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Introducing Johnaa'
In the Historic section of Maryland's, Prince Georges County lives a
very lovely talented performer named Johnaa' A. Spruill.

Spruill, currently living in Greenbelt, MD
was raised Kinston, North Carolina. "Johnaa'" both her
birth name and the name she performs under is known to be a
lyricist/singer. According to Johnaa', her mother, father, cousin Tanya, cousin Nashonie (also Her manager),
and a host of other friends including Reggie, Cassandra, Casie, Troy and
Duke were the people who supported her
the most with her unique style and use of her talent. Spruill says
the start of her rap career came when friends told her the poems she
wrote could be flipped into inspirational songs. Johnaa' described
as a down to earth girl who likes to spend a lot of time with her family,
says she likes hanging out and horseback riding.
Spruill known for recording her own hooks and rap
versuses says her career was influenced by such artist as Winton
Marcellus, Michael Jackson, R.Kelly, Biggie, Tupac, Scarface, Rah Digga,
Queen Latifah, Eve, and all the other women rappers who in her own words
"are doing their thing
out there". According to Johnaa' all of her songs topics are
from her own personal experiences and things that have happened to a friend
or family member. Her songs speak about a women's everyday life. She
likes her lyrics to spark thought in people. Spruill says "I don't
talk about things that happen in the ghetto because I never grew up in the
ghetto. I do not talk about things that I did not
experience".
Johnaa' began her career three years ago by joining an
all-male urban hip-hop group known as capital punishment. In December of
1997, Johnaa' won 1st place in an audition for "Tour de France",
an international hip-hop show in Paris, France, there she performed with
recording artist Tonya Blunt. Other venues she has performed include the
Lincoln Theatre, numerous talent shows, and with DC go-go bands and local
open mics.
She has also been featured in several hip-hop
competitions and local video music cable productions. Recently she
performed as one of 5 semi-finalists in the Pantene Pro-Voice Competition held in Central Park,
New York City. Currently performing as a featured artist with a
Crossover Band at Club Elite & Restaurant in Fort Washington,
Maryland, Spruill says before a show she uses prayer as a
motivation.
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She also spends time listening to Tupac or Go-Go in
preparation for a performance. According to Spruill "this gets rid of the
goose bumps". Johnaa' not wanting to be labeled as just another singer or
lyricist also displays her talent with the piano, guitar, clarinet, as well as
dance. When it comes to employment, most employers can not understand the time
and effort she dedicates to her material and assuring its
perfection. Currently she is focusing on finishing an album. She is
expecting to "drop her album" in either March or April. The
Album entitled "Gemini-My Tales of Heaven and Hell",
will be very inspirational. One song to look out for on the album
"Evil Twin" depicts spiritual battles going back and
forth. Like all of her songs, the songs on the album have to do with
her experiences in relation to everyday life, seen from a female
perspective. Johnaa' expresses theories and ideas about love, hope,
struggles, and pain are personified through her rough-edged,
metaphorical lyrics, while constantly maintaining her femininity. Another
song to look forward to entitled "Sometimes" focuses on a
once suicidal stage that she went through in the past. Johnaa' who
can also "freestyle", says she prefers to write her songs down
because the message is much stronger and she has more
time to put her all into it. The style of dress used by Johnaa' when
performing is described as more of a
hip-hop style instead of sexually explicit, because she wants people to
focus on her message rather than what she has on. She says when her music
is finally released she wants "listeners to take in nothing but
the truth". URSCENE Entertainment intends to be there to help Johnaa'
boost her career and burst onto the scene with a new name to be added to
the hip-hop legends.
Story By Larry Powell
If you would like to book a performance
by Johnaa' Contact:
Nashonie Wenzell
Pumpkin Seed Entertainment
301-220-0831
Nashonie@hotmail.com or Pumpkinseedentertainment@hotmail.com
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