KJ-52

Infobox musical artist |
Name = KJ-52


Img_capt = KJ-52
Img_size = 190
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Jonah Sorrentino
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1975|6|26
Tampa, Florida, United States
Instrument = Rapping, Beatboxing, Piano
Genre = Rap and hip hop
Christian hip hop
Rap
Occupation = Rapper
Years_active = 1993 - present
Label = BEC (current)
Essential (former)

Associated_acts = Sons of Intellect
Peace of Mind
URL = [http://www.kj52.com www.kj52.com]
Notable_instruments =
Interviews and Professional Reviews =

Jonah Sorrentino (born June 26, 1975 ["Behind the Muzik" lyrics: "June 26th, 1975/In Miami, Florida was the place I first arrived"] ), better known by his stage name KJ-52, is a Christian rapper from the United States. The "KJ" part of his name is shortened from his old rap alias "King J. Mac," which he later described in his podcast as "cheesy." "52" (which is pronounced "five two," not fifty two) is a reference to the five loaves and two fish that Jesus used to feed the 5000. He was awarded the Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year for "Never Look Away" and Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards of 2007 [ [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/487/56/ 2007 GMA Dove Awards] ]

Biography

Raised in Tampa, Florida, KJ-52 was the product of a broken home. He began writing rap songs at twelve years old, and at fifteen KJ converted to Christianity and wrote his first Christian rap while at home with a broken nose (sustained while pole vaulting.) While a teenager, KJ began working in youth ministry at a Florida inner-city church. He also recorded a demo, but it was largely ignored (although he admits to it being "really horrible"). It wasn't until KJ met a young, likeminded rapper named Goldinchild, the two formed the Sons of Intellect and began performing throughout Florida. Soon Golden Child moved on and the Sons dissolved. But that brief bit of success in Christian rap had whetted KJ's appetite, and in the summer of 1998 he stepped down from his youth minister position to pursue his Christian rap dream full-time. KJ-52 and many others would still consider him to be in the field of youth ministry, however, as the main consumers of rap/hip-hop music would fall into the category of "youth". KJ fills a significant portion of his songs with messages intended for the current generation of youth, addressing a multitude of issues regarding the church, and Christians in general.

A relationship with Gotee Records' Todd Collins led to a deal with Nashville CCM label Essential, who released "7th Avenue", in April 2000. The LP featured collaborations with the Cross Movement and Knowdaverbs.

In 2002, KJ-52 released his second album, "Collaborations". The album's title referred to the numerous contributions made to the album by guest artists, including Ill Harmonics, Pillar, and Thousand Foot Krutch. "Collaborations" also represented KJ-52's first nominated for a Dove Award, for "Rap/Hip Hop/Dance Album of the Year" in 2003." [http://www.doveawards.com/categories/nominees_34th.cfm Nominees for the 34th Annual Dove Awards] ". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved Jan 22, 2007.] The most controversial track on the record was entitled "Dear Slim". The track presented an open letter to Eminem, in a similar style to Eminem's song, "Stan". "Dear Slim" was premiered on the MTV countdown show Total Request Live, but was cut short, as is common for the show. The cutting short of the song upset KJ-52 and his fans by portraying the song as an open attack on Eminem. According to KJ-52, the song was not intended to be controversial or as an open "diss" on Eminem. His song "Dear Slim Pt. 2", which was included on his next solo project, "It's Pronounced Five Two", addresses these issues. He has inspired such artists as J.C.P.,Nij Ha and popular Christian rapper Ezra.

KJ has won four Dove Awards, three in the "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year" category. He took the 2004 award for "It’s Pronounced Five Two", the 2006 award for "Behind the Musik", and the 2007 award for "Remixed".Dove Award Recipients for [http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?cid=33 Rap/Hip Hop Album] . Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved Jan 22, 2007.] He received an additional honor in 2007, for "Never Look Away" from "Behind the Musik", in the "Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song" category." [http://www.doveawards.com/categories/ 38th Annual Dove Award Recipients] ". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved April 26, 2007.] KJ never tried out for American Idol " [http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/interviews/jej_kj52-072505.aspx 'Behind the Musik' with KJ-52] ". Published by CBN News Retrieved May 27, 2007.] but suggested such in his song Fivetweezy.

In 2005, KJ was number 26 on the hip hop Charts, VH1 featured him on "40 Least Hip Hop Moments", KJ responded with another rap song. The original segment, and KJ's tongue-in-cheek response, can be viewed on YouTube." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1WvaNugHSg kj52 40 least hip hop moments] ". Available through YouTube. Retrieved Jan 22, 2007.]

In 2006, KJ was featured in a "Breakaway" magazine article in which he talked about his ministry and his relationship with Goldinchild. KJ-52 was also in the revolve tour.

In 2007 he released his album, The Yearbook.

KJ's latest music video "Fan Mail" [ [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/580/46/ Rapzilla.com - KJ-52 - Fanmail ] ] was the most played video of its first week on the Gospel Music Channel. [ [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/594/103/ Rapzilla.com - KJ-52 "Fan Mail" Video #1 on Gospel Music Channel ] ]

On Oct. 2008, KJ is to release his album, "The Yearbook: The Missing Pages" [According to Indie Vision Music http://www.indievisionmusic.com/wordpress/2008/08/19/8628/] , which is a re-release of his album, "The Yearbook". It is to be a 2 disc set with 13 new/remixed tracks.

Discography

* "7th Avenue" (2000, Essential)
* "Collaborations" (2002, Uprok)
* "Peace of Mind" (2003, Uprok) – identified as self-titled group project rather than a KJ-52 album
* "It's Pronounced Five Two" (2003, Uprok)
* "7th Avenue" (2004, Essential) – re-release
* "Soul Purpose" (2004, BEC) - with Todd Collins
* "Behind the Musik (A Boy Named Jonah)" (2005, BEC)
* "KJ-52 Remixed" (2006, BEC)
* "The Yearbook" (2007, BEC)
* "The Yearbook: The Missing Pages" (2008, BEC)

Music Videos

All videos are on Rapzilla
* [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/80/97/ Dear Slim]
* [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/199/97/ Pronounced Five Two]
* [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/120/97/ Behind the Musik]
* [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/119/97/ Life after Death]
* [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/81/97/ I Can Call on You]
* [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/121/97/ Revenge of the Nerds Remix]
* [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/580/97/ Fanmail]

Charts

References

External links

* [http://www.kj52.com/ KJ-52] Official Website
* [http://www.myspace.com/KJ52 KJ-52 MySpace Page]
* [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/398/43/ KJ-52 The Yearbook Album Review]
* [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/view/47/43/ KJ-52 Remixed Album Review]
* [http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/content/blogcategory/16/97/18/54/ KJ-52 Music Videos]