On the Grind by J-Kronic

Album collaborations include artists Adrian Adel, Liv Warfield, Trafek, West Side Bugg, Kartoon and Mr. J Greene

Over the past five years, J-Kronic has built up her fan base by performing at community events, hitting up any open mike she can get her hands on and featuring on numerous mix tapes. J-Kronic is the first lady of UNSED (United Street Educators), a hip-hop crew comprised of the infamous Trash Heap, Thief Sicario and herself. She has opened up for artists such as: Gnarls Barkley, Yukmouth, The Alkoholiks, 2 Live Crew, Afroman, N2DEEP, Cool Nutz, IBU, Falling Closer and 36 Crazy Fists. J-Kronic has been a performer at Northwest legendary events like the annual Musicfest NW and Po-Hop. She has had the opportunity to perform in front of audiences from Memphis, to Oakland.

DJ OG One featured J-Kronic on his remix of “Buy U a Drank” on his most recently released mix cd. New Femcee International features J-Kronic on their website and on the highly anticipated mix cd, “Doin’ It Big.” Her music was also featured on an internationally distributed, all female mix cd, “The X-Chromosome: International Domination.” The “Licks n Tricks” Lowrider video released in December 2005 featured J-Kronic’s music. She has also been featured on the UNSED mix tapes, “80 Minutes of Filth,” and two albums from Trash Heap. Her song, “I Won’t Stop” was also “jammed” on Starchile’s Hood Radio on Jammin’ 95.5 and out into regular rotation on his show. Whether she’s shining on stage or recording in the booth, J-Kron devotes her heart and soul to her music.

J-Kronic landed a lead role in the Street2Studios musical, “Life!” performing five of her original songs in this urban, neo-soul, theatrical production presented in San Francisco and Oakland, California in 2005. In June of 2005 she performed in VOTE show, a selective Las Vegas showcasing of up and coming artists across the United States. In July 2005 the Internal Library of Poetry for outstanding achievement in poetry awarded her the Editor’s Choice Award. J-Kronic competed in the New York International Music Festival and was awarded the honor of “Best Female Hip-Hop Artist” in 2004. J-Kron also has experience hosting her own hip-hop radio show on University of Portland’s radio station KDUP1580 available worldwide via the internet.

In addition to being a dedicated performer and songwriter, J-Kronic is also engaged in other aspects of the entertainment industry. She has been featured in commercials & ads for companies like Comcast, Nike, Sprite and Intel. J-Kronic has received studio training in hip-hop, modern, ballet and jazz dance and choreographed for a local dance team as well. J-Kron has successfully met her personal goals due to her determination, raw talent and dedication. For the latest news on J-Kronic, check out www.myspace.com/jkronic.com.

Press Reviews:

Willamette Week~

Portland's hip-hop ladies own the stage at POH-Hop in hopes of sharing it in the future.

BY MARK BAUMGARTEN

Handbills for Thursday night's show might read, "The Women in Hip-Hop Showcase," but for this one night at the Ash Street, women musicians won't just play a part in the show: For the first time ever in Portland, women will be hip-hop. And that's a big deal--even the musicians didn't know there were enough female acts in town to fill an entire night's bill.

"I've seen J-Kron once, and I don't think it was even her show," says Toni Hill of Siren's Echo. "I think she was just up there freestyling with some boys. I was shocked. I was like, Wow, there's a girl. One. We got one. Can we get two? Gimme two. Two, gimme three...."

Now they've got 10, at least, who will perform for the first night of the POH-Hop local hip-hop festival. Siren's Echo headlines the affair with the support of Piece, Turiya Autry, Kay Kay, J-Kron, Sonnie, DJ Deena B, Beyonda and DJ Niz.

Every act brings a different level of experience, from J-Kron, who's still earning her chops, to Turiya Autry, who has made a name for herself nationally as a spoken-word artist. Then there's Siren's Echo, which has opened for Erykah Badu and the Roots. No matter the experience level, though, these women all have one thing in common--the guts to take it to an audience in a very male art form.

With its competitive performance styles, which include battles on stage and in street-corner syphers of freestyling rappers, hip-hop is undeniably masculine. Then there's the content, which often includes images of women as subservient playthings. While separate nights for men and women artists might seem exclusionary, the ladies of POH-Hop see it differently.

"We could get into a lot of discussions, like, what is the impact of it being a separate gender night and whatnot?" Autry says. "But there's something to creating a space where the energy is female energy, and something like that is really powerful."

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