JJ Money
Encyclopedia
JJ Money, is a Canadian rapper originating from Rexdale
, Toronto
. He is amongst a select number of industry professionals who have risen from the community’s platform—including Ghetto Concept
, K'naan
, Jelleestone, Rheostatics
and Bruce McDonald
. In 2009, JJ was signed to G7 Records Inc. (G7) by the label’s President Kwajo Cinqo
—artist, producer, CEO and member of two-time Juno Award
winning hip-hop group Ghetto Concept. His premiere single “Swaggberry” was released in 2011 prior to the launch of his debut hip-hop mixtape Time Is Money.
on the streets as a means of overcoming the ills of hood life. Throughout the years, JJ managed to successfully build a high street profile which helped coin his street alias "JJ". Living out street dreams, JJ’s lifestyle was greatly influenced by his older cousin and guardian.
While also skilled as a basketball player, JJ was led to pursue a career in the music industry as a hip-hop artist by the name of JJ Money. His past motivation from a life of hustling carried into his musical pursuit. Having grown up watching Kwajo Cinqo of Ghetto Concept shape history in the Canadian music industry, JJ fell under the direction of one of Canada’s most influential hip-hop artists. Kwajo—also a friend of JJ’s older cousin, came to be a driving force behind him as an upcoming artist. Though he had known Kwajo as a teenager it was not until 2008 that JJ had the opportunity to meet with him in regards to his musical career. Finding his niche in music out of curiosity, JJ was encouraged by Kwajo to seriously further his rapping venture as an artist of G7 Records Inc., later signing to the urban entertainment label in 2009.
artist named Leroy Sibbles
. Sibbles sang lead for the Heptones during the reggae music era of the 1960s
and 1970s
. Furthermore, residing in Rexdale, JJ's early stages of artist development took place at Elmbank Community Center in Jamestown
, where his first recordings were produced. Working alongside producer Magicfinga Wong, JJ was instructed on the essential structure of song development. Undoubtedly, his career has also been impacted by the successes of hip-hop artists from his own Rexdale community. As an artist whose music is a reflection of street realities, JJ has been compared to other hood rappers such as Rick Ross
and Lex Luger
“but with a Canadian twist”.
. JJ has collaborated with rappers Kwajo Cinqo
, Richie Payso
and LP Da Original
, and has also opened for Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller
in Montreal
on The Incredibly Dope Tour.
Rexdale
Rexdale is a neighbourhood located in the north-west corner of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It covers the northern section of Etobicoke, which was an independent city until it merged with five other municipalities and a regional government to form the new City of Toronto in 1998. Rexdale was named...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He is amongst a select number of industry professionals who have risen from the community’s platform—including Ghetto Concept
Ghetto Concept
Ghetto Concept is a Canadian hip-hop duo from Toronto, Ontario, composed of Kwajo Cinqo and Dolo. Infinite, who is currently a solo artist, is a former member of Ghetto Concept.-History:...
, K'naan
K'naan
K'naan , born Keinan Abdi Warsame in 1978, is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most...
, Jelleestone, Rheostatics
Rheostatics
Rheostatics was a Genie Award-winning Canadian indie rock band, active from 1980 to 2007.Although they had only one Top 40 hit, "Claire" in 1995, they were simultaneously one of Canada's most influential and unconventional rock bands, a band whose eclectic take on pop and rock music has been...
and Bruce McDonald
Bruce McDonald
-Life and career:McDonald was born in Kingston, Ontario. He graduated from the film program at Ryerson University. His first movie was The Plunge Murderer, followed by a feature-length zombie flick, Our Glorious Dead, made with his grandfather's super-8 camera and shot on location at his Rexdale,...
. In 2009, JJ was signed to G7 Records Inc. (G7) by the label’s President Kwajo Cinqo
Kwajo Cinqo
Kwajo “Cinqo” Boateng—known by stage name Kwajo Cinqo—is an artist, producer, CEO and member of two-time Juno Award winning hip-hop group Ghetto Concept. Initially beginning his career in 1989 alongside Dolo and Infinite who was introduced as a new member in 1995, Kwajo is now the President and...
—artist, producer, CEO and member of two-time Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
winning hip-hop group Ghetto Concept. His premiere single “Swaggberry” was released in 2011 prior to the launch of his debut hip-hop mixtape Time Is Money.
Career Beginnings
Surfacing from a community with a steep reputation in Toronto, JJ Money was brought up and immersed in tough living conditions under which he was drawn to hustlingHustling
Hustling is the deceptive act of disguising one's skill in a sport or game with the intent of luring someone of probably lesser skill into gambling with the hustler, as a form of confidence trick...
on the streets as a means of overcoming the ills of hood life. Throughout the years, JJ managed to successfully build a high street profile which helped coin his street alias "JJ". Living out street dreams, JJ’s lifestyle was greatly influenced by his older cousin and guardian.
While also skilled as a basketball player, JJ was led to pursue a career in the music industry as a hip-hop artist by the name of JJ Money. His past motivation from a life of hustling carried into his musical pursuit. Having grown up watching Kwajo Cinqo of Ghetto Concept shape history in the Canadian music industry, JJ fell under the direction of one of Canada’s most influential hip-hop artists. Kwajo—also a friend of JJ’s older cousin, came to be a driving force behind him as an upcoming artist. Though he had known Kwajo as a teenager it was not until 2008 that JJ had the opportunity to meet with him in regards to his musical career. Finding his niche in music out of curiosity, JJ was encouraged by Kwajo to seriously further his rapping venture as an artist of G7 Records Inc., later signing to the urban entertainment label in 2009.
Musical Influences
In spite of JJ Money only pursuing music as an artist over the past three years, it has always been a present element for him throughout life. This is evident, having grown up listening to his uncle, a Jamaican-Canadian reggaeReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
artist named Leroy Sibbles
Leroy Sibbles
Leroy Sibbles is a Jamaican-Canadian reggae musician. He was the lead singer for The Heptones in the 1960s and 1970s.In addition to his work with The Heptones, Sibbles was a session bassist and arranger at Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd's Jamaica Recording and Publishing Studio and the associated Studio...
. Sibbles sang lead for the Heptones during the reggae music era of the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
and 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
. Furthermore, residing in Rexdale, JJ's early stages of artist development took place at Elmbank Community Center in Jamestown
Smithfield, Toronto
Smithfield is part of the Rexdale neighbourhood in the northwestern area of Etobicoke, in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Some new residents to Toronto and new immigrants to Canada are attracted to this neighbourhood, mainly because there is a large amount of affordable public housing...
, where his first recordings were produced. Working alongside producer Magicfinga Wong, JJ was instructed on the essential structure of song development. Undoubtedly, his career has also been impacted by the successes of hip-hop artists from his own Rexdale community. As an artist whose music is a reflection of street realities, JJ has been compared to other hood rappers such as Rick Ross
Rick Ross
Rick, Ricky or Richard Ross may also refer to:* Rick Ross , American rapper* Richard J. Ross, a Massachusetts State Senator* Richard Ross , an American photographer...
and Lex Luger
Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
“but with a Canadian twist”.
Career
With the 2011 release of his debut rap mixtape Time Is Money, JJ's first single titled “Swaggberry” features label mate Reema MajorReema Major
Reema Major , is a Sudanese-Canadian rapper signed to a joint record label venture with G7 Records Inc./Universal Music Canada and Cherrytree Records/Interscope Records...
. JJ has collaborated with rappers Kwajo Cinqo
Kwajo Cinqo
Kwajo “Cinqo” Boateng—known by stage name Kwajo Cinqo—is an artist, producer, CEO and member of two-time Juno Award winning hip-hop group Ghetto Concept. Initially beginning his career in 1989 alongside Dolo and Infinite who was introduced as a new member in 1995, Kwajo is now the President and...
, Richie Payso
Richie Payso
Rapper Richie Payso is a Canadian artist from Rexdale, Toronto signed to G7 Records Inc.—a subsidiary enterprise of Global 7 Entertainment Inc...
and LP Da Original
LP Da Original
LP Da Original is a hip-hop artist from Toronto, Canada, who is signed to G7 Records Inc.—a subsidiary enterprise of Global 7 Entertainment Inc. Nineteen-year-old LP has collaborated with rapper Kwajo Cinqo, of two-time Juno Award winning Canadian hip-hop group Ghetto Concept...
, and has also opened for Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller
Mac Miller
Malcolm McCormick , known by his stage name Mac Miller , is an American rapper from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
on The Incredibly Dope Tour.