Cartel is a five-member American rock band from Conyers, Georgia that formed in 2003. Their debut full length album, Chroma, put them on Alternative Press’s 2005 list of “Bands You Need to Know”. In March 2006, they were also named Yahoo! Music’s winner in the “Who’s Next” competition and a Breaker artist by AOL music.

In April 2006, Cartel signed to Epic Records, moving up from The Militia Group. 

Cartel participated in the American version of the Band in a Bubble starting on May 24, 2007. They were challenged to write, record and produce a full length album in the 20 days while living inside the bubble, while fans were allowed to access 23 strategically placed web cameras 24/7. The band was able to finish on June 12 2007, 20 days after being in the bubble. The band “broke out” of the bubble and performed a live concert, featuring many of the newly written songs.