Gak Jonze

Gak Jonze
Background information
Birth name Micah Lei
Born (1982-06-17) 17 June 1982
Camden Town, London, England
Genres Hip hop, R&B
Years active 1998–present
Labels Mykali Records
Associated acts Bradley McIntosh, Alonestar, Mutya Buena, Anton Gordon, Big Brovaz, Surianne
Website Official website

Micah Lei (born 17 June 1982), better known by the stage name Gak Jonze, is an English rapper. He released his debut album, Intelligent Mess , in 2013, through his own label Mykali Records. He has self funded his own solo tour in United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, and Thailand, and is currently working on his follow up album touring on his current tour in China.

Early life

Jonze was born Mi`cah Lei in Camden Town, North London, as the youngest of six to single mother of Jamaican descent. His parents separated when Jonze was one year old. Though born and raised in the United Kingdom he moved around regularly, switching schools, and had lived in Spanish Town, Jamaica early in his teens, before moving to Tottenham, London, and later finished school at Northumberland Park Community School

His stage name pronounced 'Jack Jones' comes from an old cockney rhyming slang, meaning 'on your own', November 8, 2013 Jonze stated to Wolverhampton’s Wolf FM that the name also came from being a bit of a recluse at school. "I was always out on a mission making beats and writing and my peers would mock me, they couldn’t see it so left them to it and did my own thing.” He cites Jimi Hendrix, Cee-lo Green, Tupac, The Rolling Stones, Busta Rhymes and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony as musical influences.[9]

Career

2003-2006: First appearance

Gak Jonze first emerged as a feature hip hop artist supporting girlband Cherry Falls doing school tours in 2003 on indie labe Paperdoll Productions. July 2006 was Gak Jonze's first television appearance where he featured alongside stand-up comedian and presenter Dave Gorman for ITV2 show Best Man's Speech.

2009-2011: City Boy Soul

In June 2009, Gak Jonze collaborated with Coreé Richards forming the duo band City Boy Soul. Releases included "No Regrets (Who We Are)" and "Be Ok" which featured Mutya Buena. In 2010 they stepped in for Sister Sledge headlining The 2010 Ndoro Children's Charity Gala, whilst being twice nominated for The People's Music Award. The duo toured throughout the UK between 2009-11 covering nightclubs, schools and cross genre live circuit venues. They made an exclusive appearance at Party in the Park and again on Lava TV (Now Greatest Hits TV) as celebrity guest's in a Celebrity Ghost Hunt for Gorezone Magazine.

The duo disbanded in 2011, with both following solo paths.

Commercial breakthrough

With a supporting feature by Bradley McIntosh aka 'Citi Boi', Gak Jonze released his debut single "Rock Boi" via Mykali Records. Jonze and McIntosh are still friends and continue to write and collaborate on projects. On 6 May 2013, Jonze collaborated with DJ Urban to release his second studio single, "My Party". It got picked up by Zoe McNulty and was placed internationally as the official song of her 'Zumba Workout Campaign' for 2013. On 17 June, Jonze announced the release of his debut studio album Intelligent Mess.

2012-present: Intelligent Mess Tour

With international success from his debut album, Jonze decided to fund his own international solo tour in 2013, and has performed various stages in and around Oman, Abu Dhabi. Bahrain, Dubai, Thailand, Australia and China, where he is writing his follow up album. On 12 June 2014, Jonze announced that he had been writing and collaborating with Basshunter for a song on his album and dropped hints it would be a late 2015 release. On 23 November 2014, Jonze announced he will be in collaboration with Alonestar on a couple of tracks for the new album.

Jonze has currently just returned from touring his latest material in China.

Discography

Album appearances
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Winners" 1998 Heavenli Abdi Heavenli Abdi
"Party on Till Daylight" 1999 Taj E Da Kameallion EP
"No Regrets (who we are)" 2010 City Boy Soul City Boy Soul EP
"Be Ok" 2011 Mutya Buena City Boy Soul EP
"Way it's Gotta Be" 2003 Cherry Falls Da Kameallion EP
"What's Your Name?" 2011 Bradley McIntosh Citi Boi

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2011 Be Ok Gak Jonze Main role
2011 Rock Boi Gak Jonze Main role
2011 Fried Rice Voice Of 'Agent Charles Knight' Australian Animated Movie
2006 Best Mans Speech Gak Jonze ITV2 Reality Show
2012 The Mad Bad Ad Show Gak Jonze Television Sketch
2000 Celebrity Ghost Hunt Gak Jonze Reality Television
Films
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Fried Rice:The Movie Voice Of 'Agent Charles Knight' Australian Animated Television film

References

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