Music genres evolve as cultures begin to converge and interact; the audience widens and diversifies. It begins to take shape creatively; resulting in music that crosses boundaries in both content and whom it reaches. The Live Manikins are truly a example, a reflection of their diverse musical and cultural upbringings. Their second album, "Full Canvas" showcases a mosaic of their influences, ranging from the boom bap of golden-era hip hop, vibes of soul music, and lyrical tenacity of battle emcees.

Hailing from all over California, the Live Manikins consist of four emcees and one deejay, all of which now live in Sacramento. As the city's subcultures began to undergo a renaissance in the early 2000's, the group formed organically while crossing paths at various events. While hailing from different ethnic backgrounds, the group forged a bond, unified by the common denominators of hip hop, passion for good music, and most importantly- friendship. Events were hosted, shows were rocked,