Every rapper has a humble beginnings, but for Jon Connor, such is a way of life when you hail from not only one of the most poorest states in Michigan, as well as one of its more desolate areas of Flint.
The struggle to rise up from underneath dire situations makes the rewards that much greater and 2014 should mean the best of the best for the Unconscious State MC. After countless mixtape and street album releases, the grind paid off in full when he signed to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath imprint and performed at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards–without compromising his artistry which consists of mostly true-to-life raw raps.
Like every star who makes it out of a small town, a homecoming is mandatory and Jon Connor (real name Jon Freeman II), gave his people some holiday cheer this past Christmas with a hometown concert. MLive were on hand to cover the event. Here’s some excerpts from the post.
Connor returned to Flint for the holiday season for the first time since then. In the time he was gone, he inked a record deal with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, becoming labelmates with rap legends Eminem and 50 Cent; moved to Burbank, Calif.; and performed on TV for a nationwide audience at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards.
In the words of his 2012 single “No Thrillz” – “I’m from a city where, we can’t even make a living/now picture this, I’m in the position to make a million.”
The first people to see the “new” Jon Connor were White and his Electric Circus bandmates. Fresh off of a six-hour flight, Connor joined the group for a five-hour rehearsal at Encore to prepare for a homecoming concert Dec. 22.
To family and friends, Connor — whose real name is Jon Freeman II — is the same “Ducie” they remember. Ducie is from the “II” at the end of his name.
But the people he made music with in Flint can see a big difference in Connor.
Read the rest over at MLive.com
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Photo: Zack Wittman, MLive.com
