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http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/1641377ARTIST BIO
STAGE NAME: PRINZE J "THA JUGGERKNOTT"
BIRTH PLACE: PEORIA, ILLINOIS RAISED IN ORANGE COUNTY AND LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA
D.O.B: 5/15/1986
MUSIC GENRE: HIP-HOP, ALTERNATIVE RAP, SWAGGA MUSIC(GOD’S WILL)
PRINZE J "THA JUGGERKNOTT" WAS BORN IN PEORIA, ILLINOIS IN 1986
BEFORE HE LEFT IN 1991 AT THE AGE OF 5 HE PICKED UP A SIXTH SENSE FOR MUSIC.
WHEN PRINZE J WAS BORN HIS GRANDMOTHER WANTED TO NAME HIM PRINCE
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE HOTTEST ARTIST TO HIS GRANDMOTHER BACK IN THE 1980'S
BUT HIS MOTHER CHOSE TO NAME HIM AFTER A HALL OF FAME BASKETBALL PLAYER
LEAVING PRINCE AS HIS NICKNAME. IN 1987 PRINZE J HAD DISCOVERED MTV AND B.E.T
BEING OBSESSED WITH VARIOUS OF 80'S ARTIST. PRINZE J UNDERSTOOD MUSIC AT AGE
ONE. HE WOULD DEMOSTRATE WHAT HE SAW ON T.V. WHEN EVER HE COULD TUNE
INTO "PRINCE" SONG" WHEN DOVES CRY" HE WOULD PICK UP A BROOM PRETENDING
IT WAS A GUITAR. AFTER HE FOUND OUT HIS NICKNAME WAS PRINCE HE WANTED TO
FOLLOW BEHIND THAT ARTIST. HE HAD A ATRAK SINGLE WITH THE SONG "WHEN DOVES CRY"
AND PLAYED IT EVERYTIME HE GOT INTO HIS GRANDMOTHERS LINCOLN TOWNCAR.
HE BEGAN TO REMEMBER MELODIES TO IDENTIFY THE ARTIST HE SAW AND LISTENED TO
ON T.V. IN 1988-1990 DJ JAZZY JEFF AND THE FRESH PRINCE CAUGHT HIS ATTENTION
AGE AS WELL. HE HAD ALSO DISCOVERED HIS NEW FAVORITE ARTIST HAD PRINCE AS HIS
STAGE NAME JUST LIKE HIS CURRENT FAVORITE ARTIST EXCEPT HIS NAME HAD "FRESH"
INFRONT OF IT. THIS IS WHEN PRINZE J DISCOVERED THE ART FORM OF HIP-HOP.
THE SOUNDS OF DJ JAZZY JEFF AND THE FRESH PRINCE TRANSFORMED PRINZE J'S
CHARACTER FOREVER. NEW EDITION AND PRINCE WERE HIS FIRST R&B PERSONALITIES.
HE COULDN'T DECIDE WHAT HE LIKED BETTER SINGING OR RAPPING SO HE SAID
WHEN HE GREW UP HE WOULD DO BOTH. PRINZE J FATHER LANCE SMITH WAS A R&B SINGER
AND WAS INVITED TO JOIN THE GROUP 112 WHEN IT WAS FORMING, BUT CONFLICTS PUT
HIS FATHER IN A DIFFERENT POSITION.MEANWHILE THE MUSIC GENE WAS IN HIS SONS'
BLUE PRINT TO CONTINUE WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE STARTED. IN 1992 PRINZE J MOVED TO CALIFORNIA BECAUSE OF HIS SISTER’S FATHER ABUSING THEIR MOTHER. DURING THIS TIME HIS FAMILY LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR A WHILE, THEN MOVED TO PARAMOUNT, AND FINALLY ENDED UP IN ORANGE COUNTY(GARDEN GROVE). WHEN PRINZE J WAS IN THE SECOND GRADE ONE OF HIS MOTHERS SIGNIFICANT OTHERS BOUGHT HIM HIS FIRST
MUSIC TAPE. IT WAS BOBBY BROWN 2ND SOLO ALBUM. HE THEN REMEMBERED BOBBY
BROWN WAS A PART OF NEW EDITION AND HE WAS THE REASON HE LIKED TO DANCE.
AFTER LISTENING TO BOBBY BROWN PRINZE J DECIDED HE NEEDED TO OWN EVERY
ALBUM BY HIM. PRINZE J COULD NOT LISTEN TO PROFANITY AT A EARLY AGE UNLESS
IT WAS IN HEADPHONES SO HE CONTINUED TO LISTEN TO RHYTHM AND BLUES(MOSTLY MEMBERS FROM NEW EDITION) PRINZE J’S SIGHT WAS SET ON WANTING TO BECOME A R&B SINGER. HE LISTENED TO A LOT OF BELL BIV DEVOE( MEMBERS OF NEW EDITION). AFTER PRINZE J HEARD BELL BIV DEVOE’S FIRST ALBUM HE NOTICED THAT THEY WERE RAPPING, DANCING, AND SINGING. IT WAS THE EXACT SAME THING HE WANTED TO PERSUE. PRINZE J GATHERED HIS STAGE PRESENCE BY SINGING IN THE MIRROR AS A YOUNG MALE IT MADE HIM COMFORTABLE TO KNOW THE FACES OF GESTURES HE WOULD BE MAKING THAT COULD INSIMULATE THE CROWD. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS PERFORMING IN HIS ROOM BY HIMSELF IN THE MIRROR HE ALWAYS IMAGINED HIMSELF ON STAGE AND EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS
NO CROWD YET HE FELT A CONNECTION BETWEEN HIS SELF AND AN IMAGINARY CROWD. HE
IMAGINED THAT THEY WOULD BE AMAZED AFTER HIS PERFORMANCE BECAUSE HE HAD NO
STAGE FRIGHT WHAT-SO-EVER HE JUST NEEDED A CHANCE TO SHOW HIS PEERS THIS.
BETWEEN 1992-1996 PRINZE J WAS STILL GROWING UP AND MUSIC WAS THERE FOLLOWING BEHIND HIM EVER SINCE HE LEFT PEORIA AT THE AGE OF 5. AT THE AGE OF 11 IN 1996 PRINZE J HAD JUST STARTED THE 6TH GRADE. HIS IMAGE WAS ESTABLISHED BY HIS CLASSMATES
AS “BEING VERY TALENTED IN MANY WAYS”. HE ONLY HAD BASKETBALL TO SHOW FOR BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY THING PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WATCHING, LATER ON HE WOULD FIND OUT THERE WOULD BE A TALENT SHOW AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR PRIOR TO HIS FIFTH GRADE TALENT SHOW HIS SCHOOL HAD LAST YEAR BUT DID NOT MAKE IT BECAUSE HIS TRY OUTS DIDN’T GO SO WELL. BY 1996 PRINZE J’S HOUSE HOLD WAS MAINLY ABOUT 2PAC AND THE CHICAGO BULLS. HIS MOTHER HAS A THING FOR BALD GUYS SO MICHEAL JORDAN AND TUPAC SHAKUR WERE THE HOT TOPICS IN THE HOUSE WHENEVER THEY’D SHOW UP ON T.V. AND THE NEWS. PRINZE J ONLY KNEW THE RADIO TUPAC. HE BEGAN TO STRECTH OUT AS A YOUNG ARTIST AND EXPLORE NEW MUSIC. THE ONLY REASON PRINZE J COULD LISTEN TO MUSIC WITH PROFANITY ONLY WAS BECAUSE HIS MOTHER WAS OBSESSED WITH TUPAC. PUTTING THE R&B DOWN PRINZE J PICKED UP HIS ARTS IN POETRY.
IN 1997 HIS MOTHER WAS DATING A GENTLEMEN(WHO WAS ALSO BALD) WHO HAD EVERY SINGLE ALBUM OF ANY ARTIST IMAGINED. THIS IS WHERE PRINZE J GREW CRAZY OVER MUSIC AND IT WOULD SHOW THROUGH THE NEXT UPCOMING STAGES IN HIS LIFE. PRINZE J WOULD GET INTO TROUBLE TAKING HIS MOTHERS BOYFRIENDS TAPES AND LISTENING
TO THEM. TOWARDS THE END OF 6TH GRADE IN 1998 PRINZE J WOULD ENTER HIS SCHOOLS
TALENT SHOW PERFORMING ONE OF WILL SMITH SONGS. THE TALENT SHOW HE
PERFORMED WERE INFRONT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AFTER THE SONG WAS OVER
THERE WAS A MASSIVE SOUND OF APPLAUSE FROM THE AUDIENCE, NOT MORMAL FOR
A 6TH GRADER. THE MUSIC BUG BIT HIM. THE STAGE RUPTURED HIS IMAGE AND PRINZE J CHOSE THAT BEING A ENTERTAINER WAS HIS MAIN FOCUS. THE STAGE NAME PRINZE J
ORIGINATES FROM HIS CHILDHOOD NICKNAME “PRINCE” HE WAS OBSESSED WITH DJ
JAZZY JEFF AND THE FRESH PRINCE SO THE PREFIX OF PRINCE HAD TO BE INSTALLED
INTO HIS IMAGE, HE JUST NEEDED AWAY TO SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM HIS TWO
EARLY INSPIRATIONS. HE TOOK OUT THE “C” AND ADDED A “Z” FOR ORIGINALITY
THEN ADDED A “J” AT THE END TO COMPLETE THIS ELEMENT. BY MID-1ST
SEMESTER EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOL KNEW HIM AS PRINZE J EVEN
THOUGH HE WAS A EXTREMELY QUIET PERSON, A PERSON WHO ONLY
SPEAKS WHEN SPOKEN TO. PRINZE J WOULD DEVELOP THIS STREET CRED
LIKE IMAGE IN GARDEN GROVE(ORANGE COUNTY)CALIFORNIA. SINCE PRINZE J LIVED
IN A HOUSE FULL OF WOMEN HE WAS DUMBFOUNDED ON THE TERMS OF MUSIC AND
IT’S TECHNOLOGY. HE THOUGHT THAT HE NEEDED JUST A TURNTABLE TO RECORD, HE BEGGED HIS GRANDMOTHER TO GET HIM JUST THAT FOR HIS 13TH BIRTHDAY. AFTER EXPLORING WITH THE TURNTABLE FOR NEARLY A YEAR PRINZE J REALIZED THAT
IT WASN’T A TURNABLE HE NEEDED TO RECORD IT WAS A KEYBOARD. SO A YEAR LATER HE PLEADED TO HIS GRANDMOTHER THAT THE KEYBOARD WOULD GET HIM OFF THE GROUNDS
TO START HIS MUSIC CAREER SO SHE PURCHASED HIM THE KEYBOARD. THANKFUL FOR HIS EXPENSIVE NON-AFFORDABLE GIFTS HIS FOCUSED ON MUSIC AS PROMISED. PRINZE J WOULD BE KNOWN AS A ENTERTAINMENT PRODIGY HIS TWO YEARS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIS 1ST YEAR OF HIGHSCHOOL BY CONTINUING TO PARTICIPATE IN TALENT SHOWS PROVIDED BY HIS SCHOOL AND HIS DRAMA ELECTIVE HIS WAS SO DEDICATED TOWARDS. AFTER NOTICING THAT IT WASN’T JUST HIS STAGE PERFORMANCE PEOPLE ENJOYED BUT HIS ACTING ABILITY HE DECIDED THAT HE WANTED TO BE AN ACTOR AS WELL. AT THE END OF 2000 WHILE PRINZE J WAS JUST A NINETH GRADER HIS GRANDMOTHER WOULD REVEAL THAT SHE WOULD BE MOVING BACK TO PEORIA, ILLINOIS. WHEN PRINZE J DISCOVERED THIS HE KNEW THAT THINGS WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME FROM THE TIME HE WAS GROWING UP. HIS HOUSEHOLD WOULD BE SPLIT UP FOR THE 1ST TIME IN 14 YEARS. HIS GRANDMOTHER GOING BACK TO ILLINOIS AND HE, HIS MOTHER, AND HIS TWO SISTERS WERE GOING TO BE MOVING TO LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA IN THE SPRING OF 2001. THIS WOULD BREAK PRINZE J’S SPIRIT ALMOST ENOUGH TO STOP WANTING TO MAKE MUSIC BECAUSE HIS GRANDMOTHER GAVE HIM THAT EXTRA LIFT WHEN HE NEEDED TO BE LIFTED. HIS MOTHER WAS MAINLY FOCUSED ON HIS TWO SISTERS, SHE WAS MORE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT GOOD HE DIDN’T DO INSTEAD OF WHAT GOOD HE HAD DONE. IT WAS DEPRESSING FOR HIM. IN THE SPRING OF 2001 HIS GRANDMOTHER WENT BACK TO PEORIA ILLINOIS AFTER MOVING FROM THERE IN 1992. PRINZE J HIS MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS WERE SETTLED IN LONG BEACH. NOT EVEN A MONTH INTO THEIR SETTLEMENT PRINZE J WAS PUT IN JAIL BECAUSE OF AN IN-LAW CONSIRACY INCIDENT. PRINZE J WOULD SPEND HIS 15TH BIRTHDAY IN JUVENILE HALL FOR A CRIME HE HAD NOT COMITTED. KNOWING THAT THINGS WERE DIFFERENT PRINZE J KNEW HE WOULD CHANGE AS WELL. HE FOUND GOD WHILE LOCKED DOWN, CLAIMING TO NOT NEED A CHURCH JUST TO PRAISE GOD’S NAME. WHILE FINDING GOD PRINZE J WROTE HIS FIRST SCREENPLAY IN JAIL AND WAS CHOSEN TO READ A SCRITURE BEFORE EVERY EVENING MEAL. WHEN PRINZE J WAS RELEASED 2MONTHS LATER HE CLAIMED HE HAD GREW UP FROM THE INSIDE EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ONLY FIFTEEN. HE ASSUMES BECAUSE HE BROKE A MIRROR ON PURPOSE BEFORE HE LEFT GARDEN GROVE THAT IT WOULD GIVE HIM SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK. PRINZE J’S MOTHER HAD FOUND ANOTHER BOYFRIEND AND HE MOVED IN WHILE HE WAS IN JAIL. THE BOYFRIEND WAS COOL AT FIRST UNTIL PRINZE J SAID HE BEGAN TO TAKE OVER BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT SHE WAS A WEAK DEPENDENT MOTHER WITH THREE CHILDREN. PRINZE J REBELLED AGAINST THE MAN WHO WASN’T HIS FATHER AND SOON THE BOYFRIEND WOULD REVEAL HIS TRUE COLORS. AT TIMES HIM AND HIS MOTHERS BOYFRIEND WOULD ARGUE AND FIGHT BECAUSE HE WAS GIVING THINGS TO HIS SISTER THAT HE WOULD NORMALY GIVE TO A BOY JUST TO MAKE PRINZE J JEALOUS AND FEEL LEFT OUT. THE BOYFRIEND CONVINCED PRINZE J’S MOTHER NOT TO TAKE HIM TO SCHOOL. WHILE HIS HIGHSCHOOL WAS IN ANOTHER DISTRICT HE HAD TO GET UP EARLY EVERY MORNING TO CATCH THE BUS AND WASN’T LEFT WITH ANY LUNCH MONEY. PRINZE J HAD REALIZED THE 6’2 230 BOYFRIEND WAS TAUNTING HIM AND HIS MOTHER WOULD ACCEPT IT. PRINZE J BEGAN TO STRESS OUT. HE BEGAN TO CONSIDER SUICIDE BECAUSE OF THE STRESS HE WOULD GET FROM HIS HOUSEHOLD. OFTEN TIMES HIS GRANDMOTHER WOULD CALL FROM PEORIA AND TELL HIM TO PRAY TO KEEP HIM CALM. PRINZE J DECIDED HE NEEDED TO BE AWAY FROM THE HOUSEHOLD FOR HIS OR HIS MOTHER’S BOYFRIENDS SAFETY.
IN PRINZE J’S 11TH GRADE HE YEAR HE HAD SWITCHED HIGHSCHOOLS FOR THE 3RD TIME. ATTENDING MILLIKAN HIGHSCHOOL PRINZE J WOULD DO WHAT HE DID BEST AT EVERY HIGHSCHOOL HE ATTENDED AND THAT WAS TO EXPOSE ANY SKILL NECESSARY, IT WAS A NATURAL GOD GIVEN GIFT PRINZE J WOULD PLEAD. HE WOULD JOIN ANOTHER DRAMA ELECTIVE, BECOME A MEMBER OF SPOKEN WORD(POETRY CLUB) AND PLAY JV BASKETBALL. WHILE LIVING WITH HIS AUNT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF LONG BEACH PRINZE J STILL HAD HIS SIGHTS ON BECOMING A MUSICAL ARTIST HE JUST KNEW IT WOULD TAKE SOMETIME TO GO THROUGH ALL THE STRUGGLES IN BETWEEN. HE MADE FRIENDS WHO ADMIRED HIS CREATIVE WORDS, AND HE WOULD OFTEN HAVE FREESTYLE SESSIONS ON THE BACK OF LONG BEACH BUSES. BY HIS SENIOR YEAR PRINZE J WAS KICKED OUT OF HIS AUNT’S HOME AND HAD TO MOVE BACK WITH HIS MOTHER. PRINZE J WOULD TAKE CHANGE FROM HIS MOTHER’S BOYFRIEND SO HE COULD HAVE MONEY TO BUY FOOD AT OR AFTER SCHOOL. THIS WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE BECAUSE HIM AND HIS MOTHERS BOYFRIEND BEGAN TO HAVE AN EVEN BIGGER FIGHT BIGGER THAN ONCE BEFORE. THE BOYFRIEND THEN ASKED HIS MOTHER TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HIM AND HER SON. UNFORTUNETLY HIS MOTHER CHOSE HER BOYFRIEND SAID THAT PRINZE J WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE BACK TO ILLINOIS AFTER HE GRADUATED. THIS MADE PRINZE J MORE DEPRESSED THAN HE EVER WAS. ONE OF HIS UNCLE IN-LAWS BEGAN TAKING HIM TO CHURCH AND HE WAS BAPTISZED IN FEB OF 2004. PRINZE J STILL COULD NOT BELIEVE THE BEHAVIOR ON HIS MOTHER’S CHOICE. HE THAN BEGAN TO WANT TO STRIVE HARDER, BUT NOT TRUST TOO MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE SOME OF HIS OWN FAMILY WAS CORRUPT. HE STARTED TO LISTEN TO A HEAVY NUMBER OF TUPAC ALBUMS COMPARING AND CONTRASTING THEIR SIMILAR PAINS. THEN PRINZE J WOULD BEGIN TO WRITE ONCE MORE. WITH THE PAIN INSIDE OF HIM PRINZE J WOULD MAKE A BEAT IN HIS HEAD IDENTICAL WITH THE PAIN HE WAS FEELING. FROM THAT POINT PRINZE J WOULD NEVER LOOK AT HIS MOTHER THE SAME AGAIN, BUT HE KNEW HE STILL HAD TO RESPECT HER. PRINZE J STARTED TO STUDY ARTIST IN THE INDUSTRY HE WOULD LISTEN TO ALBUM TRACKS NOT RADIO TRACKS TO STUDY HIS FAVORITE ARTIST AND THEIR MANY DIFFERENT UNIQUE STYLES. HE WOULD LISTEN HEAVILY OF OLD SCHOOL AND NEW SCHOOL ARTIST TO SPREAD HIS HARIZON. BY THIS TIME PRINZE HAD 6 FIVE STAR NOTEBOOKS FULL OF LYRICS JUST WAITING TO BE JOINED BY A BEAT. IN THE BEGINNING OF PRINZE J’S SENIOR YEAR HE WOULD GET ARRESTED FOR PICKING UP A WEAPON OUTSIDE OF CAMPUS AND BRINGING IT ONTO CAMPUS HE HAD NO INTENTIONS ON HURTING ANYONE HE JUST CLAIMED HE WASN’T USING HIS HEAD AGAIN AND WOULD SUFFER FOR IT. WHEN HE GOT OUT A MONTH LATER PRINZE J WOULD SWITCH HIGHSCHOOLS ONCE MORE AFTER BEING KICKED OUT OF HIS PREVIOUS ONE. PRINZE J KNEW THAT HE HAD TO START USING HIS HEAD MORE OF THE TIME. WHILE IN HIS SENIOR YEAR PRINZE J WOULD MAKE FRIENDS WHO ENJOYED DOING MUSIC AS WELL AS HE DID. ONE OF THESE FRIENDS OF HIS MADE BEATS. PRINZE J ONLY COULD RAP HE COULDN’T MAKE BEATS SO HE FIGURED IF HE KNEW HOW TO MAKE BEATS IT WOULD BE A STEPPING STONE TOWARDS HIS MAJOR GOAL AND HE INSTANTLY WAS HOOKED. SEARCHING IN THOUGH FOR SO LONG PRINZE J HAD FINALLY REALIZED WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO TO MAKE HIS OWN SOUND. THE LOVE OF A FRIEND EDUCATED HIM AND WAS WILLING TO TEACH HIM HOW TO WORK WITH THE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE INSTRUMENTALS. WHEN PRINZE J GRADUATED HIGHSCHOOL IN JUNE OF 2004 HIS HEART WOULD BEAT EVERYDAY BECAUSE HE DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE CALIFORNIA BECAUSE IT WAS ALL HE HAD KNOWN. MOVING BACK TO PEORIA WOULD START THIS WHOLE PROGRESSION ALL OVER AGAIN. WHO TO TRUST, WHO TO BELIEVE. BUT PRINZE J DECIDED NOT TO MOVE BACK TO ILLINOIS INSTEAD HE WOULD MOVE WITH A FORMER GIRLFRIEND AND HER FAMILY WHO WERE FROM TEXAS. BEING SO HARD TO LET GO FROM HIS MOTHER AND HER HARD FEELINGS PRINZE J WOULD OFTEN CRY BECAUSE HE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THINGS HAPPENED THE WAY THEY DID. PRINZE J HAD TURNED 18 IN MAY OF 2004 HE THEN CONSIDERED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER CHANGE FROM THE INSIDE JUST LIKE HE DID WHILE LOCKED IN JAIL. HIS VERY 1ST JOB WAS AT KNOTTS BERRY FARM HE WOULD TAKE A NOTEBOOK TO WRITE IN DURING HIS LUNCH BREAKS TO ALLOWS KEEP HIS MIND THINKING. LIVING WITH THE FAMILY FROM TEXAS DIDN’T LAST LONG. HIS EX-GIRL FRIEND WHO HE HAD MET AT THE END OF HIS JUNIOR YEAR HAD A COUSIN WHO STAYED WITH THE FAMILY AS WELL. THE TOTAL BEING ELEVEN ALTOGETHER. THIS COUSIN STARTED TO ADMIRE HER COUSINS EX-BOYFRIEND. SHE THEN WROTE PRINZE J A LETTER BUT THEN THREW IT AWAY BECAUSE SHE KNEW HE WAS HER COUSINS EX-BOYFRIEND. THE LETTER WAS FOUND INSIDE THE HOUSE GARBAGE THEN RUMORS FLARED WHEN THE FAMILY FROM TEXAS ACCUSED PRINZE J OF TRYING TO HAVE A SECERT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS EX-GIRLFRIENDS COUSIN. FROM THAT POINT ON PRINZE J GET THE 3RD DEGREE FROM SOME OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS. THERE WAS ALWAYS TENTION IN THE HOUSE JUST LIKE THE HOME HE JUST LEFT. FINALLY THE FAMILY WOULD REVEAL THAT PRINZE J HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE THE CONFLICT WAS NEVER RESOLVED AND THE FAMILY BELIEVED THAT PRINZE J WASN’T TELLING THE TRUTH. HE THEN MOVED WITH HIS 2ND AUNTIE IN SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA. PRINZE J BEGAN TO STRESS EVEN MORE BECAUSE OF THE IMAGE PEOPLE SEEN HIM AS TO BE WHEN CERTAIN CONFLICTS WEREN’T RESOLVED IN PROPER MANNER. HE MOVED WITH HIS AUNT IN OCT OF 2004. WITH JUST ENOUGH MONEY PRINZE J DECIDED HE WOULD BUY A CHEAP CAR AND SLEEP IN IT IF HE HAD TO JUST TO SURVIVE. HE STILL HAD A JOB BUT IT WAS TWO CITIES OVER WITH A 2-HOUR THREE BUS TRANSFER. PRINZE J MADE THIS ROUTE SEVERAL TIMES FOR 6.50 AND HOUR. HE BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT FAMILY MEMBER STARTED TO SPEAK BADLY ABOUT HIM(1ST COUSINS) THEY WOULD ASK THEIR MOM WHY DOES HE HAVE TO STAY HERE WHY CAN’T HIS MOTHER SUPPORT HIM IT’S HIS MOTHER. PRINZE J WOULD OVER HEAR PLENTY OF THINGS SAID OPPOSING TO HIM. STRESS WAS NOTHING KNEW HE HAD BEEN GOING THROUGH IT SINCE HIS GRANDMOTHER LEFT. HE THEN SAID TO HIM SELF FUCK MY FAMILY THERES NO ONE TO TRUST. NO BACK BONE SUPPORT WHAT SO EVER. HE WOULD TELL HIS GRANDMOTHER THAT HE WAS GOING TO GIVE UP. SHE TOLD HIM THAT SHE WAS BORN IN 1933 AND SHE HAD BEEN THROUGH A LOT BUT NEVER GAVE UP. IF HIS GRANDMOTHER HAD GIVEN UP THEN HE WOULDN’T BE HERE RIGHT NOW. PRINZE J FINALLY STARTED TO REALIZE HE WAS AT THIS ALONE. HIS GRANDMOTHER OFTEN OFFERED HIM TO COME BACK TO PEORIA BUT HE STILL REFUSED HE DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE UP JUST LIKE THAT SO HE FOUND A HIGH PAYING SECURITY JOB THAT CAN PAY ENOUGH FOR HIM TO GET HIS OWN PLACE. PRINZE J DID JUST THAT FROM ONE END IT SEEMED LIKE HE WAS HELPLESS UNTIL HE HELPED HIMSELF FOR A CHANGE. BY MAY 2005 PRINZE J WAS 19 ALREADY WITH HIS OWN STUDIO APARTMENT, WITH A FULL-TIME JOB, AND TRANSPORTATION. GOD WOULD SPEAK TO HIM LETTING HIM KNOW TO ALWAYS KEEP HIS FAITH BECAUSE AS QUICK AS YOUR DOWN I CAN BRING YOU BACK UP AND VICE VERSA. PRINZE J CONSIDERED HIM SELF A MAN BECAUSE HE HAD RESPONSIBILITIES NOW. PAYING RENT AND BILLS. HIS MIND WOULD DEVELOP INTO A 30YR OLD INSIDE A 19 YEAR OLDS BODY. PRINZE J ALWAYS WANTED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL BUT HE KNEW HE COULD WORK AND DO BOTH. PRINZE J WOULD HAVE SITES ON TURNING HIS STUDIO INTO A STUDIO. HE WOULD GET A TAX RETURN CHECK AND SPEND THE MAJORITY OF IT ON COMPUTER MUSIC SOFTWARE AND ITS TECHNOLOGY. PRINZE J SAW HIM SELF IN A GOOD POSITION BECAUSE GOD WAS GIVING HIM A TASTE OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE OUT ON YOUR OWN. AFTER HE PURCHASE HIS IN-HOME STUDIO EQUIPMENT PRINZE J BEGAN TO FEED OFF OF HIS OWN VIBE. HE BEGAN TO MAKE SUPERIOR BEATS AND ADVANCE AT IT AS TIME PROGRESSED. HE WOULD MASTER HIS CRAFT AND TECHNIQUE. GOD THEN GAVE HIM ANOTHER BADGE OF HONOR WHEN PRINZE J CHOSE TO NAME HIS MUSIC AFTER GOD WHICH IS CALLED “SWAGGA MUSIC”(GOD’S WILL). HE WOULD THEN ADD TO HIS STAGE NAME. WHEN PRINZE J WAS YOUNGER ON SOME SATURADYS HIS LATE UNCLE WOULD COME BY. HE WOULD CALL PRINZE J EDDIE JONES AT THE TIME HE PLAYED FOR THE LAKERS. HE WOULD ALSO CALL ME A “JUGGERKNOTT” BECAUSE HE WAS SO HARD HEADED AND WHEN HE’D COME OVER THE SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS OF X-MEN WOULD EXPLODE INFRONT OF PRINZE J’S EYES AS A YOUNG MALE. PRINZE J PROCLAIMED HIMSELF TO BE PRINZE J “THA JUGGERKNOTT” IN JANURARY OF 2006 AND SWAGGA MUSIC IS THE QUE. PRINZE J WOULD MASTER HIS SKILLS HE WOULD WORK ALONE BECAUSE NO ONE SEEMED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT MUSIC LIKE HE WAS AND/OR THEY WOULD BECOME JEALOUS OF HIS GIFT. LIVING IN HIS FIRST STUDIO APARTMENT WOULD LAST LONG HIS LANDLORD WAS LEAVING TO ATLANTA IN AUG OF 2006 SO HE WOULD HAVE TO RESIGN A LEASE HE COULD AFFORD, STRESS WOULD COME BACK IN TO PLAY FOR THE MOST PART BUT HE STILL KEPT HOPE AND FAITH. FROM THAT POINT PRINZE J WOULD LIVE WITH ONE MORE FAMILY AND GET KICKED OUT AGAIN BECAUSE OF PYSCHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES. HE WOULD BOUNCE AROUND STILL TRYING TO SURVIVE OF A SECURITY JOB HE WOULD SWITCH TO 3 OTHER COMPANIES OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME. ALWAYS CARRYING HIS MUSIC WITH HIM GOD ALLOWED IT TO NEVER LEAVE HIS SIDE EVEN IF HE HAD TO SLEEP IN HIS CAR. AT THE END OF 2006 ALL THROUGH 2007 PRINZE J WOULD KEEP MOVING AROUND. GOING HERE TO THERE. SLEEPING ON WHATEVER FLOOR OR COUCH HE WAS OFFERED JUST AS A STEPPING STONE. IN LATE 2007 PRINZE J’S GRANDMOTHER SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO PEORIA BECAUSE SHE WAS HAVING KNEE REPLACEMENT. IT SEEMED LIKE GOD HAD THIS PLANNED BECAUSE EVERYTHING WOULD FALL APART WITH HIS JOB, THAT MEANT NO MONEY FOR GAS. PRINZE J DECIDED AFTER ALL THIS TIME HE WOULD GO BACK TO PEORIA TO TAKE CARE OF HIS GRANDMOTHER BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS HELPED HIM. IN FEB OF 2008 PRINZE J WAS BACK IN HIS HOMETOWN AFTER 17 YEARS. ATTENDING COLLEGE AND MAKING MUSIC IS WHAT HE CHOSE TO DO, BUT PRINZE J HASN’T ADAPTED FULLY YET. JUST LIKE LONG BEACH AND EVERYWHERE ELSE HE LIVED HE KNOWS THAT IT WILL TAKE TIME. BUT IN THE MEAN TIME INBETWEEN TIME HE WILL BE PROVIDING THE PEOPLE WITH HIP-HOP’S LAST ELEMENT CALLED “SWAGGA MUSIC”. THE OLDER AND MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE PRINZE J BECOMES IT IS THE WISDOM THAT GOT USES TO OPEN HIS EYES.
AUTHOR J.C. VRBELL
