JC - THE TRUTH

Music:

Member Since: 3/8/2005
Band Website: jcthetruth.com
Band Members:Born and raised in Penns Grove, New Jersey, Jeff Clark a.k.a. JC-THE TRUTH made his way into the underground hip-hop scene roughly two years ago. Influenced by the streets and his neighborhood, JC started writing street poetry, stories about relationships, friends & family members at fourteen years old.--------------------------------------In 2000, after hardships at home, JC left Penns Grove to find his destiny. "The day I left, I had a ten dollar bill in my pocket, and the clothes on my back. I went to my boy's crib and asked for a ride to (at that time) my girl's house in Clarksboro, New Jersey." After leaving his girlfriend's house several months later JC struggled on and off the steets; homeless at some points, taking showers at truckstops, sleeping from one person's sofa to the next, living on his grandmother's floor, and even at one point living out of his 1983 Volvo. "I just remember laying in the back seat of my car (bought by my Uncle Joe) thinking to myself... Jesus... it's got to get better than this. I lost a bunch of weight, it was the middle of December and the heater was broke, so I was freezing my ass off. My girl (at that time) gave me blankets to use that I still have to this day. Back then, I never thought I'd make it out of that situation, because I didn't think anyone cared. I was just ready to say @$% it." JC's godmother found him one day at his friend Bubba's house asking for a place to stay. That same day, JC moved in with his godparents in Woodstown, New Jersey. Slowly, he was able to put his life on track, with a healthy environment, and positive relatives who supported him.---------------------------------------In 2001, after being pointed in the right direction, JC decided to move across the Delaware River to the city of Philadelphia. There... he would pursue his career in entertainment through The Art Institute Of Philadelphia. "At first I didn't know how I was going to pay for college. I wanted to stay off the streets and get my education... but I didn't know how to do anything you know? So I put together a plan. I had like three credit cards maxed out because my car that kept breaking down; I went ahead and payed two of them off, and my Uncle Paul and good friend Richard offered to pay off the third one. In doing that... I earned good credit while holding a steady job. Then I was qualified to get loans from Sallie Mae. I applied... got approved... and enrolled myself into the summer quarter."--------------------------------------While at AIPH, JC would begin his journey into the realm of music. "I taught myself how to produce music. I could always write music, but didn't realize it. My poetry was music. And I knew how to use audio and video equipment from classes at AIPH; like Pro Tools and Adobe Premiere. But I wanted to make hip-hop beats. I was always a big fan of hip-hop, way before I could even write it. My Pop was a musician. He taught himself how to play guitar and write music too. He had his own band when I was growing up, so I was always around music. So I did my research and came across this program. After about... three months of trial and error I figured it out and made my first instrumental; which is actually one of my tracks... "Collar Popper." Before that I was just rapping to other people's beats, or beat-boxing. But you know... I had to take it to the next level. I felt something was there, and I wanted to see where I could go with it. So I did."------------------------------------In 2004, after graduating with a Bachelor Of Science, in Media Arts & Animation, JC moved to NYC. "I knew that if I went back to my hometown I'd get caught up in the bullshit again. Right back where I started. There was nothing left for me in New Jersey but bad memories and I decided to move on. So I asked my Uncle Paul if I could move in with him. And moved to Staten Island literally the day of graduation."------------------------------------JC went to acting school for a year at a conservatory called The Neighborhood Playhouse School Of The Theatre. While in acting school, JC was producing music out of his uncle's attic. "It was a different experience for me at the acting school. There was a lot of petty drama going around... but overall... it was ok. I learned a lot about myself on top of getting some good training, and on top of that I met a lot of good people. I'd say it was worth the time and money."------------------------------------Now JC has built his own home studio on Staten Island where he produces all of his music. From the lyrics... to the instrumentals... to the final product... JC does it all. And with his background in Media Arts & Animation he cuts costs in half when it comes to promotional graphics and advertisements. "When it's all said and done... I just want to give people hope, you know? I want to give people the vision to see through my lyrics... that there's a light at the end of the tunnel, and things can get better. It's amazing what someone can accomplish when they just... live from their heart. And when it's mind over matter... anyone can change their life around. All you need is confidence to fight for what you believe in. Music is what I believe in. It's my God given therapy."
Influences: Life
Sounds Like:
Type of Label: None