New York, NY – Whether

freestyling

or creating singles,

Fashawn

showcases the out-of-the-box thinking that's already earned him a place in the hearts of hip hop fans across the blogosphere. Last Tuesday, insiders looking to get a glimpse into the Fresno native's unique artistic vision headed out to NYC's Chung King Studios for an exclusive meet-and-greet listening session.

Journalists, emcees and even high-profile producers like

The Alchemist

came out in force to hear Fashawn’s debut LP,

Boy Meets World

, which is slated for release this August. The LP will feature guest appearances by fellow Cali lyricists

Blu

,

Evidence

, and

Planet Asia

, and is produced entirely by

DJ Exile

, whose jazz and funk-influenced beats utilize live instrumentation and, thankfully, no synthesizers.

BMW

's sound is a refreshing change of pace from the electro-techno-fusion sound that's been ubiquitous as of late, and Fashawn makes the most of Exile's fresh instrumentals, introducing himself to the world in a manner that may remind some of

Kanye West

's emergence as an artist in '03. A young artist whose emceeing aspirations date back to the age of 12, Fashawn sounds more than ready to step into the spotlight as one of rap's foremost rising stars.