Zu Life

At the end of 1986 while crack was sweeping the streets of New Jersey, a star was born. Jay Sykes professionally known as Zu Life came from a good family and at an early age he was introduced to hip-hop by a close friend. At first he was reluctant to join the ciphers at his middle school but after overcoming his fears he proved to be a natural. As time progressed Zu Life became performing at local events and gained a reputation for his lyrical content before hitting his teens. Although he was a natural on the mic, Zu Life also found it hard to resist the allure of the streets.
In 2003 Zu caught the attention of SleepyEye Entertainment an independent label located in his hometown Burlington, New Jersey. At the time Zu Life was part of a group called T.N.T and Sleepy Eye quickly signed the group largely based on the potential they saw in Zu Life. The group hit the studio and began recording songs for Sleepy Eye’s debut self titled mixtape. Zu Life also began recording songs for his (still unreleased) solo album “The Real Life”. At the time of the recording the 16-year old Zu Life was out on bail and facing a lengthy prison sentence. He appeared on Sleepy Eye’s next mixtape “March Madness” before being sentenced to 10 years in an adult state prison. In 2006 Sleepy Eye released their first full length album “State of New Jersey vs. SleepyEye Entertainment”. The album featured two tracks from Zu Life and even though they were recorded years prior they still ended up being the albums standout songs.
Zu Life went on a tour of the New Jersey State Prison system for the next 8 1/2 years calling some of the country’s most notorious penitentiary’s like Rahway home. His affiliation with the Crips street gang made him a minority in the system where an estimated 80% of the gang members are affiliated with the Bloods who are the chief rivals of the Crips. While incarcerated Zu Life earned the respect of friends and foes by winning numerous battles and earning the moniker King of the Zoo! On September 12, 2012 after 8 1/2 years of incarceration Zu Life was released back into the streets. The first day home he freestyled for friends on camera and the video quickly proved to any doubters that Zu Life was still the King!
By his fourth day home Zu Life was back in the studio. He reconnected with the C.E.O’s of his former label who began managing him. His first solo mixtape “Zu Life: Mr. Silverback” is due in the streets April 2013.