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EJ Jackson, better known as R.A.W. to the Hip Hop community, was born and raised in Northern Virginia. Although a performer most of his life, R.A.W. has recently realized that pursuing a career as a recording artist in one of the greatest genres of music, Hip Hop is his ultimate goal. R.A.W recorded his first song in 1994 after another Virginian MC heard him freestyle outside of his high school and invited him to join a collaboration effort of four groups called Children of the K.O.R.N. Over the next two years he was in and out of the studio recording various songs, writing and performing at local venues while maintaining his athletic and academic responsibilities. By 1996 he opted to step away from the music or, as he puts it, “think realistically”, and focus on obtaining his Bachelors of Science in accounting.
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In 2000 R.A.W. finally realized he had some unfinished business with music. The desire to perform and compose never dwindled so he began writing and trying to find producers to network with. He opted to stay in the Hampton Roads area as opposed to returning to his native region due to the potential that the area has to offer. “Artists in the DC Metro don’t get any love from the industry but down here you got Missy, Timbo, those Clipse cats and even Teddy Riley. I just pray I can do what they did and not only take it back home but blow the state up as a whole. That’s my dream!”(R.A.W. August 2003). After a chance meeting with Pharrel Williams at Lagoons Nightclub in 2002, the renowned producer gave R.A.W. the fuel to maintain. He also offered the young artist two words to live by, “Stay humble”.
Since then R.A.W. has been “on the grind”. R.A.W. met two other artists, WhoKnowz and Gambino Slim, and they formed the group Underground Alliance. All three gentlemen focus on their solo projects while simultaneously collaborating on the forthcoming Underground Alliance album. Through group and solo appearances R.A.W. has performed at a variety of talent shows in Hampton Roads, The Virginia House of Comedy, Abilene Nightclub in Philadelphia, Hampton University and featured on WhoKnowz’ and Nikki Soprano’s soon to be released albums.
R.A.W. is often compared to a few of his idols, Ludacris, Method Man and Eminem. He possesses the ability to integrate punch lines, hooks, and storytelling into a finished product without the monotony that is prevalent in today’s Hip Hop. Ladies and gentlemen, we at OVERDOSE ENTERTAINMENT present: R.A.W.
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