DOWNLOAD NO LABELS FROM
LOJ ON RUTGER'S UNIVERSITY RADIO
Certain albums come to mind when one thinks of music that changed the direction of hip-hop - albums such as Illmatic , Reasonable Doubt , and Paid in Full - yet if John "Loj" Mouzon has his way, then his upcoming releases will certainly help inspire a new generation of hip-hop fans.
Critically acclaimed and endorsed as an introspective voice for New York's new generation of MCs, Loj (pronounced Lahj) portrays a reflective and analytical perspective seldom seen in mainstream hip-hop. Loj aims to create his own niche as a contemporary hip-hop artist by putting substance and thought provoking rhymes back into music that can be enjoyed by a mainstream audience. Loj's dual perspective comes from his unique experience growing up in very different environments and neighborhoods.
Influenced by a diverse range of artists from Nas to Jay-Z to KRS-One, Loj makes thought-provoking music that the average person can relate to. When listening to his catalog as a whole, it's difficult to put a label on the type of music he makes. Hence the title of his debut album, "No Labels." He describes his music as “catchy, yet conscious hip-hop”. Dubbed as the “Concept Kid” and never wanting to pigeon-hole his thoughts or his artwork, Loj rhymes upon a broad range of topics that affect himself, his people, and the world everyday. His music addresses diverse issues such as hip-hop culture, politics, work, school, life's pleasures and achievements, fashion, women, socio-economics, entertainment, and the realities that average people go through everyday. Critics and fans alike praise Loj for bringing balance back to music during a time where hip-hop seems stagnant with repetitive material.
Loj's dual perspective is what seems to set him apart from fellow MCs. Born and raised in the rough neighborhood of South Jamaica, Queens; yet moving to a different environment at the age of 16 gives Loj the ability to craft candid verses about the world through a balanced outlook. In always trying to remain evenhanded, he uses his past and present experiences to speak through a wise perspective. The younger of two children, born to working class parents, Loj learned early on the importance of a strong work ethic. Since his mother was a public school teacher she understood the extreme shortcomings of public education, especially the under funded and overcrowded public education system in New York City. As a result, his parents worked multiple jobs, day and night, to help pay for him to go to private school so that he could receive a better opportunity at succeeding in life. By leaving his neighborhood every day and going to private school, Loj was exposed to much different cultures and experiences than what he previously had been exposed to in South Jamaica. In addition to his parent’s guidance, Loj was greatly influenced by his older sister, Helixx, who was a pioneering MC in the all-female hip-hop collective, "The Anomolies." She helped expose him to the art of MCing from an insider’s perspective. This exposure of different environments has had a large impact on his development as both an artist and a person.
At the age of 16 his parents’ hard work finally paid off when they were able to save enough money to move their family from South Jamaica, Queens into the neighborhood of Flushing, Queens. This was another experience that would have a profound effect on Loj's view of the world and the subjects of his rhymes. It would continue to broaden his horizons and help give him his well-rounded personality that is mirrored in the music he makes to this day.
His debut album, "No Labels," is the product of his life's experiences and reflects his balanced outlook as his music bridges the catchiness of mainstream hip-hop with the consciousness of underground hip-hop. As the album title boldly states, Loj urges critics and fans not to label him as a "conscious" rapper or "commercial" rapper. He is neither...Loj makes music for the complete human spirit and everything that it encompasses.
Copyright © 2008 Network Edutainment Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
LOJ PERFORMING LIVE
Join our mailing list for occasional news related to Loj & N-E-G
