It’s been an amazing couple of years for Bull City’s (Durham, NC) rising star, J. Gunn. He started singing and rhyming even before he entered his “school years” and seemed well beyond his age when he started rapping. At age 7, he wrote his 1st rhyme, by 9 he was performing and at age 13 he won his first major freestyle battle (Dual of the Iron Mics). With opportunities coming so early for Gunn, he experienced a few setbacks. He enrolled in North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and graduated in 2008. Even though music was his life, he took on the Corporate World for awhile. J. Gunn continued to build a huge following locally with freestyle battle wins and performances. As part of the group, THETHYRDAY, with close friends K. Slack and Killa K, the 1st installment of 9th Wonder’s “Mr. Dream Merchant: Vol 1” began. After touring under the Indie Label “Street Flava Entertainment” and releasing an album titled “The Perfection Xperiment 2”, the Internet and international fans flooded in. Unfortunately, THETHYRDAY disbanded in 2006.
Nothing has stopped J. Gunn from pursuing his dream though. RedEye Lifestyle was branded by Gunn and his longtime friend, Rashad Ladson. The brand is centered around promoting the music, entertainment, digital media and lifestyles of young entrepreneurs. There was a point where “Joshua Gunn” was considering staying in the corporate world, but as fate would have it, he was noticed by Hip Hop Legend, McLyte, and signed as the 1st artist on her newly formed Dubose Music Group label. With the major backing of an Industry expert behind him, the future of this Durham based artist can only get brighter.
His project, “Earl Manigault”, was released in late 2011 and on its heels, the newest project, “The Faithful Struggle” will be debuting tonight at the Casbah (located at 1007 West Main Street) in Durham, NC. Guest performances by local group Wreck N Crew, noteable Emcee/Producer K-Hill, and singer Brandon Pierre, along with surprise cameo guests. Tickets went on sale a few weeks ago but are almost sold out. If you haven’t gotten yours yet, try finding them online at the link below.
This event in brought to you in part by the Richmond, VA dentists at River Run Dental Spa.