Giants. Diatonic is returning to the Twin Cities scene with a new project blending Hip-Hop, Neo Soul, and Future Beats.