Behind the scenes of KJ-52′s Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-type video for “Brand New Day”

Yesterday afternoon top-selling Christian rapper KJ-52 dropped one of the most interesting and creative music videos I’ve seen in a while.

In the new clip for “Brand New Day” from his recent Dangerous album, the viewer gets to choose between several options for how the storyline will play out.

Behind the Scenes

After seeing Tweets about the vid from the artist, I reached out to the Florida-based MC to get some details on how it came about.

KJ told me the whole thing was filmed with a GoPro camera strapped to his chest at the Alive Festival last summer. He was hosting/performing for four days on the main stage and had plenty of downtime so he decided to start filming his day from his perspective.

KJ’s Inspiration

I also asked about his inspiration for the clip’s Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style.

“I think I originally got the idea from seeing a first person shooter type of music video,” KJ-52 said. “Once I started messing around with that then it became sort of video-game type music video. Then from there, I thought it would be cool if you could pick different outcomes based on it being similar to a video game.”

A One-Man Band

KJ even told me he shot and edited the entire video using the iMovie software and a mix of footage from the GoPro camera and his iPhone.

Start the adventure in the window below.* Look for cameos from popular Christian music stars such as Lecrae, Family Force 5, Skillet, and DJ Morph and don’t be afraid to select the less-than-glamorous path options. Here, even your bad choices are good ones.


*Be sure to choose the “interactive” version at your first yes/no opportunity.

Also, because the clip’s interactivity depends on links from YouTube it may be best to view this directly within their portal. If you need that option, click here.

VID: KJ-52 bathroom freestyle

You:
Recite pre-written rhymes while a classmate bangs on a lunch table.

KJ-52:
Freestyles topics suggested by fans on Twitter & Facebook while a professional drummer makes beats on fixtures in a public restroom.

He wins.

KJ-52 & Goldinchild reunite for a 22 minute "Sons of Illmatic" freestyle session

As is KJ’s habit, he solicited topics from fans on his social networks and then used an iPhone to record the session shortly afterward.

As the title suggests, the former Sons of Intellect partners took turns weaving the suggestions into their rhymes over instrumentals from the NaS classic.

Peep the goodness below.

What other rappers would you like to see attempt this stunt?

Which hip hop classic would you like to hear them spit over?

DJ X: MTV's first Twitter Jockey?

Courtesy photo

The DJ for a popular Christian rapper may be MTV’s first Twitter Jockey.

Given our post-modern, hyper socially-networked society, surely at least one of the words in the previous sentence perked your interest.

Starting today, viewers can vote for DJ X (aka Xavier Moreno) to be the youth-channel’s first TJ (Twitter Jockey) – a modern version of the original MTV VJ (Video Jockey.) MTV General Manager Stephen Friedman told the Associated Press that the TJ position is "a natural evolution of how we connect with our audience."

DJ X was one of the first 18 candidates hand selected by MTV for the competition. The ultimate winner will relocate to New York, make occasional appearances on the network, and earn a one-year $100,000 salary as their online personality for music and pop culture.

Over the years, Moreno has developed a strong following as a frequent tour DJ for best selling Christian rapper KJ-52. With KJ, he’s traveled and performed at hundreds of venues each year including the Get Motivated business seminars where he’s shared the stage with world leaders like Rudy Guliani, Colin Powell, former President George W. Bush, Dwayne Wade, Joe Montana and others.

The gig, along with his popular Ispeakwithmyhands.com blog, has occasionally led to questions about his calling. “Is he a Christian rap DJ?” many ask. “If he gets this MTV job, will he be selling out and promoting ‘worldly’ music?”

“I’m a DJ who has a faith. That carries over into all aspects of what I do,” X said. “I just want my convictions and what I stand for to filter into all aspects of my life. Whether that’s on a Christian festival with KJ-52 or in a night club environment, DJ X and who I am doesn’t change.”

Although originally from the Bronx, X’s family relocated to Fort Myers, Florida when he was 14 years old. It was there, through church and friends, that he met KJ-52. As one of the genre’s most in-demand artists, KJ often needed a DJ with the talent and time to enhance his many performances on the road.

X accepted the gig and was able to observe first hand how well his MC counterpart was able to connect with his fans. Always on the bleeding boundary, KJ was one of Christian hip hop’s first artists to have a regular podcast, video blog, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.

“X is definitely high on the fashion/music tip, where I tend to be a little more savvy on different apps and such. But we complement each other well, an ‘iron sharpens iron’ type thing,” KJ said. “And when I saw the competition he’s up against I thought he really brought a creative edge to what he does that I didn’t see in some of the others. I think he’s going to knock it out of the park.”

And although he’s often pegged as a “hip hop guy,” X appears to be a man who is well rounded and passionate about specific social causes and issues.

From the stage, viewers might notice his TWLOHA t-shirt (from To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit organization which aims to present hope for people struggling with self injury, thoughts of suicide, depression, and addiction) or his REVOLUTION forearm tattoo (with the letters EVOL –backwards LOVE – shaded in red.) Offstage, they may know him from his over nine years of mentoring youth through engagements and entertainment outlets such as The Bridge Youth Center, Life Skills (Charter) High School and juvenile detention facilities.

“He's a real interesting cat, not some monotonous drone reading from cue cards or talking about stuff that he doesn't know anything about,” Kansas based rapper Cash Hollistah said. “His musical palette is diverse too. Not just hip-hop, but indie, folk, rock, whatever. He's that dude!”

X sounds like he’s looking forward to using his potential MTV platform to challenge his audience to also be activists for change.

“Knowing where I came from and the roots of what I saw and observed as a kid, I always want to be able to give back and show that I’ve been able to come out of that and be successful and not let my environment influence who I am,” X said.

You can follow DJ X on Twitter @officialdjx and vote for him in MTV’s Search for the First TJ online challenges on Facebook until July 20, 2010.

Vidz: KJ-52 talks mixtapes & double standards

KJ-52 was in Houston recently and sat down with me for quick one-on-one interview.

In this clip, we discuss mixtapes, double standards in Christian hip hop, race matters, that DaSouth.com "Pastor" comic, and protein bars.

KJ-52 Can't Rhyme

If that's what you think, or if you think KJ-52 is just a kiddie-rapper, then it appears he made this mixtape exactly for you.

Peep "battle rap KJ" (my words) flexing over tracks like:

- I Wanna Rock
- Carry Out
- Made Ya Look
- Nothing But You
- Forever

With DJ Sematic & Blaze Torch

Free download with his lyrics here.

2010 Dove Award nominees

It’s that time of year again, you know, when the Dove Awards are announced and people complain about the list of hip hop nominees.

Those honored with a nod for this year’s event include:

Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year:

• KJ-52’s “Five Two Television”
• B.Reith’s “Now Is Not Forever”
• Grits’ “Reiterate”
• Da’ T.R.U.T.H.’s “Big Picture”
• And Mr. Del’s “Thrilla”

Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year nominees include:

• “End of My Rope” by KJ-52
• “Go On” by B.Reith
• “Lost” by Da’ T.R.U.T.H.
• “Movin’” by Group 1 Crew
• And “America” by Tracy Edmond?

The 2010 awards will be handed out April 21, 2010, at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

Free DLs: KJ/MJ Mashup & Unreleased

Tweezy's always giving.



First up is the Songs You Never Heard Mixtape.

This free project has cuts of KJ-52 with Goldinchild, Knine, and Mr. Solo of Gospel Gangstaz. There's some freshness here you won't hear anywhere else and that doesn't sound like his recent 52 Television album.

Grab it here.



And while it's a little late, mashups are always fun.

Off the Wall has Jonah tossing rhymes from his last two albums on top of tracks from the King of Pop.

Get the files (again, for free) here.

KJ-52 is a Punk!

In the words of Big Brother's Jeff: I "got got!"

A few weeks ago KJ-52 Tweeted that his blog was hacked the same day he was to release a full stream of his upcoming 52 Television album. Instead of the music, there were photos of some dude named CC Bonz and his new tats.

I felt sorry for KJ and even reported this during one of my segments of The Wade-O Radio Show.

Turns out Tweezy was getting his Ashton-Kutcher-Punk'd-on and it was all a promo tease for the Chris Carlino (aka CC Bonz) character vlogs that tie into the storyline of the project.

I'm a bit embarrassed, but love it all the same. Call me a sucker for the viral vid/meta-marketing stuff. And this one worked.

Check out the intro video for the Chris Carlino "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure" type story. And if you chase the rabbit all the way down the hole, you'll be rewarded with a preview video of the "Let It Go" song. Love the stop-motion/still photo clip.



Also catch a leak of "Swagged Out with Tags Out" featuring Da' T.R.U.T.H. over at Rapzilla.com.

The album drops 09/22/09.

Free DL: KJ-52's "The Office / 52 Television Prequel" mixtape full mp3

If you wanna hear KJ-52 get loose, be sure to grab his FREE "The Office" / 52 Television Prequel mixtape here.

It’s definitely cool to hear him flex over some hot beats from the likes of the Clipse, Jay-Z, and Timbaland.

Also fun to hear some soundbites from one of my fave TV show added to the mix. Too bad he didn't include the "Warehouse Rap" with DJ Jazzy Flax.

And believe me, dude goes off.

You talkin smack,
Wheel of Fortune cats,
I'll call you Pat,
You never Say Jack

-"Flava in Your Ear" freeverse

Like that other white MC he's always getting compared to, I think Angry KJ > Poppy KJ

Enjoy.

KJ-52's "52 Television" cover art

A short while back Tweezy released the cover art for his upcoming 52 Television album.

Check the tracklist and tons other glossy promo pics at Rapzilla.com

Notable hip hop guests include: Da' T.R.U.T.H., Braille, Theory Hazit, and J.R. He's also got some CCM rock & pop names on there too.

52 Television on the way

KJ-52 recently Tweeted that he’s completed his next album.

52 Television will be released on September 22.

As you can see from his iPhone screen shot, early song titles include “Adventures of Tweezyman,” “Rope,” “Headlines,” and “Let’s Go” featuring Trevor McNeven of the rock band Thousand Foot Krutch.

Free DLs: 80's-themed CHH mixtapes

If all the Michael Jackson and Transformers talk this week has you feeling nostalgic, be sure to click and download these two 80's-themed Christian hip hop mixtapes.



Cookbook (LA Symphony) just dropped this one via Sphereofhiphop.com. Dude bears his soul and seems to be getting pretty transparent about recent struggles in his life and career.

I'm particularly feeling "Die Hard feat. Playdough & Theory Hazit," "Solid Gold," and "What's Happening Now." CB did most of the production (if I'm not mistaken) and did a good job at grabbing and then reworking some classic sounds from the Reagan era.

Sample and download the album for FREE here.

1. Cylon-tro
2. Andre The Giant
3. Electric Youth
4. Reganomics
5. Ready For The World
6. Molly Ringwald
7. Growing Pains
8. Solid Gold
9. Inner Space
10. Vision Street Wear
11. LOST BOYS (Still Believe)
12. What's Happening Now
13. The Huxtables
14. Die Hard
15. 7up
16. Time Bandits
17. Never Ending Story



You'll also wanna get KJ-52's "Stuck in the 80's" mixtape. He had this as a promo for his "Remix the Remix" campaign and I noticed it was posted to his podcast page a while back.

This one's more of a mashup mixtape (vs. Cookbook's sample based joint) but still very solid. It's crazy how well some of this stuff matches up.

Download here.

1. Intro: The yearbook signing
2. Interlude: Bueller?
3. Do yo thang mashup
4. Interlude: kj52 introduction
5. Stuck in the 80’s mashup
6. Interlude: “Just say no!”
7. Starbucks takes all my money mashup
8. Interlude: Breakfast club trailer
9. What you want? mashup
10. Interlude: “Goonies never say die!”
11. I got it got it mashup
12. Interlude: “I’m a loner dottie…a rebel.”
13. Still come back mashup
14. Interlude: “truffle shuffle..”
15. Pump that mashup
16. Interlude: Kj52 promo
17. Pushup mashup
18. Interlude: “Here’s a little story..”
19. I almost got shot mashup
20. Interlude: “Miami vice”
21. Interlude: “Don’t stop believing..”
22. Outro: “Don’t you forget about me”

Vidz: KJ-52 & DJ X rock the biz set

Tweezy and DJ X rocked the suit and tie crowd this week at one of the Get Motivated business seminars.

Peep the performance vid below and then DJ X's tour of their trek to the venue and dressing rooms.

What's with all the hand signs?

I've noticed a trend in Christian hip hop promo images lately. Apparently we all need more focus.


Da' T.R.U.T.H.'s next album cover


KJ-52 promo image

Also used for Tha Message Mag with my cover story on Tweezy


116 Clique's Thi'sl promo image

As seen in the enhanced mp3 version of The Wade-O Radio Show with Thi'sl's interview

Free DL: KJ-52 Video Mixtape

Always on the cutting edge of technology, I just peeked in on KJ-52's webcast and found out he's got a brand new video mixtape up for a FREE download.

Oh man! Some gems on here - especially the CruVention stuff from Ministerz of the Underground television show probably only those of us in H-town have seen. Bet y'all didn't know Tweezy could battle eh?

Tracklisting:

1. Freestyle: Tampa Fl. (1999)

2. Battle: kj vs. Titanium (2002)

3. Battle: kj vs. Pac (2002)

4. Freestyle: Tampa Fl. cont. (1999)

5. Battle: kj vs. Cobain pt. 1 (2002)

6. Freestyle: live 3 topic freestyle: Not of this world (2007)

7. Battle: kj vs. Cobain pt. 2 (2002)

8. Freestyle: live 3 topic freestyle: Converse shoes (2007)

9. Battle: kj vs. Cobain pt. 3 (2002)

10. Freestyle: live 3 topic freestyle: Cellphone (2007)

11. Battle: kj vs. Chocolate (2002)

12. Freestyle: backstage dove award freestyle (2007)

13. VH1 40 least hip hop moments/Washed up (2005)

14. Freestyle: Creation fest (2004)

Download it here.

And look for his "52 Television" album to drop in September. The actual show should be hitting TVU soon as well.

Update (06/05/09): KJ has the first 10 minutes up on YouTube for those of you who cannot (or are too lazy to download.)

Free DL: Mixtapes & Mashups

Three free mixtapes I didn't get a chance to tell y'all about yet.


DJ X - "This Is the Remix Mixtape"
Download it here.

Here X (Tweezy's regular tour DJ) has collected the finalists from KJ's "Remix the Remix" contest along with some new virtual collabs. Check for his girl Jubilee on several nice cuts.


The W.A.R.R.I.O.R.S - "In the Beginning Was the Mixtape"
Download it here.

NOTE: You'll need to be a member of the DaSouth.com community in order to download this mixtape. Both the membership and DL are FREE.

The fellas have been handing out this mix at shows like SXSW & the 5th Ward outreach. On it they're flippin' mainstream tracks from guys like Kanye, Lil Keke, and Luda.

I would have left those AutoTune numbers alone, but there are some decent remakes on here that I can appreciate from a free mixtape/marketing standpoint.

And really, who can front on that "Swagga Like Us" beat?


DJ Primo - "The Best Reggaeton Mash Ups - hosted by J-Blaze"
Download it here.

I actually haven't had a chance to listen to this one yet, but I ALWAYS check for Primo's stuff and know his mash-ups are some of the best in the biz.

KJ-52 releases six more instrumentals & acapellas for "Remix the Remix"

K-Jeezy has released six more instrumentals and acapellas for his "Remix the Remix" contest and added a new cut by George Moss (whose "All or Nothing" project I'll soon be reviewing for Rapzilla.com.)

Get your new "Missing Pages" beats and vocals here.

KJ-52 features CY’s remix of “I Got It Got”

Best-selling Christian rapper KJ-52 recently selected CY’s remix of “I Got It Got” to be the third song offered to his fans in the Freestyle Friday Free Download part of his “Remix the Remix” contest.

CY’s remake, dubbed “Bottom of the Charts,” is an audio lesson in humility and was recorded on Sunday, February 8, 2009. KJ-52 posted it to his website on just five days later and mentioned it in his weekly video podcast the day after he received it.



“I’m honored to have someone of KJ’s caliber offer my remix to his broad and dedicated audience,” CY said. “When I went through the tracks he offered for the contest ‘I Got Got It’ really grabbed me. It’s a monstrous beat I really enjoyed rapping over.”

KJ-52’s most recent album (titled “The Missing Pages”) is, in itself, a remix of his previous work – “The Yearbook.” As an artist with deep connections to his fan base, he released several instrumental and vocal tracks from that album as free downloads and is currently holding a contest for his supporters to re-interpret the songs for themselves.

In addition, KJ has sought out remixes from other established Christian hip hop artists and promoted those versions via his website. The two previous remixes in this vein have come from R-Swift and Everyday Processes’ Mac the Doulos of Cross Movement Records and Pettidee of Soldier Sound Records.

The first round of KJ’s remix contest ended on February 13 with a second round commencing right after. There will be three rounds total and KJ plans to offer an additional six instrumentals and vocal tracks for fans.

“I love CY’s remake of ‘I Got It Got It’ and the message it holds,” KJ-52 said. “And part of my goal with the Freestyle Friday Free Downloads program was to introduce my fans to other Christian rappers whose work I respect and enjoy.”

Dove award-winning rapper KJ-52 is undoubtedly one of Christian hip hop’s most prolific artists, having sold more than 500,000 units for his career and being known for his constant tour schedule.



In addition to the KJ-52 site link, “Bottom of the Charts” has also been released to record pools and radio DJs. In 2009, CY’s album Circus World Event: The Ringleader will be distributed nationally and be on store shelves on July 14.

You can download your copy of “Bottom of the Charts” here.

To hear the original version of “I Got It Got It” and learn more about KJ-52, visit www.kj52.com

For more information on CY please visit www.dasouth.com/complex or www.myspace.com/cyofmuchluvv.

Watch KJ-52 live in studio - "52 Television" streams all this week from Seattle, Washington

Did you know that each Monday night KJ-52 has a live video chat?

Always a techy early adopter, Tweezy has now combined his weekly audio podcast and video devotionals into a more personal, interactive web feed.

In these sessions KJ answers fan questions, participates in the chat, and leaks new music and videos. To get in on the action, point your browser to www.mogulus.com/kj52 on Monday nights at 8:30 pm Eastern Standard Time.

All this week (not just Mondays) the stream will be showing KJ in the Tooth & Nail studios in Seattle, Washington with super-producer Aaron Sprinkle. They'll be working on KJ's next album conveniently titled "52 Television."

And, I spoke to KJ tonight and he told me this Mogulus video stream may be the future of the viewable 52 Televison show.

He plans to get his church's production team behind him which will improve both the visual quality of the episodes and provide additional wisdom to help answer the tough spiritual questions and issues that arise from the live chats.

Be sure to check it out tomorrow eve and catch replays any time by visiting: www.mogulus.com/kj52