Jacob Perez facts for kids

Jacob Anthony Perez (born April 21, 1996), who is known by his stage name Princeton Perez, is an American singer, dancer, and actor. He grew up in Downey, California, which is near Los Angeles.

Perez started his career as a child actor. He appeared in commercials for big companies like Nike, McDonald's, and Skechers. He became famous as a member of the popular boy band Mindless Behavior. He was in the group from 2008 until it ended in 2017.

Life and Career

Getting Started in Entertainment

Perez's career began when he was still a kid. In 2006, he was featured in two music videos for the band Gym Class Heroes. In the video for "Shoot Down the Stars," he played a younger version of the singer Travie McCoy who was being bullied. In "Cupid's Chokehold," he played a young Cupid.

When he was 11, Perez appeared in TV commercials for Skechers, McDonald's, and Nike. These jobs helped him become more known in the entertainment world. He also worked with famous choreographers (dance teachers) like Dave Scott.

Mindless Behavior and Rise to Fame

The boy band Mindless Behavior was formed by music producers who were looking for talented young performers. Dave Scott, who had worked with Perez before, suggested that he should try out for the group. Perez auditioned and was the very first member chosen for the band. He was given the nickname "Princeton" because he knew a lot about different kinds of music.

The group spent two years practicing and creating their unique sound and style. They performed at schools and made YouTube videos to connect with their fans. Soon, they were signed by Interscope Records.

Mindless Behavior became very successful. They toured with famous artists like The Backstreet Boys, Jason Derulo, and Justin Bieber. They were also an opening act for Janet Jackson. The group often appeared on the popular TV show 106 & Park. They even performed at the White House three times, becoming the first African-American boy band to do so.

In 2012, the group had their own headlining tour called the "No. 1 Girl" tour. While on tour, they visited the Ronald McDonald House to spend time with young patients with cancer. In 2013, they released their second album, All Around The World, and went on another tour.

Changes in the Group

Perez in 2016, attending a photoshoot for his 20th birthday

After a few years, some members of Mindless Behavior left the group. For a while, the band continued to perform with new members. During this time, Perez also worked on his own music. He released a song called "Don't Believe in Love" on SoundCloud, which was very popular.

Eventually, Perez was the only original member left from when the band first started in 2008. The group released one final album in 2016 called #OfficialMBMusic. They also filmed a movie called Misguided Behavior.

The group planned a new tour, but it was later cancelled. In 2017, Perez announced that Mindless Behavior had officially broken up. He explained that the members wanted to work on their own solo projects.

Solo Career and Recent Work

After Mindless Behavior ended, Perez began his solo career. He was featured on the cover of several magazines, including 360 Magazine and Obvious Magazine.

In 2017, the city of Las Vegas honored Perez, along with his former bandmate Elijah Johnson and singer Diamond White. The city declared May 30 as a special day to recognize their positive contributions. Perez also hosted the Teen Summit panel at the BET Experience.

Perez released his first official solo single, "Perfect World," in 2019. He followed it up with a Christmas EP called Christmas in Malibu. In 2020, his song "Chew It Up" became popular on the social media app TikTok. In 2023, he released a new single in Spanish called "Suelo."

Style and Influences

Perez has said that his style is inspired by many famous artists. These include John Lennon, Prince, Michael Jackson, and David Bowie. He is also influenced by rock bands like Nirvana and The Misfits.

His fashion sense is known for being unique and creative. He often mixes different styles, like punk-rock and 1970s hippie fashion.

Advocacy

Princeton is a strong supporter of animal rights. He has worked with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to help stop the mistreatment of animals. In 2015, he and the actress Zendaya won PETA's Hottest Vegetarian Celebrities contest.

Filmography

Tours