Highlights of CTR2, Part 7: The Sunspot Team

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on two of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe. This is the final entry of the Highlights of CTR2 series.

This was the only way I was going to end this series. There wouldn't have been a Check The Recipe at all if it hadn't been for the time and experience I've had studying, learning, and observing how these guys work; how they approach writing a song, deciding how to deliver, which lyrics would be best used and when. As I explained in a previous post, after years of gladly producing and working behind the scenes for mixtapes and albums, I had the idea of putting something out there that I could call my own. After the success the first Check The Recipe, I was already set to work on the second chapter of the series

J-Dub was an integral part of the creation of the Elite Eight and helped to dictate the initial idea of Still Raw. Runna lent his vocal energy to the songs "Lost Thoughts" and "Go Get Her," which was, originally, one of the very first beats I wanted as part of Check The Recipe 2. Runna also contributed in the sultry "Thinking About You," a self-contained story of a couple attempting to rekindle the heat in their relationship.

Thright Hook, known at the time of the release as Right Hook, was a major element in the creation of CTR 2. Hook was instrumental in developing the feel and pacing of the project. He also made a footprint on the vocal side of things, as he collaborated with many different artists, as well as writing his own song with a dancehall/reggaeton flavor entitled "My Way, Your Way." During the making of the mixtape album, C.Luk was working on the promotion of his release, "The Dead C Scrolls: Manuscript One." The vocal stylings from Check the Recipe 2 and creativity of the sounds helped the Mic Controller make his decision to start a live band, along with The Chef, an easier one. Shortly after the release of CTR 2, the gears were already in motion for the creation of Sunspot's live band: Not Sure Community.

Highlights of CTR2, Part 6: Caleb & Chyna

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on some of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

Chyna appeared on CTR 2 on Still Raw, holding her own as the only female emcee on the song. Chyna brings a style that's allows her to bring more of a hardcore style to her delivery, while still being able to use wordplay in a clever way. I've had the privilege of working with Chyna while she was still developing and discovering what her sound was, as she worked on mixtapes and other hip-hop projects.

Many of you know Caleb from the music group Fame or Juliet. The group has taken the underground hip-hop world and turned it upside down with the meaningful messages and eclectic rhythms in their music. Caleb made two appearances on CTR 2. He was featured on Still Raw as a part of the Elite Eight, along with Chyna. Caleb also released a track, a duet with Thright Hook, entitled Pot of Gold, which also saw a collaboration with Seth Chaos and I on the production side of things.

Both Chyna and Caleb have been featured on BET's 106 & Park; Chyna, as a participant of the Freestyle Friday rap battles, and Caleb, with Fame or Juliet, on the Wild Out Wednesday talent competition. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside both acts, and hope to do so again in the future.

Highlights of CTR2, Part 5: The In$idaz, Shizz, A-Class

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on some of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

The In$idaz are a rap duo from Lynn MA. They're making their name known in the hip-hop community with beats to make you dance and a back-and-forth rap style that makes any groove they ride THAT much more infectious. The In$idaz influence was felt in both installments of the CTR series. You can hear them together on the high-energy song "How We Party" on CTR2.

Shizz made his impact felt on CTR 2 with Still Raw, which features seven other emcees (collectively known on the track as the Elite Eight). This talented lyricist brings a smooth delivery to his approach, yet he still accentuates the energy of the beat. I thought that this quality made him unique and, therefore, a perfect candidate to blend with the Elite Eight.

A-Class is a classic example of the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Hailing from Salem, MA, Class first linked up with Sunspot Productions on the One Night Stand project, featuring on Right Hook's "Mamacita." The positive feedback from that song led to a second team up between the two performers, which is how "IDK" was created. Here's hoping for future collaborations between Right Hook and A-Class!

Highlights of CTR2, Part 4: Ebbony Davis & POES

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on two of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

At just over 18 years old, Ebbony Davis, who sings Air to Breathe on CTR2, has proven that she is a youth with ambition. She first began recording songs under the tutelage of G. Jonz and Thright Hook about 7 years ago, but she's been singing since she could talk. Since then, Ebbony has been honing her craft with voice lessons and has become a more well-rounded entertainer by joining Runna's ITM Step Squad. As of this writing, she has already sung with one of Berklee College's Music Groups at Boston's former Mayor Menino's retirement party. Below is footage of Ebbony with others on the first of Berklee's "Corner Spot" video-bio series.

The man known as POES (People Only Envy Strength) has worked with Sunspot for years. He first made waves with the Sunspot team by performing on the first Check the Recipe project, blessing us with lyricism for "You Like It" and "Huntin For The Game". Later, he impressed the masses again with his production skills by composing 8 out of 13 songs on One Night Stand, Sunspot's first R&B/pop album. Since moving to New York, POES has not slowed down as he has linked up with Perfect Connect and other notable names in the music industry. While in New York, he was still able to help out G. Jonz by laying down lyrics to the CTR2 song, "Nobody Has To Know". He's a talent who won't let anything stop him from his goals. Below, POES takes a Moment to Speak in the heart of the city.

Highlights of CTR2, Part 3: HNL & Seth Chaos

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on two of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

Seth Chaos is a major name in the underground music scene in the Boston area. You've heard of the Six Degrees of Separation theory, right? Well, it'd be very rare for you to find someone in the Boston underground hip-hop scene who hasn't heard of Chaos. He's been working on music since the 90s and is involved in nearly all aspects of music peoduction. Rapping, vocals, DJing, filming - Seth Chaos is a man that wears many hats.

HNL has been under the learning tree of music production for years, honing his craft and coming up many different R&B beats. His earliest beat that has been released can be heard on the One Night Stand album on the track, "Comfortable". Since then, the quick study that is HNL has also lent a hand in producing the Intro track for CTR2 and single-handedly composed the beat for "Take A Walk" from the Morning After album, featuring the voices of Runna, G. Jonz and J-Dub.

Highlights of CTR2, Part 2: Ladii Goddiva & Balan Braxton

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on two of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

Ladii Goddiva wears many hats. Not only is she a lyricist, but her catalog spans a long list of achievements. Born in Dorchester MA, Goddiva has written artist biographies for up and comers around her. She has also started the Ladii Diva Team, an all-female street team that cater to different events and needs in the Boston area. This female emcee can spit on any kind of beat and plays different instruments, making her one of the more well-rounded talents on Check the Recipe 2.

Networking is a major strength of Ladii Goddiva, as well as Balan. Ladii Goddiva linked up with G. Jonz because Balan was the mutual acquaintance for the three.

Balan, or Ξәƞῼβλα (zen-OH-bee-ah), is a multi-talented singer who has the distinction of being featured on Check the Recipe 2 more than anyone else. She is a musician-professional singer who writes screenplays in her spare time. She plans to put them into action through the making of machinima films & comic strips. Miss Braxton is a beacon of creativity and ingenuity, which is demonstrated in all her creative outlets. Whenever you press play on one of her songs, you will immediately be drawn in by the power of her voice. Balan is currently working on her own music project.

Here is a song featuring both of these musically-moving women: You're All I Need

Highlights of CTR2, Part 1: Walnut & Mara Bettencourt

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on two of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

From left to right: Walnut, G. Jonz and Blak C admiring the beauty of Mara Bettencourt.

Walnut is a veteran in hip-hop culture. For over 20 years, Da Lyrical Geni has solidified in his name in the Boston area as one of the most diverse and conscious lyricists to ever hold a mic. CTR2 isn't the first time that Walnut and Sunspot have crossed paths. Walnut made an appearance in C.Luk's Extradimensional album as well as the critcally-acclaimed short film, "Captain Asian America." G. Jonz and C.Luk also lent a hand in producing two songs ("Next On the Mic" and "You Need to Stop") from Walnut's 2011 release - "Love Is In Your Face." C.Luk performs on "Next On the Mic" along with Big Brotha Sadi and Zullo Crew.

During the calendar year, Walnut hosts a series of Community Building parties where artists of all genres come together and promote positivity, have jam sessions, and generally have a good time. This is how G. Jonz met the vocalist/musican/songwriter Mara Bettencourt.

The Chef brought up the idea of making a second mixtape and explained that he wanted to expand his skills as a producer and delve into pop. Bettencourt agreed to help with this and stated that she wanted a sound that would be reminiscent of a "celestial" dance pop sound. About a week later, the beat was brought to Mara and the aural artist of Azores went to work on creating the lyrics. Soon, Love At First Sight was created and was instrumental (ha.) in leading the pop sound on CTR2. Mara's newest CD is scheduled for release sometime in January 2013.

You can listen to Walnut and Mara and get free downloads right now! Keep checking for updates as I highlight the remaining 16 voices of Check The Recipe 2!

Sunspot Discography, Part 6: Hood Certified

This is Part 6 of the Sunspot Discography series. I'll be posting a short summary about every album and mixtape that's been released under Sunspot Productions. To read every entry, check the sidebar labeled "Discography."

August 20, 2010

"Hood Certified" is C.Luk's latest mixtape. This was his second mixtape while living out in Philly, so his time there had to be evident in his songs. It starts off by Luk checking his voice mail, hearing well wishes from Fat Joe, Maino, Cassidy, Mario and Chubb Rock, and Michael Bivins from Bell Biv Devoe/New Edition among others who have tasted success in the entertainment industry.

The man formerly known as the "Asian Vin Diesel" always shows his personality while flaunting his lyrical skill. Tracks like "I Wanna Rock," and "The Checklist" (produced by G. Jonz) are examples of this. Luk also deals with many serious topics such as his struggles growing up ("My Life" and "Feel the Pain 2") and the aftermath of the 2010 Haitian earthquake ("Hero").

Along with The Chef getting a production cameo on Hood Certified, P.O.E.S. also contributed by producing "This Is How We Do." That track, as well as "Luk Out," "Keep It Movin" and "Light It Up," features Right Hook. Other features includes Liva, Scarfo Live, Showfa, Rich Nice and D'Amonte.

Click here to check out the first video from Hood Certified: Born to Rhyme. (Before you go, have you seen the mixtape cover?! It looks like a circus nightmare with an apocalyptic lava storm brewing in the background!)

Get Hood Certified by clicking here and downloading the entire project for free!

Sunspot Discography, Part 5: One Night Stand

This is Part 5 of the Sunspot Discography series. I'll be posting a short summary about every album and mixtape that's been released under Sunspot Productions. To read every entry, check the sidebar labeled "Discography."


June 1, 2010

Production on "One Night Stand" started just weeks after the release of "Check The Recipe." Sunspot headed into uncharted territory as this effort would be its first completely R&B/pop album. Runna performed most of the R&B tracks while Right Hook performed most of the pop contributions.

Due to the personal & professional relationships we've built over the years, "One Night Stand" was created with help from many people. P.O.E.S. blessed the team by producing most of this album. An up-and-coming beatmaker who goes by HNL teamed up with G. Jonz to produce "Comfortable," which was performed by Runna. As far as featured vocalists go, Right Hook teamed up with Taina and Remy Redd for the slick dance jam "Come Home." Runna enlisted his lyrical cousin (J-Dub) to create the ambiant "If I Don't Have You." C.Luk, P.O.E.S., A-Class and T-Pain (yes, that T-Pain) are also heard on these respective tracks: "To Go On," "Your Body," "Mamacita," and "Everybody Else."

A few facts about "One Night Stand" that you may not have known:
A snippet of Right Hook's "Mamacita" was first heard on Check the Recipe as a prelude for the song "Just A Little Bit Closer." The beat for Runna's "Comfortable" was actually made in the summer of 2006 and was first used as a backing track for a local slide show. Finally, "Live It Up" is the only track on this album that features both Runna AND Right Hook.

Go to the Azn Wayz Bandcamp site to listen to and download One Night Stand now!

Sunspot Discography, Part 4: Check The Recipe

This is Part 4 of the Sunspot Discography series. I'll be posting a short summary about every album and mixtape that's been released under Sunspot Productions. To read every entry, check the sidebar labeled "Discography."

December 18, 2009

The thought of creating my own "album" had crossed my mind for a few years. Since I'm not a lyricist or a regular on-stage performer, I wasn't sure how to do it. I thought about some of my influences - The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland - they've all come out with mixtapes or albums. Yes, they're "household name" performers in a sense, but they are primarily known as producers. As the sole member of Sunspot who had no expectations placed upon him to put out a project, I decided to finally pull the trigger.

To start, I gathered 6 to 8 R&B and hip-hop beats and emailed them to the Sunspot team, telling them my plan for what was called my mixtape, then my album... then finally, my "mixtape album." Blak C, my brother, and J-Dub, Runna's cousin, were also asked to contribute to the project. I was obviously a little hesitant/unsure about this for a while; to make sure that I was held accountable, I let the public know that I was working on this project with 5 videos documenting the making of the album.

Halfway through the production, P.O.E.S. linked up with Sunspot and showed that he not only produces beats himself, but he's also a lyricist. P.O.E.S. illustrated his lyrical ability in "Huntin For The Game" (with J-Dub and Blak C) and "You Like It," (with Right Hook) a song in which he came up with the concept.

Ro$e Marie made her lyrical debut on the album with "Let The Beat Burn" (with Runna & Right Hook) and "We Cookin It," which featured Right Hook, Blak C, J-Dub and Quiet Storm in his only showing on the project. C.Luk also made appearances on the tracks "Raw," "Check The Recipe" and "Just A Little Bit Closer," which made its debut on the "DJ Kurt presents C.Luk" mixtape. Here's the original version of the song.

R&B and pop stylings were also added to Check The Recipe with "Turn It Up" by Runna and "Caught Red Handed" by Right Hook. Thanks to everyone who supported CTR, we received reviews from other blogs. We also put out a music video for one of the strongest singles from CTR. Shout out to Kevin's Bar & Grill in Lynn (they were very cooperative in the making of the video).

Go to the Sunspot Bandcamp site to listen to and download Check The Recipe now!

Sunspot Discography, Part 3

This is Part 3 of the Sunspot Discography series. I'll be posting a short summary about every album and mixtape that's been released under Sunspot Productions. At the end of each entry, there will be a media player where you can listen to and download selected tracks from each CD. To read every entry, check the sidebar labeled "Discography."

August 2004
Mixtape: "Opposites Attrack"

Coming off the heels of a red-hot release for "Blackface," Runna and Quiet Storm continued to make the summer of '04 even hotter with this mixtape. The name of the project obviously plays off of the phrase "opposites attract." However, the R&B crooner and the street lyricist did a little "give and take" on some of the tracks; sometimes QS gave you some hip-hop to rock to ("You Better") or on the opposite end of the spectrum, Runna would give you some R&B to groove to ("Hardly Breathe"). The entire mixtape has a "summertime-in-the-city" feel with tracks like "Caramel Lips", "Step Up (Show Me Where The Spot Is At)" and "Go" featuring C.Luk. He is featured on one other track and G. Jonz also makes a cameo.

July 2008
Album: "Extradimensional"

"Blackface" was supposed to be C.Luk's last album... HOWEVER, there was an offer on the table for a record deal. That offer didn't go over well. C.Luk explains why "Extradimensional" was created:

"Beatmart, a Christian subdivision of Warner Bros. Music (they eventually went to Sony), had offered a deal. They eventually backed out because they didn't have faith in the business side of C.Luk. True story: on "Live" ft. Right Hook, there's a line that was changed about three days before it was sent to be pressed. The current line is "Hey, C, there's a booger in your nose/ hey back up off of me dude man you lookin too close!" The original line was "Hey, C. Didn't Beatmart back out of the deal?/ Quiet man I'm in denial get that crap out of here!" The line was pulled at the request of Bobby Bishop, former Beatmart recording artist and mentor in the game, who thought that the line would unnecessarily burn bridges. If you're curious, Beatmart no longer exists."

C.Luk's fourth album includes appearances by BPC, G. Jonz, Nathan Martin, Bobby Bishop, Quiet Storm, 7:13 (formerly known as Grimm the Heatmeiser), Walnut, Alex Stoyanov, Runna, Right Hook, Miguel Urena and Howie Doo. Cover art was created by Ill Day. The lead single for the album was "Bounce Back." The music video for it can be seen here.
[Refining the Recipe (02.13.11): When I mentioned the "F Wit Us" mixtape in the Discography series, I said that it had the most features we've ever had on any project. I now realize that "Extradimensional" has that honor, with 11 features. "F Wit Us" has 8.]

May 2009
Mixtape: "DJ Kurt presents C.Luk"

Months after "Extradimensional" was released, C.Luk moved to Philadelphia where he currently resides. It was there that he entered the 1st Annual Music and Entertainment Conference held by 100.3 The Beat. This video quickly illustrates that the Happy Asian MC won the Conference and got a lot of attention. When it was over, he got new management and the decision was made to release a mixtape, hosted by Philly's DJ Kurt. The mixtape churned out bangers like "Temp," "Clap Your Hands," "I'm Like" and "Fake Rappers," which is a revamped version of "Eliminate Rappers" from Luk's last album. "Eliminate Rappers" earned C.Luk a nomination for "Song of the Year" at the 2010 Underground Music Awards in NYC.

To listen to 13 tracks from this mixtape, click here for his Soundclick link.


Four tracks have been added to the Discography playlist. Play and download them for free.
blog discography by gjonz

Sunspot Discography, Part 2

This is Part 2 of the Sunspot Discography series. I'll be posting a short summary about every album and mixtape that's been released under Sunspot Productions. At the end of each entry, there will be a media player where you can listen to and download selected tracks from each CD. To read every entry, check the sidebar labeled "Discography."

August 2003
Mixtape: "F Wit Us"

The streets showed a lot of love for the cool spot in the heat after the first 3 CDs came out. Many lyricists and artists wanted to be involved with Sunspot, so "F Wit Us" was born. As of the posting of this entry, this is the only project (mixtape or album) to begin with one of our skit characters - Pookie. Along with Sunspot staples Runna, Right Hook, C.Luk and a young Quiet Storm, "F Wit Us" also has the most features we've ever had on one project. Matayo, KG, Shogun, Big Business & Shanks represented All Day Entertainment. We also had Big Brotha Sadi, Ana, and AB (performing with Runna as Mass Appeal). [Refining the Recipe (02.13.11): After thoroughly researching, I've found that "F Wit Us" actually has the most features for a mixtape with 8 people. The "Extradimensional" album holds the record for most features on any project - 11.]

March 2004
Mixtape: "Spectacles, Volume 2: Contact Lenses"

C.Luk wanted to release his third album, but it had been almost 2 years since "HIYA!" came out. The plan? To drop the second "Spectacles" mixtape to promote the third album as well as the latest singles from the Sunspot family. This mixtape was done in a radio show format. G. Jonz was the host, playing a parody of Boston radio DJ David Allan Boucher. Many topics were addressed in "Contact Lenses" including C.Luk becoming a Christian, the reason why he called his next album Blackface, and the "rivalry" between Sunspot and another music group. Singles from Runna (R U Wit Me featuring C.Luk), Right Hook (The Ho Down) and QS (Let's Go) were also on the mixtape with interviews from them as well.

June 25, 2004
Album: "Blackface"

(PAYPAL IS SAFE AND 100% SECURE.)
"Blackface" was billed as C.Luk's retirement album, unless he achieved a higher plateau of success. At this point, the Happy Asian MC had more of a conscious flow, but with a Christian twist. The track "A Message: In" (featuring Runna) and three of the skits exhibited this. These skits revolved around Luk and actor Cristian DeJesus, who did a hilarious old man impersonation in the last skit of the album. Runna also appeared on this album with guitarist David Mancinelli on the track "We Jammin." Right Hook is featured with the songs "Asian Americans Say Hello" and "Let's Ride." The cover art was created by My Thai Phan.

Six tracks have been added to the Discography playlist. Play and download them for free.
blog discography by gjonz

Sunspot Discography, Part 1

This is Part 1 of the Sunspot Discography series. I'll be posting a short summary about every album and mixtape that's been released under Sunspot Productions. At the end of each entry, there will be a media player where you can listen to and download selected tracks from each CD. To read every entry, check the sidebar labeled "Discography."

December 2001
Album: "Uh... Yeah"


This is the one that started it all. C.Luk came onto the scene with this project that featured the songs "Dummy," "Substitute," "SKITS-O," and "Chinatown Ride and Stroll" among others. The sound was unique and had untapped potential to grow and mature. "Uh... Yeah" was also the beginning of the fan-appreciated tandem of C.Luk working with Right Hook (then known as Jah1Dah [jah-one-dah]). MACH-1 was the only other feature on this album.

November 2002
Album: "HIYA!"


Following a successful first album, C.Luk's sophomore effort had to show evolution in almost every aspect. "HIYA!" accomplished this with quality of sound, beats, song topics and even skits. This album marked the beginning of C.Luk's many run-ins with the BPC character and additionally featured "Flip" featuring Shanks (then known as Point Proven). Other features on this album include 5th Caliber ("Frustrated"), DOMINATION ("World Order, Tears"), and Right Hook ("Cambodian Love").

April 2003
Mixtape: "Spectacles"


Eager to continue building street cred, C.Luk put out his first mixtape featuring all industry beats (no original Sunspot beats). "Spectacles" really got people to notice C.Luk's lyricism. Tracks like "Street Fiends," "Something I'm Not" (featuring Right Hook) and "Why My World Is This Way" (featuring Runna) showcased the conscious side of C.Luk that would be prominent in the future. On the other side of the spectrum, tracks like "Lose Money" (featuring Runna) and "I'm C.Luk" demonstrated his sense of humor, while still being a great lyricist. This mixtape was the first time C.Luk worked with Runna and also debuted the skit characters of Pookie and the Old Man.

Four tracks have been added to the Discography playlist. Play and download them for free.
blog discography by gjonz