Pigeon John

Pigeon John
Birth name John Kenneth Dunkin
Also known as MC Pigeon
Born (1972-11-30) November 30, 1972
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.[1]
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres Underground hip hop[2]
Occupation(s) Rapper
Years active 2001–present
Labels Syntax, Basement, Quannum Projects
Associated acts Brainwash Projects, L.A. Symphony, Rootbeer

John Kenneth Dust (born John Kenneth Dunkin:[3] November 30,[4] 1972),[5] better known by the stage name Pigeon John, is an American rapper based in Los Angeles, California.[2] He is a former member of L.A. Symphony.[6]

Early life

Pigeon John claims that his stage name was provided by Jesus who was driving around Inglewood: "He hopped out and handed me a dead pigeon. He whispered, 'Please have a good time, you're really bumming me out.' I watched him sink back into the cushioned seats and drive, quickly away. And that's when it happened, the pigeon started shaking violently and became awake, picked up and flew away. I don't think I had a choice... it was 'pigeon' or die."[7] He later explained that he was discussing his need for a stage name with a friend when the friend suggested "Chicken John", taken from the character Chicken George in Roots. The friend's mother then interjected that John didn't look like a chicken, claiming that he looked like a pigeon and should therefore be called "Pigeon John".[8]

Career

In the early 1990s, Pigeon John and his childhood friend B-Twice formed the hip-hop duo Brainwash Projects.[9] Brainwash Projects contributed the single "Muchas Muchachas" to the Christian rap compilation "Sanktifunctafyd" released by N-Soul Records in 1995. Brainwash Projects eventually released a record titled The Rise and Fall of Brainwash Projects on the independent label Jackson Rubio.[10] One reviewer characterized The Rise and Fall as "pure, uncut, holy hip-hop" but gave mixed reviews of its beats and lyrics.[11]

Between 1997 and 2000, Pigeon John recorded the songs that became his first solo album, Is Clueless. The album was released in 2001 by The Telephone Company and then re-released in 2002 by The Telephone Company/Syntax Records with 3 new tracks and new artwork. Pigeon John then signed to Basement Records and released Is Dating Your Sister (2003) and Pigeon John Sings the Blues (2005). In 2005, Lyrics Born saw Pigeon John on the Cali Comm Tour and brought him into Quannum Projects. That same year, Pigeon John's single "Deception" was featured on a series of Nestle Crunch commercials.[12] In 2006, after signing to Quannum, Pigeon John released his fourth solo album, And the Summertime Pool Party. The album has received positive reviews from many sources, including LA Weekly,Entertainment Weekly,and Vibe.[13][14][15][16]

A new album, entitled Dragon Slayer, hit physical and digital retail October 12, 2010.[17] With the aid of General Elektriks' Herve Salters, he produced the whole record, including, for the first time, sampling original instrumentation rather than flipping samples from records.[18] In 2014, he released an album, titled Encino Man.[19]

Personal life

John was married to Harmony Dust from 2002 to 2010.[20][21][22]

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

EPs

Singles

Guest appearances

References

  1. ↑ Kettmann, Matt (September 20, 2010). "Pigeon John". Santa Barbara Independent.
  2. 1 2 Thomas, Dan (21 February 2008). "Hip-hop star Pigeon John at Whiskey Dick's on Friday". Tahoe Daily Tribune.
  3. ↑ Pigeon John. "About". Pigeon John. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  4. ↑ Pigeon John (dothepigeon) (November 30, 2012). "Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Love y'all. Ill be rocking Denver tonight with @therealgrouch & @therealeligh at Cervantes! Come party!". Twitter. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  5. ↑ Intelius. "John K Dunkin in Los Angeles, CA". Intelius. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  6. ↑ Langhoff, Josh (10 March 2011). "Pigeon John: Dragon Slayer". PopMatters.
  7. ↑ Anti (11 January 2007). "LAist Interview: Pigeon John". LAist. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  8. ↑ Anti (21 January 2008). "Jordan, Jesse, Go!: Conventions".
  9. ↑ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Brainwash Projects". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p. 105. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
  10. ↑ "the rise and fall of the BRAINWASH PROJECTS". Published by Jackson Rubio. Available through the Internet Archive.
  11. ↑ Jones, Justin W. (1 March 1999). "Brainwash Projects : The Rise and Fall of". The Phantom Tollbooth.
  12. ↑ "Sweetdisaster Newsblog Archives". Sweetdisaster. 12 May 2005.
  13. ↑ Sullivan, Kate (December 6, 2006). "L.A. Music '06: Welcome to Indie Land: Retro-Futuristic Postmodern House Party". LA Weekly.
  14. ↑ LA Weekly. June 8, 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ Entertainment Weekly. September 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ Vibe. October 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ↑ I.G.O.D. (25 August 2010). "Pigeon John Will Slay Some Dragons This October". the9elements. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  18. ↑ http://pgamusic.com/Artist.aspx?ArtistID=88
  19. ↑ Finley, Adam (July 25, 2014). "Pigeon John: Encino Man". PopMatters. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Important Announcement | Treasures". Iamatreasure.com. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  21. ↑ "Album Review: Dragon Slayer By Pigeon John « Christian Rock 20". Thechristianrock20.com. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  22. ↑ "News - Q&A: Pigeon John (plus podcast!)". FILTER Magazine. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2012.

External links

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