Born in October of 1981, J Downs was raised in the suburbs of North Providence, RI. Exposed to many forms of music at a very young age, J grew accustomed to his father's neo-jazz/soul tapes, his mother's Santana records, and even to the church music he grew up singing as a child. In his teenage years he began to embrace alternative rock and hip-hop, and began writing songs reminiscent of his favorite musical outfits: Sublime, 311, The Roots, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He formed a band called Westview in 2001, and with J on vocals and lead guitar, the 4-piece band dabbled in funk-rock and reggae, and played at frat parties and local venues in New England.
Westview moved to San Diego, CA in late 2004 and broke up the same year. Through his times of personal, emotional, and financial hardship, J began to realize his own identity as a solo performer and songwriter, and emerged onto the scene in 2005 with a style all his own. J spent much of 2006 writing and recording his debut disc entitled All-Division, released in March of 2007 under his own independent label, 703 Records. The 11-track self-produced disc features J's hip-hop/rock vocal stylings delivered over a live band sound, and also includes the independently produced music video for "Hit Em Off", directed by Byron Chan of Beyond Cinema Productions. Since the release of his debut album, J has been performing throughout the SD and LA areas, and is currently putting the final touches on his yet-unnamed third release due out in the summer of 2009. View J's album, video, and performance history below.
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AYOOO. I'm co-hosting a brand new and fresh Hip-Hop Podcast along with Kinetic NRG from the Arsonists Crew in BK and Navani Otero from MTV Tr3s. Listen to it, bump it, download it and subscribe to it. Let us know what you think of the show and all that.
Thanx for adding Queens of Noise...I checked out your music and I am diggin' it...You should check out Subterrainean Saturdays on my Top Friends list...it is a hip-hop based show here on KYRS-Thin Air Community Radio in Spokane, WA...I think they might like your style.
dude, good shit! I'm working on a concept just like this, although w/out the groovey jazz vibe, but i think ive just been inspired. your writing is dope. thanx 4da inspiration!
Music is fire, when u get a chance...2 New exclusive tracks, "Hustlers Ambition" and for the ladies "Ride With Me", check em out, let me know what you think, leave a comment, thanks
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