Quranic The MC, born Cassii Ahmad Mahdi Al-Khaliq and later renamed Quran Isaac Lee, is a rapper, writer, and visionary from Dayton, Ohio, whose artistry blends lyrical depth, emotional honesty, and cultural consciousness. Growing up in a split home, Quranic credits both of his parents for planting the seeds of his musical passion.

His father, Ras Cassii—later known as DJ Raastar—was a pioneering hip-hop and R&B artist in Dayton’s local scene, a performer and producer who founded his own label, Rhythmatic Awakening Movement (RAM 19), and was even close friends with the legendary Roger Troutman before his passing. His mother, a pathologist, was a dedicated music lover, songwriter, and Prince fanatic, whose diverse playlists of funk, reggae, R&B, and old-school rap helped shape Quranic’s eclectic musical taste.

Raised among multiple faiths and influences, especially Islam and Christianity, Quranic developed an early curiosity for meaning and creativity. As a kid, he filled journals with short stories and poems inspired by science fiction, anime, and his vivid imagination. His love for writing soon evolved into lyricism.

In 2009, he received early exposure to media and performance when family friend Brother Steven Muhammad of the Dayton Nation of Islam recruited him for an educational web series called Youth Expo Show (YES TV). There, he interviewed Black professionals and public figures—an experience that culminated in a pivotal 2011 interview with Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers. The veteran MC encouraged him to stay confident, independent, and conscious in his craft—advice that shaped Quranic’s artistic mission.

Drawing inspiration from Nas, Damian Marley, Prince, Michael Jackson, and Poor Righteous Teachers, Quranic began crafting music that fused message with melody. Throughout high school, he built his name through battle rap, talent shows, and poetry slams, eventually earning the chance to open for MC Lyte in 2013—a moment that cemented his local buzz.

After graduating in 2014, he dropped his debut mixtape, Smell Quranic in the Air, followed by Qhronicle 1: Tha Unlearning in 2016, a conscious rap series of reimagined hip-hop classics. The sequel, Tha Unlearning 2 (2017), featured samples from his Wise Intelligent interview and was released alongside his first all-original EP Soular Express (2017), produced entirely by Jay Milli (credited as Yusuf Hakeem)—a project marked by introspection and melodic experimentation.

Between 2013 and 2015, Quranic also performed as a DJ and hype man alongside DJ Raastar, helping to popularize Dayton’s hookah bar scene at venues like Hookah Bazaar and Shisha Café with host DC Live. But after his father’s illness and retirement from music, and a series of financial setbacks from self-promoted events, Quranic entered a difficult period. Working his first full-time job, he battled depression and isolation—yet continued creating.

In 2018, he released the final Tha Unlearning installment, marking a creative shift from overtly revolutionary rap to mastering the business side of music. By 2019, he had filed an LLC for his label and brand, QMC (Quranic Music Company), and released the regional favorite 937 Queued Up. The single “Shoot You” featuring Mali—with a cameo by local star Jason Hampton (DBKS) and direction from CEO Peso and Jamal Shepherd (Roger Troutman’s nephew)—sparked conversation for its bold take on police brutality.

Soon after, Quranic co-founded the SBR/CTMF collective with Smokebear, contributing to several of their projects while developing younger artists under QMC. He continued releasing music consistently—Qhronicle Vol. 1 (2023), Qhromeheartz with BenjiBenzo (2022), and dual EPs Promise and QEP that same year, showcasing both his lyrical hunger and melodic side. In 2024, he collaborated with Big Loca on Toxiq Dayz, exploring a sensual, commercial sound.

In 2025, he dropped Qnify, a three-song EP with rising artist Un1fy, blending rage-rap, emo-trap, and hyperpop influences. Around this time, he also appeared on Smokebear’s debut album and made waves by winning Rhyme Tyme Entertainment’s “Ultimate MC” televised competition—cementing his reputation as one of the most versatile and dedicated artists in the Midwest.

In 2025, Quranic released his long-awaited album QUTOPIA (October 19), a cinematic fusion of trap, soul, gospel, and funk that explores faith, perseverance, and the search for a better world — cementing him as one of the Midwest’s most distinct and evolving voices in hip-hop.