Matt Johnson (MC)/(Entrepreneur)

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MC Funky J

Background information
Birth name Matt Johnson
Also known as Loco Gringo, Jungle Doctor (The Medicine Man on da Mic), "The Hiphop Freedom Fighter" Uziel Aballah Shalla, Mr. Terrific
Born July 30, 1982 (1982-07-30) (age 25)
Columbus, Ohio
Origin Los Angeles, California
Genre(s) Hip-hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, Songwriter, Executive producer, Record producer, Entrepreneur
Years active 1999 – present
Label(s) none
Website Official site

MC Funky J (born Matt Johnson) July 30, 1982, also known as Loco Gringo, Jungle Doctor (The Medicine Man on da Mic),"The Hiphop Freedom Fighter" Uziel Aballah Shalla and Mr. Terrific, is an American rapper. It is known that MC Funky J also owns several companies dedicated to the Hip hop community. He is also an protege of the legendary KRS-One.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

MC Funky J a.k.a Loco Gringo, Jungle Doctor (The Medicine Man on da Mic), Mr. Terrific, and most recently added to the list of personas "The Hiphop Freedom Fighter" Uziel Aballah Shalla (born Matt Johnson) was introduced to Hip Hop in the early 90's. He began rapping at the age of 11. MC Funky J first started in the rap industry in the summer of 1999 as a Freestyle battle MC. Either exchanging lyrical swords on stage or in the street. At one particular Contest, the Columbus Hiphop Xpo he made his presence known. Even though he didn't win the Comp he defeated the previous years Champion G.A. Capone, in the first round. Later in the Competition Funky lost to Jakki Da Motamouth of the MHZ crew. Which still to this day people say was a controversial decision. He also took part in the Ohio Rave Scene that was booming in the late 90's and early 2000s. [1]

[edit] Ecosystem 1 Version 2.0

August 2002 MC Funky J was invited by DJ Soul Slinger to a Greenpeace sponsored event titled (Ecosystem 1 Version 2.0) located in the center of the Amazon jungle in Manaus, Brazil. The event which had over 15,000 Attendee's was to teach the Indigenous Peoples (who which gave Funky the Alias Loco Gringo) of the benefits of recycling and replenishing our Mother Earth. Other scheduled Artist to name a few included the legendary Godfather of Hiphop and the Founder of the UZN (Universal Zulu Nation) Afrika Bambaataa, Supa Tc Iz who is the Originator of the Hip Step Movement. He was formerly known as Supa Mc Tc Izlam, Mad Professor who is a legendary producer and dub master, and DJ Soul Slinger who has been credited as the Father to American Jungle. A skate Competition also took place which brought out Brazil's Top Vert Skater's including Bob Burnquist who placed 2nd at the Comp. The Competition was also Televised by ESPN Sports in Brazil.

[edit] Mentorship with KRS-One

May 2004 after sending in a demo, MC Funky J was accepted beating out a block of MC's to an audition held at the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. The winner was to go on tour with the legendary KRS-One. When the smoke cleared their was only one MC left blazin. Funky then went on to the 2nd round of the contest in Atlanta, Georgia. He again beat out the competition and was invited on tour. After personal matters Funky had to attend to he missed a few shows. He didn't return until the closing of the East Coast part of the Keep Right tour in July of 04'. After doing a few shows Funky attended the Miami Billboard Awards. He was there to rep KRS-One who was Honored by them as a Pioneer. The Tour was supposed to have ended in Orlando but KRS-One invited to mentor Funky. After moving to California and studying under KRS-One, Funky was eventually promoted to The Head Of Dept Of Society in The Temple of Hiphop. He had many responsibilities when it came to the activism stand point as well as entertainment as he was at one time KRS-One's Assistant Manager. MC Funky J has gotten props for his lyrical skill from legendary icons in Hip Hop such as KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Mya, Mad Lion, Sean Price from the Boot Camp Clik, Del, Grandmaster Caz and Chief Rocker Busy Bee. He is featured on a Various Artists album entitled "Tribute to the Father" which is a dedication album to the legendary DJ Kool Herc, the Father of Hiphop. The project was a collective effort that brought together artist such as Ras Kass, Xzibit, Mad Lion, Planet Asia, KRS-One, Medusa, and many more. MC Funky J has also done cameo appearances in the documentaries "The MC: Why We Do It" and "The Art of 16 Bars" produced by QD3. QD3, son of the legendary (Quincy Jones) produced 2Pac's "To Live & Die in L.A." He has also scored films and television shows, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Menace II Society as well as many known documentaries such as the BEEF series as well as Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel: The Life of an Outlaw. Funky rolled with KRS-One a bit shy of a year from July 2004 - June 2005 before resigning to focus on other ventures such as his news company Kulture News and clothing company Hood Apparel as well as his music career. MC Funky J has released a single entitled "Lyrical Warfare (KRS-One Diss)" and plans to release his highly anticipated Debut album early sometime 2008.

 On "Lyrical Warfare (KRS-One Diss)" MC Funky J pokes fun at the rapper and says he is racist.

Some of the rap battle lines:

Man who you fooling?
It ain't me you schooling
Just all ya so called students
You say, "Joint the movement"
But the movement ain't moving.
Other than physical locations
Cause you couldn't pay the rent-->

[edit] Ventures

Aside from being a rapper, MC Funky J also owns and operates a series of ventures including a clothing company Hood Apparel and a Hip hop news company Kulture News, which is owned by KMG (Kulture Media Group).

[edit] Kulture News

In 2004, MC Funky J founded the urban news company Kulture News. It is currently owned by KMG ( Kulture Media Group ). The company states that they are dedicated to bringing information, news, reviews, interviews and other knowledge in regards to Hip hop Kulture.

[edit] Hood Apparel

Hood Apparel is an Hip hop fashion company Established in 2005. The urban fashion label currently caters to men and women and does not offer a selection for small children. The products vary from pullover to zip up jacket hooded garments. In each hood a stash pocket is located, hence the companies slogan "For the Hood, By the Hood, With the stash pocket in the Hood!". Hood Apparel sells wholesale to retail stores and they offer products directly to their customers via online

[edit] References

  1. ^ Modi, Jah. [1]. Jah Modi: 2007.

[edit] External links