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KJ-52 Biography
Review The Artist (18)
Source: http://www.kj52.com
KJ-52 is a rare find in today’s Christian hip hop world. A Caucasian American MC who has risen to prominence in a largely black arena, he is at once a respectful student of the art form and a genuine hip hop innovator, stretching the boundaries of both its sound and shape. And regardless of where he’s working—from churches and huge Christian festivals like Festival Con Dios 2003 to the heart of the hip hop club scene, KJ can hold his own, with ease, against the best rappers in the business. Indeed, there’s nothing that smacks of the poseur in KJ; rather, everything about his work screams “the real deal.”
This credibility has served to open doors for KJ-52—to media, to his peers and to his fans—and KJ has met this opportunity with purpose. This sense of mission, more than anything else, is what sets KJ apart from the pack, driving his commitment to both grow as an artist and to use that art to communicate something of the good news of Christ’s gospel to his audience.
This passion for great art and true ministry is aptly displayed in KJ-52’s new release It’s Pronounced Five-Two, a cutting-edge 16-song set that perfectly captures the range that this extraordinary MC brings to his music. From wildly self-effacing humor and celebrations of forgiveness to deadly serious reflections on subjects like divorce and suicide, KJ has found both a way to make his music at once unquestionably accessible while allowing it to offer profound insights into life and, most importantly, faith. This combination positions It’s Pronounced Five-Two to become among the most important—and biggest selling—hip hop releases of the year.
Perhaps KJ’s strongest asset, apart from the obvious compassion for his audience that drives his music, is the absolute respect (and delight) he brings to the hip hop form. KJ is clearly a student of the genre who has found a way to integrate the best of its various roots, while crafting something that is genuinely groundbreaking. There’s a near reverence in KJ when he talks about his place as a rapper in the hip hop pantheon.“Hip hop is a black house,” he explains, “and I’m a guest in it. It’s more than just an art form, it’s a culture, and I’m humbled to get to be a part of it.”
This growing thoughtfulness—and selflessness—has led KJ to a lyrical approach that is always sophisticated, at times whimsical, and decidedly kind-hearted, reflecting an approach to writing that is clearly motivated by his interactions with his growing fan base. While reluctant to impose a specific “agenda” on his artistic expressions, it is clear that KJ’s intent is always to encourage, edify and challenge. In short, KJ has come to understand that an artist’s first goal is to serve—both his music and his audience. This commitment manifests itself throughout this new release, disarming at first with its whimsy, and then, just as effectively, in its penetrating insight.“
“I use humor is a means to open the audience up to the more intense things in some of my songs. After all, 70 minutes of hard core heavy hitting on big-time issues is tough to take, at a show or on disc. By interjecting levity into the mix—literally and figuratively—I give us all a chance to take a deep breath. It makes the hip hop experience much more authentic, ultimately, in the same way that not blinking at the rougher edges of our culture does. Mind you, you don’t have to scratch very deeply, even in the whimsical songs, to find deeply serious subject matter.”
It’s inevitable, too, that a young, supremely talented rapper in 2003 who happens to be white—like KJ-52—will be compared to that other white rapper. The towering commercial and artistic achievements of Eminem are not to be sneezed at, after all. And for an artist like KJ, who is aspiring to the same level of artist excellence that Em has achieved—but from a markedly different point of view—the comparisons certainly could grow tiresome. And they did bother KJ for a time, but he’s come to understand that they represent a kind of high praise for the Florida-based MC.
The comparisons have served as fertile ground for KJ’s art as well as he reflected on what he would say to Em inem if ever he had the chance. The first fruits of that reflection came with “Dear Slim” from last year’s Collaborations—a track that produced a veritable frenzy of media interest, including a well-publicized, if one-sided, bit of exposure on MTV’s Total Request Live. The song is followed on It’s Pronounced Five-Two by “Dear Slim Part Two, which continues KJ’s one-sided dialogue with Slim (Em has yet to respond to KJ’s songs).
"but a lot of people they just seem to get the song confused
see what I say to you I know it might even sound funny
but I never came at you just to paint you as the enemy
it wasn't about hating you or starting some controversy
it wasn't about blaming you or trying to make some money
I don’t claim to know everything that you’ve experienced
Man I don’t even know if you’ll even ever be hearing this
but I said it once and I still hold to this
is that a life without Christ is still a life that is never fixed"
“The problem was,” says KJ, “that people understood ‘Dear Slim’ as a big diss on him, when that wasn’t my intent at all. It was really a reflection on the responsibility of the artist, and my heart for Em, my desire that the pain and confusion in his life—which he expresses in his music—might find their answer in a relationship with Christ, and that he express that to his audience instead of just giving them back that same anguish and confusion.”
In a world that is largely ego-driven, KJ-52 is a rapper consumed by compassion for his audience. It is this commitment to being an agent of grace in the midst of a decidedly decadent and unyielding culture—that marks It’s Pronounced Five-Two as a work of extraordinary import. |
Would you please submit the latest KJ-52 biography to me? Thank You.
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Review about KJ-52
Preach KJ | Reviewer: Remex | 4/4/09
I love da song dear slim, it means alot to all who have entrusted their lives to the things of this world,if one ain't got JESUS all they have is trully vanity however rich they may be
LOVE YOU KJ
REMEX from Uganda
Keep up the good work | Reviewer: Harrison Kanyemba | 1/6/08
You have inspired me alot. I am a radio DeeJay in Malawi, Africa(check it out on the map. I like what you are doing ministry wise, believe me it is affecting lives even as far as here. I believe there are many youth who need to know about the saving work of Christ and how one can dedicate his or her life to Christ. Keep up the good work, AM PRAYING 4 YOU
KJ-52 Fan | Reviewer: Chrsitianna Maisel | 8/26/07
can I be honest is like my fav song.i cried the fist time i hear it.Forgive my email add... i just got saved like 1 month ago!Ill change it tho!I am definetly one of ur fans! i used 2 listen to all the bad stuff . i used to cut and lots more.I used 2 do so many bad things!Ur music is such an inpiration!My mom even likes it!lol! I wish i could meet u just once!do u have any concerts?i live in ar. usa.daddys Girl is also a song 4 me.Its a fav!!!!Ne ways i g2g bye.
Ur Fan...
Christy
in God we trust | Reviewer: Harrison kanyemba | 7/30/07
hey Kj, I am one of your fans here in Malawi,Africa. i am currently at African Bible College doing my studies in Mass communication. i like listening to your music because it is very inspiring and in a hip-hop tune. i am a Dj and your songs dominate most of my programs when i am on air. please send me, if you can, one original DVD so that i should watch you. we dont have your original dvds here in Malawi.
KJ Rocks | Reviewer: anni | 7/17/07
Been crying when I first heard #1 FAN... I've been relating to the pain of this girl. Felt like suicide plenty of times, but like KJ, there was one person to listen and encourage.
After repentance, it was so amazing to discover that christians don't only sing from hymnbooks and the church organ.
Closest to Eminem... who used to be my fave.
I'm agreeing for Eminem to get saved now.
Thank You KJ
Awesome! | Reviewer: Helen | 7/2/07
He got me to actually like rap! No, seriously! I didn't really like rap very much before I started listening to him (ok a few songs)... I love his stuff!
hi,man | Reviewer: pholkan | 6/1/07
u are amagine, i belong to a country 2nd most populoust in the world but almost isolated from christian music.
i love rap,but never though there wud be a gud christian raper,but you prove me wrong.
i'm also an aspiring rapper
i hope if its God's wil it wil hapen and meet you someday
KJ-52:AN INSPIRATION | Reviewer: KYLE FLOWERS aka CUZ | 5/4/07
KJ-52 is the best christian example of a christian rapper. His rhymes are funny,godly, and straight to the point. Everybody should get his CD's and listen to this amazing rapper.He might not be as big as Snoop Dogg or Eminem, but he is a better man living his life for CHRIST.I have 2 KJ-52 CD's and I'm getting another one today: his new one "The Yearbook". I encourage everybody to listen to his music. Dear KJ-52 if you do read this i just want to say you have been an inspiration in my life. Peace!
Christ's Rap | Reviewer: Yushua | 4/22/07
Look this is the rap on the the rap of KJ-52.
He is doing everything I would do, & saying everything I would say if only I had the boldness in JESUS CHRIST he has. I mean CHRIST'S own word's, "Do you not know that you'll be judged by every word that precedes out of your mouth." And also that, "From the abundance of a man's heart does he speaketh." KJ if you see this, "Keep it up. I have yet to really hear anything you have written. However I have been fortunate enough to scan some of your lyrics. Great stuff!!! Give me a click some time at (YUSHUA@AOL.COM), I'll be more than humbled to send you some original works you might or might not be willing to check out!!!"
Your Brother In JESUS CHRIST,
Yushua
Living The Plain White Rapper Life | Reviewer: K-Man | 3/6/07
See, I listen to both Eminem and KJ. Both have had an impact on my life in the many things I do...raising my daughter for instance. KJ has shown me to give her the christian lifestyle she deserves but at the same time Eminem has taught me to never stop fighting for my right to see my daughter....
On the sidelines, I watch the big dogs go at it. I spit my lyrical mix when given the oppertunity and well, I haven't gotten a hit from any major companies yet. so....KJ, keep it real bro
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