Ernest Owens (born October 3, 1982) better known as Applejaxx, is a
Christian hip hop
Christian hip hop (originally gospel rap, also known as Christian rap, gospel hip hop or holy hip hop) is a subgenre of contemporary Christian music and hip hop music. It emerged from urban contemporary music and Christian media in the United S ...
artist from North Carolina.
Background
His early influences ranged from
Run DMC,
N.W.A
N.W.A (an abbreviation for Niggaz Wit Attitudes) was an American hip hop group whose members were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, and the group is widely considered ...
, and
Nas
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air ( ...
.
He grew up playing basketball and had always enjoyed hip hop. In 1997, Applejaxx started to write rhymes and freestyle.
Soon after high school, Applejaxx went on to attend Campbell University in North Carolina, where he soon met Tonéx at a concert in 2003. Owens was interviewed by the prolific rapper
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
's station
Shade 45. The name Applejaxx refers to bearing good fruit as Apple, "jaxx" comes in as "jacking" someone out of the world into the light, out to bear good fruit.
His first appearance was on gospel/pop artist
Tonéx
Anthony Charles Williams II (born May 16, 1975), better known by his stage name B. Slade, formerly known under the gospel moniker Tonéx ( ), is an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, dancer, producer, and acti ...
's album
Out The Box. The single off his first project, "Nureau Anthem", which features
T.Bizzy, was featured on HipHopDX.com. He has also collaborated with many in the Christian hip hop community, making guest appearances with artists such as DJ Morph, Gibraan, and The Washington Projects.
Album Title Issue
Applejaxx was set to release his debut album "Born Identity" out with Universal, but due to the
Bourne Identity movies by the company and Universal being concerned about consumer confusion, they told him to change the title. He then decided on "Back 2 The Future" instead.
Miscellaneous
Applejaxx is also a staff assistant at
Harvard Law
Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States.
Each class ...
in Technology & Research.
Discography
Albums
*''
Back 2 The Future'' (2009)
*''Organic'' (2012)
EPs
*''805 P.O.P.'' (2005)
*''Jesus High'' (2010)
*''Jesus High (Deluxe)'' (2011)
*''Appletizer'' (2012)
Music Videos
* 2009 - Green As Luigi
* 2010 - Future
References
{{Reflist
1982 births
Living people
American hip hop musicians
American performers of Christian music
Musicians from Fayetteville, North Carolina