I (J-Ponder) am a native of Washington, D.C. I begin rapping in 1986. While attending Suitland High School, I teamed up with a DJ friend of mine (now DJ flex of WPGC Radio Station, in Washington D.C.) and we started a rap group called Studio A. We began studying the art of recording rap songs, and performing in local talent shows. We recorded our first Demo and shopped it at the 1992/93 Jack-the-Rapper-Convention under the title of “DJ Flex and the Prophylactic All-Stars”. At that time, my Rap name was “J. Negro”.
After the convention, when nothing panned out for me, I went to college at the University of the District of Colombia (UDC), and majored in sociology. I continued recorded music in my spear time, and began ghostwriting for other artist. I recorded my second Demo a solo EP project, under the title of “New Politics (A play with word, representing Washington DC as a political city.) I shopped the CD with all the Major Rap Labels at the time. I got positive feedback, but no recording contract.
From the “New Politics” CD, I was able to gig in a local night club call the “IBEX”, where I performed alongside of “Go-Go” bands, every Wednesday, and Friday night. I started establishing a name for myself, but because of violence in the Club, the IBEX lost its liquor license and was eventually shutdown. The negative press associated with the club made it hard for me to find additional work in the area. I was not able to leave DC to pursue gig’s elsewhere, because I was still attending UDC.
In 1996, I joined a church and got involved into Gospel Rap. Through, Gospel Rap, I was able to perform in churches, and add dynamics to my rap style. Church also gave me an opportunity to develop my acting skills, when I joined the Christian stage play, “Why Black Men Don’t Server God”.
Shortly after the play ended, in 1999, I continued my music career in Washington D.C., by joining the “Elements (2000)” Go-Go band, where I performed as the lead rapper. We performed in the “Ascot” on Wednesday nights & the “Recovery Room on Saturday nights for about a year and a half, until the band broke up.
In 2001, I met a young musician from Berkley (School of Music) University named Derek Jackson. “D”’ had just come from touring in Europe, and was providing some musical assistance to DJ Flex at the time. I told him the concept for a Rap Album I had, called “Raptism”. This was not a Gospel Rap record as the name might suggest. The concept was that after a person heard the flow of the rap, and the style of the music, it would change their minds from the negative stereotypes that are associated with Rap Music, and give them a positive outlook on the true power and versatility of what Rap music could sound like.
Over the last year, we recorded a full albums worth of material for the “Raptism” concept on a small tracking device. I solicited the assistance of an unknown female Jazz singer to add style to the project. I believe that with one listen, this “DEMO” collection of material will speak for itself. I have been performing to “Test the Market” with some of the tracks, on events hosted through the www.livemusic4you.com music network.
I just completed my first full scale production track “U-LIVE”, which is a hip-hop club single for DJ’s. I am currently in negotiations with “Trivia Entertainment” music group, to have the track included as part of a marketing compilation CD featuring local DC Talent.
I am seeking to sign with a label interested in working with a fresh and versatile Hip-Hop Project that comes with the skills of an unsigned rapper that is definitely not new to the trade.
