Gak Jonze facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gak Jonze
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Micah Lei |
| Born | 17 June 1982 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 |
Micah Lei (born on June 17, 1982), known as Gak Jonze, is an English rapper. He released his first album, Intelligent Mess, in 2013. He started his own music label, Mykali Records, to release his music. Gak Jonze has traveled the world, performing his music in places like the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Thailand, and China. He lives in Dubai, where he performs live shows and creates new music.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Gak Jonze was born Mi'cah Lei in Camden Town, North London. He was the youngest of six children. His mother was from Jamaica. His parents separated when he was one year old. Even though he grew up in the United Kingdom, 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 there.
Why the Name Gak Jonze?
His stage name, Gak Jonze, sounds like "Jack Jones." This comes from an old cockney rhyming slang phrase meaning "on your own." In 2013, Gak Jonze explained that the name also came from being a bit of a loner in school. He said he was always busy making beats and writing songs. Other kids didn't understand his passion, so he often worked by himself. He looks up to artists like Jimi Hendrix, Cee-lo Green, Tupac, The Rolling Stones, Busta Rhymes, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony for musical inspiration.
Music Career Highlights
First Steps in Music (2003–2006)
Gak Jonze started his music career as a featured hip hop artist in 2003. He supported a girlband called Cherry Falls on their school tours. His first time on television was in July 2006. He appeared with comedian Dave Gorman on the ITV2 show Best Man's Speech.
City Boy Soul Duo (2009–2011)
In June 2009, Gak Jonze teamed up with Coreé Richards. They formed a music duo called City Boy Soul. They released songs like "No Regrets (Who We Are)" and "Be Ok." The song "Be Ok" even featured Mutya Buena. In 2010, they performed at The Ndoro Children's Charity Gala. They were also nominated twice for The People's Music Award. The duo toured across the UK from 2009 to 2011, performing in nightclubs, schools, and other venues. They also made a special appearance at Party in the Park.
The duo stopped working together in 2011. Both Gak Jonze and Coreé Richards then started their own solo music careers.
Breaking Through as a Solo Artist
Gak Jonze released his first solo song, "Rock Boi," through his label Mykali Records. This song featured Bradley McIntosh, also known as 'Citi Boi'. Gak Jonze and Bradley McIntosh are still friends and work together on music projects. On May 6, 2013, Gak Jonze released his second song, "My Party," with DJ Urban. This song became the official song for Zoe McNulty's 'Zumba Workout Campaign' in 2013. On June 17, 2013, Gak Jonze announced his first album, Intelligent Mess.
International Tours and New Music (2012–Present)
After his first album became popular around the world, Gak Jonze decided to fund his own international tour in 2013. He performed in many places, including Oman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Thailand, Australia, and China. While touring in China, he started writing songs for his next album. On June 12, 2014, Gak Jonze shared that he was working with Basshunter on a song for his new album. On November 23, 2014, he also announced that he was collaborating with Alonestar on a few tracks for the new album.
Gak Jonze has recently returned from touring in China, where he performed his newest songs.
Music and Videos
Album Songs
Gak Jonze has been featured on several albums and released his own songs:
- "Winners" (1998) on Heavenli Abdi by Heavenli Abdi
- "Party on Till Daylight" (1999) on Da Kameallion EP by Taj E
- "No Regrets (who we are)" (2010) with City Boy Soul
- "Be Ok" (2011) with Mutya Buena
- "Way it's Gotta Be" (2003) with Cherry Falls
- "What's Your Name?" (2011) with Bradley McIntosh
Music Videos and TV Shows
Gak Jonze has appeared in music videos and on television:
- Be Ok (2011) - Main role as Gak Jonze
- Rock Boi (2011) - Main role as Gak Jonze
- Fried Rice (2011) - Voice of 'Agent Charles Knight' in an Australian animated movie
- Best Mans Speech (2006) - Appeared as Gak Jonze on ITV2
- The Mad Bad Ad Show (2012) - Appeared as Gak Jonze in a TV sketch
- Celebrity Ghost Hunt (2000) - Appeared as Gak Jonze in a reality TV show
Films
- Fried Rice:The Movie (2013) - Voice of 'Agent Charles Knight' in an Australian animated TV film
