A.J. Crew

A.J. Crew
Born July 1, 1990
Origin Toledo, Ohio
Genres Hip-Hop, Rap
Occupation(s) Artist, Record Producer
Years active 2009 – present
Associated acts Rhymefest, Naledge (Kidz in the Hall), Demarco Castle
Website ajcrew.com

A.J. Crew is an American Hip-Hop artist and producer, born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. He is known for his collaborations with Grammy-Award winning, Rhymefest and Naledge (of Kidz in the Hall fame), and works towards furthering Sickle Cell Anemia research. He previously attended Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University.

Early life

Crew was born July 1, 1990 in Toledo, Ohio and grew up on the South End of the city. He was raised by his mother, attended E.L. Bowsher High School and graduated in the year 2008. It was then that he decided to move to Chicago, Illinois to pursue music.[1]

Career

Upon Crew’s arrival to Chicago, Illinois, he attended Columbia College Chicago. There, he met Austin Neely,[2] and together they released his debut effort, “Nightmares & Daydreams”.[3] The album was released on September 1, 2009 via RubyHornet.com, Dope Couture and Soundscape Studios, with owner Michael Kolar serving as executive producer. It featured Grammy-Award winning songwriter Rhymefest who appeared on “Destiny & Desire”.

The Chicago Reader featured a review of said album with Miles Raymer writing, “...on the album in question, Crew shows a lot of potential - he’s got a talent for punch lines and a way of mixing long lyrical with short chopped lines.”[4]

In March 2012, Roosevelt University newspaper, The Torch, interviewed Crew about his charity work for Sickle Cell Anemia research. He donated half of the proceeds from online single, “Still Waiting”, to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.[5]

On May 1, 2013, A.J. released “The Reality Of It All”. The album features a collaboration with Naledge from the indie hip-hop duo, Kidz In The Hall, entitled, “Nah Mean?”. [6]

Discography

Production discography

References

  1. "A.J. Crew – Graduated With The Cords". Music Ninja. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  2. "Austin Neely". www.complex.com. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  3. "A.J, Crew: Nightmares & Daydreams LP". www.rubyhornet.com. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  4. "Local Release Roundup". www.chicagoreader.com. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  5. "Hip-hop brings awareness to debilitating disease - Features".
  6. "A.J. Crew feat. Naledge from Kidz In The Hall - "Nah Mean?" [MUSIC VIDEO]".
  7. "A.J. Crew - The Reality of It All - Download & Stream". Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  8. "GemStones a.k.a. Gemini - XL (Excel)". www.djbooth.net. Retrieved 12 May 2013.