Hezekiah (rapper)

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Hezekiah
File:Hezekiah performing as Johnny Popcorn.jpg
Background information
Birth name Hezekiah Davis III
Also known as Hez, Mr. Johnny Popcorn
Born Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Producer, rapper, singer-songwriter, music video director
Years active 1995–present
Labels Soulspazm, Rawkus
Associated acts Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Bilal, Illmind, The Roots, RJD2, Reef the Lost Cauze, Oddisee, Johnny Popcorn, Yahzarah, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Eric Roberson
Website 3crates.bandcamp.com

Hezekiah (born Hezekiah Davis III) is an American music producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, music video director and founder of the producer showcase, Beat Society.[1] Hezekiah was born in Chester, Pennsylvania and raised in New Castle, Delaware. He currently resides in Philadelphia. His first album Hurry Up & Wait was released in 2005 on Soulspazm Records.[2] In 2007, his second album I Predict a Riot was released jointly by Soulspazm Records and Rawkus Records before Rawkus folded but was re-released again by Soulspazm Records.[3] His third album Conscious Porn was released in 2010.[4] In 2011, he teamed up with west coast producer and artist Ishe to release the Ishe + Hezekiah Project.[5] While working in the studio with his friend and producer Tone Whitfield the duo created the persona Johnny Popcorn to release alternative rock/soul music.[6] In 2011, they released the EP entitled Hezekiah & Tone Whitfield are Johnny Popcorn.[7] This project was followed by the 2012 by Johnny Popcorn album The Crow.[8] The Crow lead to Hezekiah forming a permanent five member band that tours the United States as Johnny Popcorn. Hezekiah’s fourth solo album entitled Dreams Don’t Chase Themselves will be released in the summer of 2014.[9] The next Johnny Popcorn release, which is untitled, is slated for 2014.

Hezekiah has produced for Zap Mama,[10] Eric Roberson,[11] Kindred the Family Soul, Blu,[12] Wordsworth,[13] Bahamadia, Conya Doss, and Chief Kamanchi.

Hezekiah's production has been featured in TV and films. He has scored for the 2002–2003 Showtime series Street Time.[14] In 2008, he co-produced the score for the PBS documentary First Person.[15] Hezekiah provided the score for the AND 1 basketball documentary.

Hezekiah has written songs for singing artist Bilal. The songs include "Think It Over" (2010) from Bilal's Airtight's Revenge and "Back to Love" (2013), "Winning Hand" (2013), and "Climbing" (2013) on Bilal's A Love Surreal.[16]

Early life

Hezekiah was born Hezekiah Davis III in Chester, Pennsylvania and raised in New Castle, Delaware. He grew up in a musical family where at an early age he sang at his family's church. During his elementary years, Hezekiah's cousin introduced him to the art of production in the form of a track and drum machine. He began to develop his progressive approach to hip hop and began performing in his family's living room with his cousin on bass and uncle on guitar. In high school, Hezekiah sold his demo mix tape "Exit Wound Status".[17] After high school he hit the Philly hip hop scene where he joined the network of artists which included Musiq Soulchild, Bilal, The Roots, Jazzyfatnastees, Bahamadia.[citation needed]

Career

In 2005 Hezekiah produced and recorded his debut album Hurry Up & Wait. The album features Bahamadia, Scratch (of The Roots), Grand Agent, and Santigold. He met Jim Drew of Soulspazm Records at an after-school jam session that led to him being signed to the label and releasing the album in 2006. This led him to record Bilal's demo which landed Bilal a record deal with Interscope Records.[citation needed]

Also in 2005, Hezekiah was hired to produce with Tone Whitfield the music for a Showtime original series, Street Time. While producing and recording his album Hurry Up and Wait, Hezekiah began working on albums for Philadelphia singer Aaron Livingston and Musiq Soulchild's backup singers, Aaries.[citation needed]

2012 Hezekiah teamed up with Tone Whitfield to form a group Johnny Popcorn and released a EP. Eventually Hezekiah recruited singer Jani Coral to split vocals and formed a new version of Johnny Popcorn that is a rock, funk, alternative band. The first album, "The Crow" was released 2012. Johnny Popcorn has opened for Ladi6, Talib Kweli, Robert Glasper, and Bilal.[citation needed]

2015 Hezekiah released his 5th solo hip hop album "Dreams Don't Chase Themselves" and a short film by the same name.[citation needed]

Discography

Albums

  • Hurry Up & Wait (2005)
  • I Predict a Riot (2007)
  • Conscious Porn (2010)
  • Ishe + Hezekiah Project (2011) (with Ishe)
  • The Crow (2012) (with Tone Whitfield, as Johnny Popcorn)
  • Summer in Vienna (2014) (with DJ Buzz, Mystic, and Dave Ghetto, as This, That & the 3rd)
  • Dreams Don't Chase Themselves (2015)

EPs

  • Hezekiah and Tone Whitfield Are: Johnny Popcorn (2010) (with Tone Whitfield, as Johnny Popcorn)
  • 19720 (2016)

Singles

  • "The Zip" b/w "Insecure" (1997)
  • "Is It Just Music?" (2001)
  • "Gypsy Slang" (2003)
  • "Soul Music" (2005)
  • "Next Episode" (2013) (with Tone Whitfield, as Johnny Popcorn)
  • ”Secret" (2013) (with Tone Whitfield, as Johnny Popcorn)
  • "Go People" (2013)
  • "Can I Live?" (2014)
  • "Hologram Dreams" (2015)

Guest appearances

  • Random - "Don't Let Me Die" from The Call (2006)
  • Waxolutionists - "Dance with Me" and "Feet Don't Fail Me" from We Paint Colors (2009)
  • Eric Roberson - "Male Ego" from Mister Nice Guy (2011)
  • JR & PH7 - "Poppin' Fly" from The Good Life (2012)
  • Trek Life - "Beautiful People" from Hometown Foreigner (2013)

Productions

  • Grand Agent - "The Jig Is Up" and "Unite" from Fish Outta Water: The Remixes (2003)
  • J-Live - "Fire Water" from The Hear After (2005)
  • Akrobatik - "Step It Up" from Absolute Value (2008)
  • Range Da Messenga - Battle Cry EP (2013)
  • Akrobatik - "Stop and Stare" from Built to Last (2014)

References

  1. ↑ http://www.thecouchsessions.com/2013/01/interview-illmind/
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  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ http://firstpersondocumentary.org/wp-content/uploads/FirstPerson_EPK_March08.pdf
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Further reading

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External links

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