It is not particularly surprising that singer, Jhase Kennedy would pursue a career in the music/entertainment industry. After all, he was “listening and dancing” to music before he was born. “My Mom told me that she would listen to different genres of music when she was pregnant with me,” he recalls. ”She would place headphones on her stomach and I would “respond” by kicking and moving around a lot.” “She says I was probably dancing,” he adds smiling at the thought of dancing around in her womb.
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana almost 23 years ago, Jhase and his Mom relocated to Dallas, Texas a few weeks shy of his 8th birthday. He attended public schools and was active in sports, chess and school plays. Because of his appearance and demeanor during his childhood and part of his adolescence, no one outside of his immediate family, ever suspected that he could dance. He was never shy about performing any dance (known or unknown) publicly when asked.
Fast forward a few years. Jhase was introduced to a popular local rap artist/producer by his aunt who was friends with his mom. The two young men became good friends and spent a lot of time in the family’s in-home studio. One song that the rap artist/producer wrote and produced was gaining popularity in the Dallas area piqued Jhase’s interest enough that he choreographed a dance for that particular song. Jhase, along with a few others performed the dance at a local venue where the artist was doing a show. Surprised and flattered, the rapper/artist asked Jhase to join him as his “Hypeman” at his various performances throughout the Dallas-Forth Worth metro area. The dance became somewhat of a “sensation” on YouTube with over 40,000 views in 2007.
Jhase was “bitten by the entertainment bug” and began writing his own lyrics. He utilized his new role as “Hypeman” and networked with local musical artists and industry executives before, after and in between his friend’s live performances. He began recording his own rap lyrics and downloaded them onto his MySpace page and surprised his friends, and this time his family. He received positive feedback and continued writing and recording a few other rap songs. One of his songs, “Shawty Gon’ Get It ” received airplay on a local radio station.
In the weeks ahead, Jhase decided that he would rather sing than rap. The lack of young, talented singers from the South was something he pondered often and thus, he found his niche’. After several weeks of writing and listening to some his old school musical influences, Sam Cooke and Eddie Kendricks just to name few, Jhase recorded his first complete song, “Put It Down” which at one point on his MySpace page (myspace.com/jhasemusic) averaging up to 400 downloads on some days.
A multi-talented singer, songwriter, dancer and yes, rapper, Jhase is definitely aspires to be an icon in the entertainment industry. “I don’t want to be a one hit wonder,” he states. “I want a full-fledged career in the music industry with longevity. “It sounds cliche’, but this is something I have always wanted to do,” he says. No doubt since he was “performing” before he was born!
Ladies & Gentlemen, Please check out Vanessa Elisha! An independent artist out of Australia. DOPE voice.
Okay this is on the smooth tip, I thought he was a angry rapper at first but this brother is harmonizing! listening a Quarter past three
He most deff have a future, all he has to do is how the majors how bad he wants it! how do you do that – Keep getting yourself heard through great sites like this- A&R’s are on every site that doing good so un-signed artist when you submit, try to do you very best. If i was a major label, I would sign him no questions asked- thats my word!
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