After grinding for 10 years, working with different indie labels and flirti… Read Full Bio ↴After grinding for 10 years, working with different indie labels and flirting with fame, Cognito has found the perfect label to call home: Strange Music, one of the most successful independent music labels in the world. “They work hard like I work hard,” assures COGNITO. “They put everything into their artists.”
The dogged determination to prevail at any cost that both Strange and COGNITO share couldn't be a better match. The Fairfield, Calif.-raised father of two has poured his heart into albums, toured relentlessly, and stayed in the studio late numerous Friday nights when he could've been chilling at home with his family – all for the love of the game.
Growing up in the North Bay, COGNITO fast became intrigued with the burgeoning local hip-hop scene led by E-40 and B-Legit. The two hip-hop heavyweights exposed the young emcee to the hip-hop community, tapping his services at the Sick Wid It offices and schooling him in the art of promotion. He is the first to admit he was not the best student. But writing stories was his strong point in school. He started writing rhymes at 16, taking his cue from the people he was around. Yet it was hard to take rapping seriously as a career. A white rapper just wasn't considered normal yet. It wasn't until three years later, when Eminem's The Slim Shady LP released, that COGNITO's path became clearer.
“I don't think being a white rapper has held me back,” relays COGNITO about the always-controversial topic of the White Rapper. “It got me seen more. It got me out there. I stand out because I am white. But let my music speak for itself.”
As for the Eminem comparisons, COGNITO is flattered but suggests otherwise.
“When Eminem dropped minds were blown. I look at the Eminem comparison as an honor. He's the best rapper in game. But never once has a guy I work with said I sound like Eminem.”
At age 21 COGNITO earned himself a new title; father. In order to care for his family, he put hip-hop on the back burner for the next year, popping into the studio every so often to record tracks with producing partner D Buck. Mike Mosley, who had worked with E-40, TQ, C-Bo, Richie Rich and Tupac, heard COGNITO's music, and in 2002, offered him a deal with his Steady Mobbin' label.
“When Mike wants to offer you a record deal,” COGNITO states, “you take your career serious.”
COGNITO never dropped an album, but he did make a handful of important connections in the industry, one being QD3 producer Femi, one of the two producers he still consistently works with today. He continued doing shows and brushed up on the record industry rules.
2006 was a big year for COGNITO. He hooked up with Master P and his newly formed Gutta Music to release Recognition. It was an honor to be affiliated with P, a hip-hopreneur COGNITO had admired since hearing his West Coast Bad Boyz compilation in 1997. COGNITO would score his biggest hit to date, “Shift Kits,” from the Shift Kits and Hood Chicks DVD.
COGNITO stayed busy touring with fellow Bay Area rapper Andre Nickatina. When Nickatina took some time off, COGNITO hit the road solo. As fate would have it, COGNITO and Strange shared the same booker. Together on a string of show dates, COGNITO witnessed Strange's impressive stage show and extreme professionalism. COGNITO even shared a joke with Tech: He had previously recorded over Femi's “Slacker” beat, a song that appears on Tech's Absolute Power (2002).
The groundwork for the COGNITO-Strange merger was set in motion. Three years later when hip-hop activist Violet Brown, a longtime supporter of Strange, approached COGNITO about shopping a deal to the indie powerhouse, he was with it.
One conversation with Strange Music co-owner and CEO Travis O'Guin and another with Dave Weiner, Vice President of Strange Music West, plus one visit to Kansas City, the label's home, and COGNITO knew he was home. “I know it sounds cliché, but you can do anything you want,” tells COGNITO. “My motivation has been people saying I couldn't do this. I'm hardheaded. At the end of the day, you have to go get it and no one is going to give it to you. But I look at my progression. Seeing what I'm accomplishing on my own and knowing that if I go get it, it could happen. There hasn't been a goal I shot for that I haven't achieved when it comes to my music.”
Building on his own persistence, COGNITO is quick to admit his success has been buoyed by his supportive team: Violet Brown, Femi, Mike Mosley, Darien Smith, his studio engineer for the past seven years. The 29 year old has had an amazing team behind him, which has catapulted him to where he is today. Currently, COGNITO is working on his Strange debut, Automatic, scheduled for a February/March 2010 release.
“Stylewise, I'm a storyteller,” COGNITO points out. “Whether it's a club track or a serious, depressed track, I'm going to tell you a story and get my message across to you. I like when people can relate to a song. That's what I love more than anything.”
“I don't follow trends,” he adds. “I pride myself in making my music real. I don't like to front, but I also like to have fun. Take me serious, but don't take me too serious. Listen to me with an open mind. I want to be an inspiration like my musical influences were to me.”
As COGNITO prepares for the next stage of his career, he is more than ready for the full-time grind.
“From 21 until now I have given this everything. I don't stop until I achieve my goal. With Strange backing me, I feel that I can accomplish all my goals. I got a shot like this and I'm going to run with it and make it happen.”
The dogged determination to prevail at any cost that both Strange and COGNITO share couldn't be a better match. The Fairfield, Calif.-raised father of two has poured his heart into albums, toured relentlessly, and stayed in the studio late numerous Friday nights when he could've been chilling at home with his family – all for the love of the game.
Growing up in the North Bay, COGNITO fast became intrigued with the burgeoning local hip-hop scene led by E-40 and B-Legit. The two hip-hop heavyweights exposed the young emcee to the hip-hop community, tapping his services at the Sick Wid It offices and schooling him in the art of promotion. He is the first to admit he was not the best student. But writing stories was his strong point in school. He started writing rhymes at 16, taking his cue from the people he was around. Yet it was hard to take rapping seriously as a career. A white rapper just wasn't considered normal yet. It wasn't until three years later, when Eminem's The Slim Shady LP released, that COGNITO's path became clearer.
“I don't think being a white rapper has held me back,” relays COGNITO about the always-controversial topic of the White Rapper. “It got me seen more. It got me out there. I stand out because I am white. But let my music speak for itself.”
As for the Eminem comparisons, COGNITO is flattered but suggests otherwise.
“When Eminem dropped minds were blown. I look at the Eminem comparison as an honor. He's the best rapper in game. But never once has a guy I work with said I sound like Eminem.”
At age 21 COGNITO earned himself a new title; father. In order to care for his family, he put hip-hop on the back burner for the next year, popping into the studio every so often to record tracks with producing partner D Buck. Mike Mosley, who had worked with E-40, TQ, C-Bo, Richie Rich and Tupac, heard COGNITO's music, and in 2002, offered him a deal with his Steady Mobbin' label.
“When Mike wants to offer you a record deal,” COGNITO states, “you take your career serious.”
COGNITO never dropped an album, but he did make a handful of important connections in the industry, one being QD3 producer Femi, one of the two producers he still consistently works with today. He continued doing shows and brushed up on the record industry rules.
2006 was a big year for COGNITO. He hooked up with Master P and his newly formed Gutta Music to release Recognition. It was an honor to be affiliated with P, a hip-hopreneur COGNITO had admired since hearing his West Coast Bad Boyz compilation in 1997. COGNITO would score his biggest hit to date, “Shift Kits,” from the Shift Kits and Hood Chicks DVD.
COGNITO stayed busy touring with fellow Bay Area rapper Andre Nickatina. When Nickatina took some time off, COGNITO hit the road solo. As fate would have it, COGNITO and Strange shared the same booker. Together on a string of show dates, COGNITO witnessed Strange's impressive stage show and extreme professionalism. COGNITO even shared a joke with Tech: He had previously recorded over Femi's “Slacker” beat, a song that appears on Tech's Absolute Power (2002).
The groundwork for the COGNITO-Strange merger was set in motion. Three years later when hip-hop activist Violet Brown, a longtime supporter of Strange, approached COGNITO about shopping a deal to the indie powerhouse, he was with it.
One conversation with Strange Music co-owner and CEO Travis O'Guin and another with Dave Weiner, Vice President of Strange Music West, plus one visit to Kansas City, the label's home, and COGNITO knew he was home. “I know it sounds cliché, but you can do anything you want,” tells COGNITO. “My motivation has been people saying I couldn't do this. I'm hardheaded. At the end of the day, you have to go get it and no one is going to give it to you. But I look at my progression. Seeing what I'm accomplishing on my own and knowing that if I go get it, it could happen. There hasn't been a goal I shot for that I haven't achieved when it comes to my music.”
Building on his own persistence, COGNITO is quick to admit his success has been buoyed by his supportive team: Violet Brown, Femi, Mike Mosley, Darien Smith, his studio engineer for the past seven years. The 29 year old has had an amazing team behind him, which has catapulted him to where he is today. Currently, COGNITO is working on his Strange debut, Automatic, scheduled for a February/March 2010 release.
“Stylewise, I'm a storyteller,” COGNITO points out. “Whether it's a club track or a serious, depressed track, I'm going to tell you a story and get my message across to you. I like when people can relate to a song. That's what I love more than anything.”
“I don't follow trends,” he adds. “I pride myself in making my music real. I don't like to front, but I also like to have fun. Take me serious, but don't take me too serious. Listen to me with an open mind. I want to be an inspiration like my musical influences were to me.”
As COGNITO prepares for the next stage of his career, he is more than ready for the full-time grind.
“From 21 until now I have given this everything. I don't stop until I achieve my goal. With Strange backing me, I feel that I can accomplish all my goals. I got a shot like this and I'm going to run with it and make it happen.”
The Past
Cognito Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'The Past' by these artists:
(*...) I suppose I'm naive But I find it hard to believe A…
3 Days So much anger deep inside me So much anger down below Feel…
A Skylit Drive Let me take this time to Ask you, inform you Of all…
Angela Cameron Pick up the pieces, put 'em all back We should go…
Apparat Ooh, immerse your fear Soak up our dream Never end Ooh, open…
Billy Ray Cyrus Back when I was young When I was just a kid The…
Blood & Glory I'm a Devil in the world, I'm a nightmare Everywhere all…
Brutality Stripped of all possessions Collected through time Hauntin…
Chris Daughtry/Sevendust Beneath the water That's falling from my eyes Lays a soul I'…
D.I.E I miss the old days Living it like Kanye I don’t wanna…
D.I.E (Detroit In Effect) We we're together Living as one Until something happened …
Després I've been here before But you call me back home We don't…
Die Verbannten Kinder Evas Waking or asleep, thou of death must deem Things more…
DKE I felt it in my soul when I stepped in…
Ed & Kim I get too hurt when I think bout the past On…
Endless Scream When I look back I see the stars shined so fucking…
Fritz & Lang She says she fell in love with a different guy Yeah,…
Fritz and Lang It must have been moonglow, way up in the blue It…
G-Mode Heartbeats slow, let go of control, these wounds of the…
Iso We was homies Way before we made love together Thought he wa…
jack skin I got a bad, feeling About how you feel Am I dead?…
Jaenam I try to tell her that she needs to forget…
Jed Madela I was wrong when I hurt you But did you have…
John Newman If love is blind I will see you If love is…
Kafetti Brun another roll I been out here on my own Streets…
Korn You chose to take from the past You want a game…
Korn (★) You chose to take From the past You want a game That's bu…
Landon Cube Don't let yourself go Why do you constantly fool And play t…
Low-E in my heart... in my heart... 季節はずれの朝に 汽車に乗ってひとり北へ おだやかな風が…
Matt Mays Sundown across the land Figure out what you don't understand…
Mays Matt Sundown across the land Figure out what you don't understan…
Moments In Grace Watched as the dark fades to dawn Then wished the past…
Never Shout Never And I sing songs about the past And how I was…
Nôva Well time Is spinning in my head A perfect disaster A wonder…
Paolo Siani & Friends Now I've been carrying a big pile of baggage since…
Ray Parker I was wrong when I hurt you But did you have…
Ray Parker Jr. I was wrong when I hurt you Did you have to…
RVDY Driving past your place, driving fast Driving past your plac…
Self-Evident Who’s following the sunset? Who’s watching out for the moon?…
Sevendust Beneath the water That's falling from my eyes Lays a soul I'…
Sevendust (feat. Chris Daughtry) Beneath the water That's falling from my eyes Lays a soul …
Sevendust Feat. Chris Daugherty Beneath the water That's falling from my eyes Lays a soul I'…
Sevren Ni-Arb It's behind you it's lurking To leap against you Not a monst…
Shaliek This is love and war, and all is fair. But to…
Sound-Ra You sit there chewing your bubble gum Act like you've done…
Teenage Fanclub Rolling through the city sprawl On a late night train The …
The Fall I was in a sleeping dream When a policeman brought my…
The Frankl Project There's a freight train coming, keeps me running back to…
The Joy You hopped on a flight to LA Don't know when you're…
The Unions One on one, I need to know if you're okay I…
trees and Lucy Swimming through shit Well now you've done it I can't believ…
Trevaun We started out as good friends Used to talk about the…
Unions It’s sweet like sugar coated gasoline It’s high like a slow…
Vamps Again by all means I keep on this way And this path…
Vitalic here we are, the final credits, youth will have its fling…
X-Marks the Pedwalk It's behind you it's lurking To leap against you Not a monst…
Young Prada 돈 벌라고 쨌어 내가 사랑하는 사람들과 쨌어 작은방 안에서 너는 뭘…
[unknown] (Yo, made these lyrics in-) (15 minutes at 1am) (Shout out t…
♥Nevershoutnever And I sing songs about the past And how I was…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Cognito:
Big Bank [Hook: repeat 4X] We got big bank, big rank walkin through t…
Born 2 Be Fly Cause I was born 2 be fly (Tech N9ne): Strange music bab…
Depression I got issues only I can have That's why I…
I Can't Think About It Day time I control my feelings, night times like a…
I'm Goin' Crazy Now that i sing with strange music the industry about to…
My Lil Girl I make her hold all my percs in her purse,…
Outcast When I think about the past of my life, and…
Pain How do you deal with the demons that seem to…
Pill Poppin' Music INTRO In my opinion, it's the music these days. These rap…
Stranger (Tech N9ne) I remember when they used to point they fingers…
Stranger (Ft. Tech N9ne Big Scoob Kutt Coulhoun Stevie Stone (Tech N9ne) I remember when they used to point they fingers…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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brent marquez
Thanks for the video and great explanation as usual. Could you elaborate more on "other options to integrate directly in your app" outside of the hosted UI at 13:23? What are the tradeoffs if not using the hosted UI? Do you take on more security burden and liability/maintenance? Is it significantly difficult to integrate? trying to decide whether to use the hosted UI or build our own signup form to look more internal to an app, but am not sure how to weigh the pros and cons.
kashif Sohail
OMG . Are you kidding me ? . I cant believe such an excellent presentation is available on this topic . it has got all what i need , Hats off to you man
Be A Better Dev
Thank you so much for your kind comment!
Andrii Kicha
This presentation of the Cognito service is brilliant.
All the important details fit in 25 minutes.
Thank you.
Be A Better Dev
Thanks so much Andrew and glad you enjoyed!
The Codeholic
Thanks for this brief explanation. It was very informative.
Do you have more videos about AWS Cognito, like a hands on integration into actual applications?
Jared Harp
You sir, should be getting paid by AWS for these videos!
This was such a great explanation and lucid intro to Cognito. Like seriously, 10/10 job. Thanks again, I will definitely be liking and checking out your other videos 👍
Sufian Haq
Thanks for the video. Really loved how you explained it for practical use as well.
Vimal Patel
Excellent explanation! Thanks for this nice video. I have a question here. I am beginner so not much knowledge however how to setup AWS Cognito (with SSO) for multi-region considering DR as the critical requirement.
AB
I like cognito, and feel like I will still choose it over auth0 , but it still has poor documentation, you should talk about sessions and how cognito fails with access and refresh tokens as well as how it becomes expensive when going through different scenarios say adding flags to validate flows and challenges if you are working on more complex user authentication ( say multiple customers, invites, etc etc.). Still it is a great video introducing Cognito and your work is always amazing. I feel that you could do a couple of videos, based on your experience mentioning challenges faced with some AWS services that maybe a small project or company won`t face but that huge products and highly available systems will definitely do 👍 Again, awesome work and keep it going!