Born in a city known for its strong musical roots, JDawg was destined to own a spot as a music industry icon of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was raised in one of the crudest neighborhoods known as the 17th Ward. Although this particular neighborhood carried a a label of being one of "the worst of the worst", his parents provided JDawg with an extremely sound family environment and beat statistics of society today by staying married until his father passed away in 1999. All of the shortcomings that came in his life cannot be attributed to his parents raising him. JDawgs father was still around to see him start coming of age, and it was the reality of the streets that began to influence him in a way that opened his eyes to see things in a whole other perspective.
He attended Alcee Fortier High School located in Uptown N.O for 3 years before being expelled for an intense gang fight between rebel neighborhoods of the 17th Ward. It was in the early 90's that JDawg's talent as an artist was born deep within his soul. He knew that he had to be in music because it was his destiny. His spark of influence began with a legend of the game, Dana Dane. He ws fascinated by the way that Dana Dane could tell a story with such depth and reality. He began his journey through the music industry by utilizing his break dancing skills combined with his friends all around New Orleans, by challenging people to compete against him to win money. They participated in what appeared to be a replica style of the "Gong Show" which was started by a man by the name of Bobby Marchand. Precise, a platinum producer for hip-hop icon Mystikal, partnered up with JDawg and Threat in the talent shows and together they became reigning champions 8 shows in a row.
People surrounding him started to recognize his natural ability to relate to music and insisted that he should make his own record. Listening to his peers and his voice within, JDawg and his partner Threat, started their own hip-hop group entitled "Black Menace". Together the duo completed their first album in 1992, entitled "Ghetto Ass Niggas"with a local label called Holly Grove Records. They started placing the album themselves through consignment with all of the stores that were within driving distance. After selling a total of 2,000 albums by their own efforts, Black Menace established a name for themselves that left a lasting impact in their city. It was around this time that the origination of the genre of muxic called "bounce" birthed, and Black Menace created a hit single "Go Off". Throught he support of local radio station personailty, Davey D, the single made Black Menace a household name. The volume of records being sold caught the attention of Gary Holcemthal, owner of a local record store, Odyssey Records, and he decided to put financial backing behind them. This brought them to the next level of their career and gave them national attention. Once they had their national recognititon, Big Boy Recdords decided to sign a two album deal for JDawg as a solo artist and a two album deal for Black Menace as a group. JDawgs solo projects included"The Dawg House" and "Smokin' and Rolllin' ". As a group Black Menace completed two albums entitled "Reallydoe" and "Drama Time". It was the album "Drama Time" that complimented their talents and sold ove 160,000 units. The hit single off of the album was "Family" and the single resulted with a video, and the album "Drama Time" won the "Heat Seeker" award on the Billboard Charts.
Eventually while signed to Big Boy Records, Black Menace ended up doing a collaboration with hip-hop icon Mystikal during his career with Jive Records, and together they created the hit single "I'm Out Dat Bootcamp". The single blew up and resulted in heavy rotation amongst all national media outlets. "I'm Out Dat Bootcamp" landed a spot on Mystikal's album "The Mind Of Mystikal" and sold enough units to turn it into a gold album. With the exposure they gained from that situation, sales of Black Menaces album "Drama Time" sky rocketed. When a few people in JDawgs circle became incarcerated, JDawg decided to begin his own label Menace Entertainment and put out an album entitled "More Drama". He sold about 16,000 units and had high hopes of getting a distribution deal in 1999. When life brought JDAwg issues that had priorities over hi music career, he had to stop doing music and start doing more important things for his family. In 2004, after 5 yeras of laying low on the music side of things, J decided to do it again to create a dynasty in New Orleans.
It’s 2009. Ya Dig?
Jay Da Menace is finally back in the place he loves most, the studio. Jay just released his all new hit single “HOOD THANG” featuring Juvenile and Q Corvette. He is currently working hard on his long awaited new album CONCRETE, set to release later in this year. Working hard, no doubt! In and out the studio, mixing & recording, business savvy these days, and taking on a new found interest in writing scripts. Jay is now signed with and the President of HITZ International, a dynasty created with the legendary Partners -N- Crime. Together they are currently touring the southern region giving all the fans a taste of what’s to come from HITZ International, New Orleans, Louisiana.
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