Rapper and musician JR

Posted in Interactive | Local Personalities

‘KOOL FOREVER’

JR. The surprisingly young rapper grew up surrounded by music and driven by an insatiable hunger for the next best beat, the perfect beat – that is his quest, and it is one he comes closer to with his every musical endeavour.

‘Before I’m a rapper I’m a musician’

That quest, that drive, that passion for the music led JR through early collaborations with some of South Africa’s hottest acts, earning him a name in the industry as well as a reputation for a peerless talent. Diligence and dedication to his craft paid off for JR as doors began to open and he found himself receiving offers like he’d never previously imagined. JR quickly scooped a lucrative management deal, record deal and Renault endorsement all before the age of 22.

Photos and information provided by Star Mkhize / Public Relations at Electromode

Main Event

This all led to the eventual 2008 release of The Main Event: JR’s full length debut.

The Main Event featured massive hits So Hot, Gata Le Nna and Mathata. The album was an instant hit and JR found himself being nominated for Best Hip Hop Album at the 2008 Metro Awards and Best Rap at the 2009 SAMAS meanwhile he was fast becoming a household name as his rhymes and beats were being broadcast, by popular demand, into homes across the country.

JR has one of the most energetic stage performances, backed by an incredibly gifted live band and often including an 8 piece string section. His live performances in the last year include sharing the stage with The Game inSwaziland, with T-Pain at the Macufe Festival inBloemfontein, and with John Legend and Keri Hilson on their nationwide South African tour. Other special performances include the Old Mutual Sunset Concert atKirstenboschGardens, the Boxing South Africa Awards and the Metro FM Awards in 2008.

This all led to JR being recognised at the 2008 MTN Hype Awards where he took the gong for Best Hip Hop Record.

Not forgetting his humble beginnings, JR is actively involved with HIV / Aids Awareness for the youth of today and is an ambassador for SCRUTINIZE. 2010 saw JR becoming even more active in socio conscious awareness and several other projects. In 2010 JR also released his own footwear range of sneakers through Loxion Culture, and collaborated with Jack Parow and Die Heuwels Fantasties.

If nothing else is certain, we can be assured of one thing: JR will continue to pursue the perfect beat, and South African Hip Hop fans will continue to enjoy the beneficial results of his quest.

Colourfull

JR’s highly-anticipated sophomore album, Colourfull was released through Electromode in 2009, and earned him a second SAMA nomination for Best Rap. JR’s memorable performance at the 2010 SAMAs saw him teaming up with Die Heuwels Fantasties and the Soweto Gospel Choir. In 2011, he reprised this performance with an equally thrilling display of his electric stage presence as he sang Show Dem backed by a 13 piece band and accompanied by a swarm of freestyle dancers at SAMA 17, the ceremony where he was up for Record Of The Year for the song of the same name.

JR’s second single “Show Dem” took the nation by storm and had everyone singing “MAKE THE CIRCLE BEEGER!!” It is this very song that was selected by Vodacom as the Voice behind Bafana Bafana leading up to the Soccer World Cup.

JR is making his circle bigger in Europe too. With interest in Germany and Norway (he performed at last year’s Oslo Live Festival), he is looking to fly the SA flag overseas too!

In July 2010, Electromode re-released his sophomore album, Colourfull – The Beega edition which includes the hits like Keep The Fire Burning (FtSlikour, Shugasmakx, Teargas and Auriol Hays); Show Goes On (ft Die Heuwels Fantasties and Jack Parow) and the smash hit Tequila!

Kool Forever

2012 and JR is ready to release his third album, after the success of his first two albums expectations and are high. JR has always prided himself as more than just a hip hop artist or rapper but a musician and his diverse sound is proof of this. Not shy to experiment with his music, he often plays with different sounds and mixes different genres to create an outcome that can only be described as eclectic,

Expect the unexpected in KOOL FOREVER, surprising acts such as Cabo Snoop (Angolan), Asem (Ghana) and Louise Carver grace the album to contribute to a dynamic product. Having conquered the South African audience JR hopes to ascertain his musical relevance by taking his music into Africa to cultivate a market he had only just tapped before.

The first single ‘Phuma’ is an upbeat infectious song destined to invade the airwaves. Kool Forever is an up tempo hip hop album infused with dance, pop rock and other cool genres to create fun.