Jhonny Awol story begins in the city Cali Colombia in the barrio Obrero. As a kid he was always dreaming about New York knowing knowing one day he makes it here. He was influenced by the early pioneers on this rap Gender such as; Run DMC, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane and Rakim the God Allah. Since his rap style and way of rapping is in Spanish he admits he looked up onto VICO-C a rapper from Puerto Rico.
In the early 90’s one of his friends Jimmy Swag had already started spitting some rhymes and writing some music. One day he asked Johnny to spit something and Johnny Awol was not ready at that time. Until a few years later Jimmy Swag had started a rap group called “The All Star Squad” they started selling mixtapes on cassettes and their music was dope. Soon after Awol had met Cripples and influenced two brothers who had skills rapping alongside some of their friends who also spitted rhymes they decided to form the group “HI-SPANICZ” and Jhonny Awol was part of it just a manager or one of the members. It was during this time that started to write rhymes in Spanish with his unique style unknown to any other Spanish rap artist.
The name Johnny Awol was given to me his former partner from Hi-Spanicz Cripples and since then Awol has kept his name.. Later on he met Reazon the Rich Pauper and he had formed a group that went by the name of “Urban Universal Soldiers” they did a joint together and instantly Johnny Awol became part of the Soldiers. Jhonny Awol was separated from HI-SPANCIZ and lost contact with Mr. Reazon. After that he spent a few years in College and work. He always rep Green Hell which represented the city of Cali soccer team because they wear Green. So he started repping Green Hell. Johnny Awol and hi Boy Problem$ started hitting the studio at Jimmy Swags and brought Franco Demente to join them. It was a matter of time until they started screaming GREEN HELL in their music and started recording so many songs they had enough for 3 albums.
All recorded at BQSTUDIOS and with the expertise as engineer and producer for over a decade of Jimmy Swag. They had a great time with the recording and made some good songs. A few years after Green Hell grew apart and Johnny Awol kept the movement alive by recording as a solo artist but putting out mixtapes with his solo songs and the ones they did as Green Hell together. He dropped the Ultra mix mixtape in 2009 hardcopies were given away for free in Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. Followed by the Ultra Mix part 2 in 2011 which hardcopies reach the Miami and Florida area. It was mostly an ending part of his recording career when suddenly Profit who lived in the same neighborhood in Queens where he grew up contacted Awol because he also making music and had heard Johnny’s mixtapes and it was suddenly like that Awol was into rap.
He started working with Profit and in six months they put out a fire mixtape that was called “DEADLY HELL” 2012 Profit was putting together his camp that went by the name of Deadly Musical Records and Green Hell combined as one for this album. Johnny Awol became Deadly musical records alongside, Smiledini (battle rapper) and CJ-Prince both with the nattiest lyrics ever. Of course Profit is the head of the group and also the producer. In 2014 awol dropped The Ultra Mix part III Planet Awol to call it the trilogy of his mixtapes he had other underground artists and it was an awesome job put together. Hardcopies of this mixtape was given away for free in Colombia in cities like Medellin, Cali and Cartagena. At this moment of his life Jhonny Awol is still working on music and also working on an album and also The Ultra Mix part 4.
He has recorded many videos for his songs and they are all available in YouTube. One can say Jhonny Awol style of writing is dark and also brings light. He raps about everything from sports, to life all the way to love and hate. He can also spit hardcore rhymes sometimes but nevertheless is never him speaking or doing this things is just his lyrics. In his new material there’s a lot of new stuff including singing and screaming a little bit more. He can’t stop rap as long as he still can rock. In 2016 he promises to bring nothing but the best in music.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Jhonny Awol: I was born in Cali, Colombia relocated to Brooklyn New York at a young age. The love for art of HIP-HOP was what made me become an artist, as a kid I grew up watching video music box with my friends… I was infatuated with that lifestyle of music now I am part of it. Playing my part in the scene.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Jhonny Awol: The name Jhonny Awol was given to me by my former group partner Cripples. The reason why he came up with that idea was because I was the type of person that never said goodbye! One minute I was there the next minute I was gone. Absent without Leave. The funny story was how my brother changed the spelling of Johnny to jhonny. My brother bought me a jersey and the spelling was wrong… and I thought that’s cool so I changed the spelling and stuck with it Jhonny Awol.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Jhonny Awol: I think music sharing is one of the best ways to get your talent exposed. Networking with other artists is always a way to get audience. My music is for the listeners and I have given out hardcopies away for free not only in New York but also in different parts of the world such as; Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ecuador, Miami Florida, and the Dominican Republic. My latino people need to embrace my music so the mixtapes I make is for them…
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Jhonny Awol: Since we find ourselves in the time of digital age, one of the best ways to find gigs or airplay is on social media. Start a following on Twitter or create a Reverbnation and Soundcloud accounts can be the right tools to get your music out to the world.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Jhonny Awol: My music inspiration comes from the beat I feel like the when I hear the beat it talks to me. My writing process takes days of me listening to the beat time after time while I’m riding the train even while I’m on the shower I start writing and creating ideas in my mind. Once this process is done I sit down when I feel is the right moment and start composing the song.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Jhonny Awol: I don’t have a band website at the moment. But if you want to listen to a different flavor of RAP or HIP-HOP music all you have to do is visit my Soundcloud and Reverbnation platforms. See links below:
SOUNDCLOUD:
https://soundcloud.com/spanish-rap-master
REVERBNATION:
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Jhonny Awol: If I was given that amount of money I would first send money to fix the Church and open a community center and a recreational park for the youth in the neighborhood in Cali where I come from. With the rest of the money invest in a recording studio. I would that year off to go traveling with my family you know what I’m saying.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Jhonny Awol: Sharing your music on social media such as; Face book, Twitter and specially using #Hashtag is one of the best backgrounds to promote your music. I Build relationships with my fans they give me opinions some even brainstorm with me for new ideas and songs, Social medias help but the old word of mouth still helps me with my promoting too..
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Jhonny Awol: I find myself working on an album title “Sinfonia Musical La Gran Promesa” at the moment with original beats produced by: Sir Edit Block, Mister KA and Profit. I’m also working on the 4th mixtape for the ULTRA MIX sequence title “The Green Inferno” featuring other artists.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Jhonny Awol: If I wasn’t doing music I will be doing paintings I love to paint. Is another way to express myself.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Jhonny Awol: I have to cope with my other responsibilities while I keep creating more music it comes with the territory.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Jhonny Awol: In 2016 I will give it my best you are looking forward for more music more videos and plenty of singing and screaming, lol.