Gak Jonze facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gak Jonze
Background information
Birth name	Micah Lei
Born	(1982-06-17) 17 June 1982 (age 43) Camden Town, London, England
Genres	Hip hop, R&B
Occupation(s)	Rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record label owner
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Mykali Records, Bllr Lfë
Associated acts	Bradley McIntosh, Alonestar, Mutya Buena, Anton Gordon, Big Brovaz, Surianne

Gak Jonze, whose real name is Micah Lei, is a cool English rapper. He was born on June 17, 1982. In 2013, he released his first album, Intelligent Mess, on his very own music label called Mykali Records. Gak Jonze has even paid for his own tours around the world! He's performed in places like the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Thailand, and China. He lives in Dubai now, where he performs live and creates new music.

Gak Jonze's Early Life and Inspiration

Gak Jonze, born Mi'cah Lei, grew up in Camden Town, North London. He was the youngest of six children. His parents separated when he was just one year old. Even though he was born in the UK, he moved around a lot. He lived in Spanish Town, Jamaica, for a while when he was a teenager. Later, he moved back to Tottenham, London, and finished school at Northumberland Park Community School.

How Gak Jonze Got His Name

His stage name, Gak Jonze, sounds like 'Jack Jones'. It comes from an old saying in London, meaning 'on your own'. In 2013, Gak Jonze explained that the name also fit because he was a bit of a loner in school. He said, "I was always out on a mission making beats and writing." Other kids didn't understand his passion, so he just focused on his own music.

Who Inspired Gak Jonze's Music?

Gak Jonze looks up to many different artists. His musical heroes include Jimi Hendrix, Cee-lo Green, Tupac, The Rolling Stones, Busta Rhymes, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. These artists helped shape his unique sound.

Gak Jonze's Music Journey

Gak Jonze started his music career in 2003. He first appeared as a hip hop artist, performing with a girlband called Cherry Falls. They toured schools, which was a great way to get started! In 2006, Gak Jonze made his first TV appearance. He was on an ITV2 show called Best Man's Speech with comedian Dave Gorman.

City Boy Soul: A Musical Duo

In 2009, Gak Jonze teamed up with Coreé Richards. They formed a duo called City Boy Soul. They released songs like "No Regrets (Who We Are)" and "Be Ok," which featured Mutya Buena. In 2010, they even filled in for the famous group Sister Sledge at a charity gala for children. City Boy Soul was nominated twice for The People's Music Award.

The duo toured all over the UK from 2009 to 2011. They performed in nightclubs, schools, and various live music venues. They even made a special appearance at Party in the Park. They also appeared on Lava TV (now Greatest Hits TV) as celebrity guests for a "Celebrity Ghost Hunt" show. The duo decided to go their separate ways in 2011, both choosing to focus on their solo music.

Breaking Through with Solo Music

Gak Jonze released his first solo song, "Rock Boi," with help from Bradley McIntosh (also known as 'Citi Boi'). They are still good friends and often work on music together. In 2013, Gak Jonze released his second song, "My Party," with DJ Urban. This song became the official track for Zoe McNulty's 'Zumba Workout Campaign' around the world!

On June 17, 2013, Gak Jonze announced his first album, Intelligent Mess.

Touring the World with Intelligent Mess

After his album became popular internationally, Gak Jonze decided to fund his own world tour in 2013. He performed in many places, including Oman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Thailand, Australia, and China. He is currently writing his next album while traveling. In 2014, Gak Jonze shared that he was working with Basshunter on a song for his upcoming album. He also mentioned that he was collaborating with Alonestar on a few tracks. Gak Jonze has recently returned from touring his newest songs in China.

Gak Jonze's Music Releases

Here are some of the songs Gak Jonze has been a part of:

Gak Jonze on Screen

Gak Jonze has also appeared in various TV shows and films.