Joshua Gunn

Artist Information

Biography

On June 29, a Legend was born. Born Joshua Gunn, this Durham North Carolina native began performing as early as his voice could pronounce words. Known to his fans as J. Gunn, he would sing in talent shows and even door to door for money to satisfy his thirst to perform even before he was old enough to attend school. Surrounded by the musical influence of his father's passion for soul and funk records, and coupled with his older brother's love for hip hop during its golden era, J. Gunn became quickly drawn to the art of emceeing. After penning his first rhyme at the age of seven, and performing that same song in a talent show that year, people immediately recognized that this was no ordinary young man. At just nine years old, J. Gunn began to enter every talent show possible and started winning prize money for his performances.

While his lyrical ability was obvious, his subject matter more closely reflected those of his early influences such as Common Sense, Big Daddy Kane and Nas, than those typical of a rapper his age. His non-traditional lyrics proved to be an obstacle for J. Gunn to gain the attention of major labels. As he matured into his early teens, freestyle and battle rapping became his forte. He entered and won his first major freestyle battle (the inaugural "Dual of The Iron Mics") at the age of 13. Continuing to “battle” throughout his teenage years, J. Gunn accumulated nearly 200 freestyle championships garnering him major credibility within his region. It was evident that now was the time for J. Gunn to pursue a record deal. At the time J. Gunn signed his first independent record deal he was recording under the name "Baby J". The year was 1999 and the deal was with Mike City of Hectic Records. Though the Hectic situation was short lived it allowed Gunn to record a song entitled “Blaze It Up” with one of his childhood idles, Big Daddy Kane. J. Gunn then entered a management period with Terminator X of Public Enemy and officially changed his moniker from Baby J to J. Gunn to reflect the maturity and growth he had obtained as an artist. A demo/album was recorded and was shopped to labels. Though some positive contacts were established, a record deal to release the long awaited J. Gunn project was never solidified.

The following fall Gunn would enroll in North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and continue his reign on the local hip hop scene conquering on campus battles and local shows. During the entire growth period Gunn's close friends (K Slack and Killa K) remained by his side. This loose partnership in rhyme eventually would develop into a group known as THETHYRDAY (pronounced The Third Day, in reference to the rebirth of hip hop). Together they began working on the first installment of 9th Wonder's compilation, "Mr. Dream Merchant, Vol 1". The Group first began to operate under the direction of Terminator X, but later signed with the indie label Street Flava Entertainment started by their mentor and local college radio Deejay DJ Samps. Touring across the east coast and releasing an album ("The Perfection Xperiment 2" which featured production from 9th Wonder, Krhysis and Nicolay of Justus League fame) created a legion of internet and international fans. THETHYRDAY would later disband in 2006 due to creative differences.

Rising from his tumultuous musical past, Gunn remains one of the most highly sought after and anticipated artists in North Carolina and the greater Hip Hop underground. After a short partnership with the now defunct Nxlevel Music Group, which produced one critically acclaimed project entitled "The Sky..." Gunn and his long time friend Rashad Ladson created the joint venture known as Red Eye Lifestyle. Red Eye Lifestyle is a lifestyle brand that will promote the music, entertainment, and digital media centered around the lifestyle of young entreprenuers. The first offering under the Red Eye umbrella will be "Earl Manigault," a mixtape of original material set to

Instrumentation

Discography

2008 - "The Sky..." - http://www.datpiff.com/J-Gunn-The-Sky-mixtape.138020.html

2011 - "Earl Maigault" - http://jgunnmusic.com/theearlmanigaultproject/

2012 - "Faithful Struggle" - http://jgunnmusic.com/joshua-gunn-faithful-struggle/

Official Website

http://www.jgunnmusic.com

Links

• Last.fm
• Twitter
• Label Twitter

Audio

• Victory
  Listen  
• Incredible
  Listen  
• Hallelujah
  Listen  
• Faithful Struggle
  Listen  
• Flava Flav
  Listen  
• Pinot Noir
  Listen  
• A Song About Sex
  Listen  
• Joshua Gunn-Dime-A-Dozen
  Listen  

Video

Pinot Noir

Shiraz Life (EM Promo)

Photo Gallery

Press

• Joshua Gunn added to BET Music Matters Campaign [+ Show ]
  

  Joshua Gunn aka J. Gunn is a North Carolina-based rapper known for his battle rap prowess. As a memb...Joshua Gunn aka J. Gunn is a North Carolina-based rapper known for his battle rap prowess. As a member of the collective Thethyrday, he was featured on the group’s The Perfection Xperiment 2 in 2005. His solo album, The Sky…, was distributed online in 2008 and he continued with a mixtape project entitled Earl Manigault, a nod to the street basketball player known as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time). He is the co-founder of the Red Eye Lifestyle label, and counts hip hop great MC Lyte as one of his mentors in the game. Gunn has been selected as a 2012 BET Music Matters artist.

• XXL features up and coming artist Joshua Gunn [+ Show ]
  

  Meet a Durham, NC rhymer who puts a message in his music without being preachy and keeps your ears w...Meet a Durham, NC rhymer who puts a message in his music without being preachy and keeps your ears with deft lyricism and witty wordplay…

• Music Video : J. GUNN : Pinot Noir [+ Show ]
  

  Watch below, “Pinot Noir” directed by Daniel Craig. Look out for North Carolina emcee, J. Gunn’s fo...Watch below, “Pinot Noir” directed by Daniel Craig. Look out for North Carolina emcee, J. Gunn’s forth coming project, “Earl Manigault“. Production on this track is by The Jake.

• J. GUNN - Pinot Noir(official video) [+ Show ]
  

  Above is the follow up single to J. Gunn’s Stay Home called Pinot Noir, off of the forth coming proj...Above is the follow up single to J. Gunn’s Stay Home called Pinot Noir, off of the forth coming project Earl Manigault. Keep on the lookout for it.

• J. Gunn: Pinot Noir [+ Show ]
  

  To be perfectly honest, I almost passed J. Gunn's music off as another rap about alcohol, getting dr...To be perfectly honest, I almost passed J. Gunn's music off as another rap about alcohol, getting drunk and smashing some chick. As I do with most who send music to my inbox, I give everyone a chance. To check his latest video and the concept, I raised an eyebrow and was impressed. Dude's got something. And to do a little research, I see he's gained the attention of Terminator X of Public Enemy fame, who signed him to a management deal and to have recorded a single with his idol Big Daddy Kane.
  
  Peep the "Pinot Noir" video he released a couple of weeks ago and check out his flow. His Stay Home CD that contains this single is available on Amazon and iTunes. Visit his site for links to download the album, features and other material.
  

• Music Monday [+ Show ]
  

  North Carolina's own J. Gunn is prepared to be your favorite rapper and provides many reasons to be....North Carolina's own J. Gunn is prepared to be your favorite rapper and provides many reasons to be. His latest video "Pinot Noir" is rapidly gaining popularity on YouTube along with being an In A Fabulous World favorite. We had the privilege to speak with J. Gunn via Skype and we now can say he is one of our favorite rappers!
  
  Check out J. Gunn's lastest video "Pinot Noir"
  In A Fabulous World: So tell us about J. Gunn. What inspired you to rap and why should you be our favorite new rapper?
  J. Gunn: It’s really hard to say what inspired me to rap. I have always wanted to perform since I could talk. At 5 yrs old I wanted to be a singer, like Michael Jackson...couldn’t (and cant) sing, so I started to get into writing raps, and it came very naturally to me. I wrote and recorded my first song at 7 years old. My big brother was heavy into hip hop of that time period (early to mid 90s) and kept me up to speed on what real hip hop should sound like so those two things...and then Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt in ‘96 made me sure that this is what I wanted to do with my life.
  
  continued.... http://www.inafabworld.com/2010/10/music-monday.html#more

• Don’t Quit Your Day Job – J GUNN [+ Show ]
  

  Weigh In – Should J GUNN Quit His Day Job? Bio: ?On June 29, 1984, a Legend was born. Born Jos...Weigh In – Should J GUNN Quit His Day Job?
  
  Bio:
  
  ?On June 29, 1984, a Legend was born. Born Joshua Gunn, this Durham North Carolina native began performing as early as his voice could pronounce words. Known to his fans as J. Gunn, he would sing in talent shows and even door to door for money to satisfy his thirst to perform even before he was old enough to attend school. Surrounded by the musical influence of his father’s passion for soul and funk records, and coupled with his older brother’s love for hip hop during its golden era, J. Gunn became quickly drawn to the art of emceeing. After penning his first rhyme at the age of seven, and performing that same song in a talent show that year, people immediately recognized that this was no ordinary young man. At just nine years old, J. Gunn began to enter every talent show possible and started winning prize money for his performances. While his lyrical ability was obvious, his subject matter more closely reflected those of his early influences such as Common Sense, Big Daddy Kane and Nas, than those typical of a rapper his age. His non-traditional lyrics proved to be an obstacle for J. Gunn to gain the attention of major labels.
  
  As he matured into his early teens, freestyle and battle rapping became his forte. He entered and won his first major freestyle battle (the inaugural “Dual of The Iron Mics”) at the age of 13. Continuing to “battle” throughout his teenage years, J. Gunn accumulated nearly 200 freestyle championships garnering him major credibility within his region. It was evident that now was the time for J. Gunn to pursue a record deal. At the time J. Gunn signed his first independent record deal he was recording under the name “Baby J”. The year was 1999 and the deal was with Mike City of Hectic Records. Though the Hectic situation was short lived it allowed Gunn to record a song entitled “Blaze It Up” with one of his childhood idles, Big Daddy Kane. J. Gunn then entered a management period with Terminator X of Public Enemy and officially changed his moniker from Baby J to J. Gunn to reflect the maturity and growth he had obtained as an artist. A demo/album was recorded and was shopped to labels. Though some positive contacts were established, a record deal to release the long awaited J. Gunn project was never solidified. The following fall Gunn would enroll in North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and continue his reign on the local hip hop scene conquering on campus battles and local shows. During the entire growth period Gunn’s close friends (K Slack and Killa K) remained by his side. This loose partnership in rhyme eventually would develop into a group known as THETHYRDAY (pronounced The Third Day, in reference to the rebirth of hip hop). Together they began working on the first installment of 9th Wonder’s compilation, “Mr. Dream Merchant, Vol 1?.
  
  The Group first began to operate under the direction of Terminator X, but later signed with the indie label Street Flava Entertainment started by their mentor and local college radio Deejay DJ Samps. Touring across the east coast and releasing an album (“The Perfection Xperiment 2? which featured production from 9th Wonder, Krhysis and Nicolay of Justus League fame) created a legion of internet and international fans. THETHYRDAY would later disband in 2006 due to creative differences. Rising from his tumultuous musical past, Gunn remains one of the most highly sought after and anticipated artists in North Carolina and the greater Hip Hop underground. After a short partnership with the now defunct Nxlevel Music Group, which produced one critically acclaimed project entitled “The Sky…” Gunn and his long time friend Rashad Ladson created the joint venture known as Red Eye Lifestyle. Red Eye Lifestyle is a lifestyle brand that will promote the music, entertainment, and digital media centered around the lifestyle of young entreprenuers. The first offering under the Red Eye umbrella will be “Earl Manigault,” a mixtape of original material set to be released in the early weeks of August. To know Red Eye is to experience it, and we formally welcome you to a new chapter in musical history, welcome to the world of J.Gunn, and welcome to The Red Eye Lifestyle. “No Sleep ‘Til Success.”
  
  Listen to J GUNN on the Morning After:
  http://teamyee.tv/2010/09/01/dont-quit-your-day-job-j-gunn/

Setlist

Faithful Struggle
Pinot Noir
Applaud Me
Incredible
Believe
Live Well
Golden Age
Hustle
Malbec
Victory


Note: Set can range from 20 - 90 minutes.

Basic Requirements

Calendar