THER.I.P.Y. BIO
The two mcs that make this trend-setting rap group have come a long way down their own dirt roads. Producing impressive beats since the age of twelve, Ken Jo's first love was the beat machine. Over the years, he's made beats for countless regional artists and many notables like Ludacris, R.Kelly, Juvenile, Field Mob (much of their upcoming DTP/Geffen release "Lightpoles and Pinetrees", 8Ball and MJG, Thrill Da Playa, head member of the multi-platinum 69 Boyz, and has even co-produced with his music idol Mr. DJ (Outkast's Grammy-winning producer). Although Paul D's first love was rap, he has never let his words stay confined to the beat. In 2002, he joined Black on Black Rhyme, the world's largest poetry troupe, and in 2005, he won the Southern Fried Poetry Slam in Charlotte, North Carolina, a competition which consisted of over 120 poets, solidifying him as the best spoken word artist in the Southeastern U.S. With one self-published book, "For Mullatoes Only", and a spoken word CD, "Freight Train of Thought", Paul is continuing to set higher goals for himself as a lyricist. He is also a certified 8th grade middle school teacher in inner-city Atlanta.
2002 brought both good and bad changes for THER.I.P.Y. (an acronym meaning The Radiance is Purely Yours). Now in college at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Florida State University respectively, both Ken Jo and Paul D widened their perspectives on life. They linked up with manager and former high school friend of Ken Jo's, Gerard "G-Gracious" Singfield, to launch Jangalang Entertainment, an independent label named after a close friend, Chris "Jangalang" Mitchell, who was killed in a freak basketball accident in that same year. THER.I.P.Y. drew energy from the spirit of their lost friend and from their new experiences to put out "Strictly For Da Streetz" (2002), the critically-acclaimed underground album that featured over twenty original tracks! Ken Jo's bass-thumping production and smooth and unorthodox delivery mixed with Paul D's lyrical and melodic versatility made them a threat in any regard. THER.I.P.Y. began to gain fans by opening up for the likes of T.I., Field Mob, Cee-Lo from Goodie Mob, Bone Thugz-N-Harmony, Lil' Flip, 3-6 Mafia, Trick Daddy, Chingy, Freeway, and others. Now three years later, THER.I.P.Y. is now considered a local legend in their hometown of Albany, Georgia, amongst the musical greats before them like Suthern Klick (the first group from Albany to be offered a major label deal) and Field Mob, one of Hip-Hop's greatest duos today.
THER.I.P.Y. (an acronym meaning The Radiance is Purely Yours), got their first studio time in 2000 by winning a rap competition thrown by a local radio station in Albany, Georgia. The four-track demo, entitled Overdose, earned them respect amongst music heads in the city and gave them the confidence to self-produce their first album, "Off the Rip" (2000), in the attic (dubbed the Southern Chamber) of Ken Jo's parent's house. Ken Jo and Paul D began to forge a new sound, reminiscent of Outkast and Goodie Mob, one that focused more on the actual skill of rapping and making good music and less on material glorification. THER.I.P.Y. received regional recognition in the South Georgia/North Florida with these two albums but are still not content. Ken Jo and Paul D have marinated on all these past accomplishments to present their third album, "Cornerstone Jones", which they predict will change the rap game as we know it.
Management and Booking Contact:
Ken Jo, Paul D, Gracious, Co-CEOs
Jangalang Entertainment
Management- Gracious (678) 939-6187
gracious23@gmail.com
gerardalonzo@hotmail.com
Grab a copy of the latest Ozone Magazine to check out Paul D's monthly "True Raps" Column. You can also go to ozonemag.com to check it out online.
Hot Myspace Comments / Myspace Graphics
Congrats to Ken Jo of THER.I.P.Y.
for Producing on Luda's
Grammy-Winning "Release Therapy"!!!!
