Zak G (@iamzakg) is an independent artist, producer, and cultural organizer from the countryside outside Syracuse, NY. Raised in a Middle Eastern household and drawn early to the city’s music scene, his work is shaped by the contrast between rural quiet and urban energy. That tension lives at the center of his sound, reflective at its core but built for movement and expression. Zak’s music moves freely between hip-hop, alternative, and R&B, blending rapping and melody without rigid genre boundaries. Influenced by the creative freedom of artists like Tyler, The Creator, Childish Gambino, and Mac Miller, his approach prioritizes feeling over formulas. The result is expressive, genre-fluid music rooted in lived experience rather than trends. His catalog has surpassed half a million independent streams and earned multiple Syracuse Area Music Awards nominations, including Best Hip-Hop Album (For The Gs) and Best Single (STARSTUCK). Zak has shared stages with Waka Flocka Flame, Asher Roth, and Dave East, building his reputation through consistency, performance, and organic growth rather than shortcuts. While rooted in Syracuse, Zak has always treated the city as a starting point rather than a boundary. From Syracuse University basement shows to music echoing through the JMA Wireless Dome, his career has unfolded in real time while building momentum beyond his hometown. His work has been featured on Bridge Street on NewsChannel 9 WSYR, a full-circle moment at the same station where he once interned while studying broadcasting. Built entirely outside the traditional industry system, his foundation was shaped by DIY rooms, packed venues, and culture-forward live performances designed to travel. Beyond his own music, Zak brings a strategic and managerial perspective to the industry. He manages his longtime collaborator and close friend Mike O’Leary, the DJ behind Sunday Cleaning, one of the most viral DJ platforms on YouTube. Together, the Syracuse-born duo tour nationally while guiding the brand’s growth, bookings, and long-term direction, reflecting a shared commitment to building something larger than themselves. Zak is also the Founder of The Bridge Upstate, a creative platform connecting artists and DJs across Upstate New York through content, events, and artist services. Its flagship project, the viral Upstate Cypher, brought together over 100 creatives from 14 cities and helped position Zak as a leading voice in shaping the region’s hip-hop and R&B culture. Taken together, Zak G’s work reflects an artist who built his foundation at home and carries it forward wherever he goes, grounded in place, expansive in sound, and respected far beyond where it started.