Whenever TL Cross enters a room, love is the undeniable theme that permeates through the air. He is vocal about his desire to infuse love at the heart of his work, and a closer look at his art reveals his deep love for culture, community, God and truth.

In fact, Cross is clear about his life’s mission, “My aim is to shine a light on the brilliance of our communities. The ordinary people who inspired the cultural icons we so love today. All too often, some unknown person in the neighborhood, school or even household of these legends impacted their greatness. But who are these nameless giants on whose shoulders they stand? Therein lies my work.”

TL Cross is a cultural historian, TV personality, musician, platinum songwriter and producer, narrator and educator. Growing up in the Jamaica section of Queens, New York, Cross has experienced a lot throughout his life and career. “Coming up in Queens was lowkey like starring in your own Tribe Called Quest music video mixed with Run DMC and Nas elements,” Cross remarks. “The energy was always somewhat bap zed in hip hop culture. And then there’s the jazz of it all. The spirit of John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Lester Young and so on. Queens embodies the diversity of black culture in totality.”  

TL Cross translated these cultural cues into song form and began his career as a singer/songwriter, following in the footsteps of his father who is also a decorated musician. As a budding teenager, Cross learned the ropes of creating music for the masses under the tutelage of hitmaker, Al B. Sure! He notes that joining forces with legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis opened his eyes forever. “Working with Jimmy and Terry is like earning a prestigious Ph.D of the highest order. I was in two universities at once,” he laughs. 

While Cross studied vocal music at NY’s Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts (the “Fame” school), he scored his first number one hit when he co-penned Montell Jordan’s “Get It On Tonight.” This proved to be the beginning of a breakneck run which included credits with Usher, 50 Cent, DMX, Yolanda Adams, Musiq Soulchild, Jadakiss and countless other chart toppers.

In fact, Cross’  most recent number one song was with Roc Nation artist Nicole Bus, and her Wu-Tang flavored hit “You.” Stephen Curry’s runaway NBC/Peacock TV hit, Throwback Man (2024), uses “You” in a series of episodes as the song mentions Curry’s name.  Although Cross has received numerous accolades, including an American Music Award, 10 platinum plaques, and two ASCAP awards, he is widely known today for his work as a cultural historian.

Through his online shows, ‘WOW, TL Cross!‘ and ‘Cross in a Minute,’ Cross has established himself as one of popular culture’s most innovative voices. Peeking at his resume as narrator and host would reveal interviews with will.i.am, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Salt-N-Pepa, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Big Daddy Kane and a laundry list of legends.

His shows focus on history through storytelling, connecting the dots to create a tapestry of awe-inspiring achievements in pop culture, hip hop, film, television, sports, and ancient history. Upon starting each episode of CIAM with an unmistakably Crossian quote, “Somemes history is much better than fiction…this is one of those times,” he proceeds to dissect these events with the suspense of Rod Serling, the peculiarity of Thelonious Monk and the imagination of an unreleased Toni Morrison novel. 

As the host of Bounce TV’s ‘Hip Hop State of Mind,’ TL Cross brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the network. Cross dove into the rich history of hip hop, exploring its roots and evolution over the years. With guests like Grandmaster Flash and Roxanne Shante, TL Cross carved out a space for some of the most influential figures in the industry to share their stories and insights. His radio credentials include associate producer credits for a segment on NPR that featured an interview with musician Bob James for the Milestones podcast.

In 2019, Cross opened the Cross Academy of Performing Arts, which offers classes in instrumental music, vocal music, drama, dance, art and sports. Through education, Cross continues his mother’s legacy in the classroom by teaching the art of focus, self-determination, teamwork, and respect through music and learning.  With so many hats to wear, TL Cross is often asked which one he enjoys the most. His response is quintessentially Croissan: “It all falls into the same section of my brain. It’s all a search for life’s meaning, you know? The love concept. I believe the almighty God to be pure love. My search will always begin and end there. With Love.”