KJ-52

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KJ-52
Birth name Jonah Sorrentino
Born June 26, 1975 (1975-06-26) (age 32)
Tampa, Florida, United States
Genre(s) Rap and hip hop
Christian hip hop
Rap
Occupation(s) Rapper
Instrument(s) Rapping, Beatboxing
Years active 1993 - present
Label(s) BEC (current)
Essential (former)
Associated acts Sons of Intellect
Peace of Mind
Website www.kj52.com

Jonah Sorrentino (born June 26, 1975), better known by his stage name KJ-52, is a Christian rapper from the United States. "KJ" is an abbreviation of "King J," an old rap name he had before moving into Contemporary Christian Music. "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[1]

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[edit] 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 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 Golden Child, 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.[2] 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.[3] He received an additional honor in 2007, for "Never Look Away" from Behind the Musik, in the "Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song" category.[4] KJ never tried out for American Idol [5] 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.[6]

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

In 2007 he released his album, The Yearbook.

KJ's latest music video "Fan Mail"[7] was the most played video of its first week on the Gospel Music Channel. [8]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Music Videos

All videos are on Rapzilla

[edit] Charts

Song Album Chart Peak Position
Are You Real Behind the Musik (A Boy Named Jonah) ChristianRock.net #1
Back in the Day It's Pronounced Five Two Christian-HipHop.net #1
Dear Slim Pt. 2 It's Pronounced Five Two Christian-HipHop.net #1
Never Look Away (Featuring Brynn Sanchez) Behind the Musik (A Boy Named Jonah) Christian-HipHop.net #1
Right Here Behind the Musik (A Boy Named Jonah) Christian-HipHop.net #1


[edit] References

  1. ^ 2007 GMA Dove Awards
  2. ^ "Nominees for the 34th Annual Dove Awards". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved Jan 22, 2007.
  3. ^ Dove Award Recipients for Rap/Hip Hop Album. Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved Jan 22, 2007.
  4. ^ "38th Annual Dove Award Recipients". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  5. ^ "'Behind the Musik' with KJ-52". Published by CBN News Retrieved May 27, 2007.
  6. ^ "kj52 40 least hip hop moments". Available through YouTube. Retrieved Jan 22, 2007.
  7. ^ Rapzilla.com - KJ-52 - Fanmail
  8. ^ Rapzilla.com - KJ-52 "Fan Mail" Video #1 on Gospel Music Channel

[edit] External links

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