John Kenneth Dust (born John Kenneth Dunkin: November 30, 1972), better known by the stage name Pigeon John, is an American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

based in Los Angeles, California. He is a former member of L.A. Symphony.

Early life

Pigeon John claims that his stage name was provided by Jesus who was driving around Inglewood: "He hopped out and handed me a dead pigeon. He whispered, 'Please have a good time, you're really bumming me out.' I watched him sink back into the cushioned seats and drive, quickly away. And that's when it happened, the pigeon started shaking violently and became awake, picked up and flew away. I don't think I had a choice... it was 'pigeon' or die." He later explained that he was discussing his need for a stage name with a friend when the friend suggested "Chicken John", taken from the character Chicken George in ''Roots''. The friend's mother then interjected that John didn't look like a chicken, claiming that he looked like a pigeon and should therefore be called "Pigeon John".

Career

In the early 1990s, Pigeon John and his childhood friend B-Twice formed the hip-hop duo

Brainwash Projects Brainwash Projects is a hip hop group formed by LA Symphony L.A. Symphony is an independent hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. Current members of L.A. Symphony are FLYNN (also known as Flynn Adam), UNO Mas, CookBook, Joey the Je ...

. Brainwash Projects contributed the single "Muchas Muchachas" to the Christian rap compilation "Sanktifunctafyd" released by N-Soul Records in 1995. Brainwash Projects eventually released a record titled ''The Rise and Fall of Brainwash Projects'' on the independent label Jackson Rubio.the rise and fall of the BRAINWASH PROJECTS
. Published by Jackson Rubio. Available through the

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

. One reviewer characterized ''The Rise and Fall'' as "pure, uncut, holy hip-hop" but gave mixed reviews of its beats and lyrics. Between 1997 and 2000, Pigeon John recorded the songs that became his first solo album, ''Is Clueless''. The album was released in 2001 by The Telephone Company and then re-released in 2002 by The Telephone Company/Syntax Records with three new tracks and new artwork. Pigeon John then signed to Basement Records and released ''

Is Dating Your Sister ''Is Dating Your Sister'' is the second solo album by American rapper Pigeon John. It was released on Basement Records Basement Records is an American independent record label founded by Chuck Dietrich in 2000. The company is headquartered in La ...

'' (2003) and '' Pigeon John Sings the Blues'' (2005). In 2005,

Lyrics Born Tsutomu "Tom" Shimura (born September 2, 1972), better known by his stage name Lyrics Born (formerly Asia Born), is a Japanese-American rapper, singer, and producer. He is one half of the duo Latyrx with Lateef the Truthspeaker. Early life Shim ...

saw Pigeon John on the Cali Comm Tour and brought him into

Quannum Projects Quannum Projects (also known as Quannum MCs) is an American hip hop collective based in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has been active since 1992, when it was formed at UC Davis under the moniker Solesides Records. It is also the name of the ...

. That same year, Pigeon John's single "Deception" was featured on a series of

Nestle Crunch Crunch is a chocolate bar made of milk chocolate and crisped rice. It is produced globally by Nestlé with the exception of the United States, where it is produced under license by the Ferrara Candy Company, a subsidiary of Ferrero. Histo ...

commercials. In 2006, after signing to Quannum, Pigeon John released his fourth solo album, ''

And the Summertime Pool Party ''And the Summertime Pool Party'' is the fourth studio album by American rapper Pigeon John. It was released on Quannum Projects in 2006. Reception Dan Raper of ''PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural critic ...

''. The album has received positive reviews from many sources, including ''

LA Weekly ''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin, who served as president and editor until 1991. Voice Media Group sold the paper in late 2017 to Semanal Media LLC, whose paren ...

'', ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...

'', and ''

Vibe ''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down productio ...

''. A new album, entitled ''Dragon Slayer'', hit physical and digital retail October 12, 2010. With the aid of

General Elektriks General Elektriks is the musical project of French keyboard player, composer, singer, and producer Hervé Salters. He also uses the moniker RV, a contraction of the pronunciation of his first name in French. History Hervé Salters, a French nat ...

' Herve Salters, he produced the whole record, including, for the first time, sampling original instrumentation rather than flipping samples from records. A single from the album, ''The Bomb'', was used to promote the premiere of the

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Car ...

live-action TV film '' Level Up'' in late 2011. In 2014, he released an album titled ''Encino Man''. In 2019, he released "They Don't Make Em Like Me" as a single. The song was included in the official

Motorola Razr The Motorola Razr (styled RAZR, pronounced like "razor"; codenamed Siliqua) is a series of mobile phones by Motorola, part of the 4LTR line. The V3 was the first phone shown in the series and was introduced in December 2003 and released in th ...

advertisement. On April 24, 2020, he released his eighth studio album: ''Gotta Good Feelin''.

Personal life

John was married to

Harmony Dust Harmony Star Dust Grillo (born 1 January 1976) is an American social activist for women who worked in the sex industry and victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking. Early life Harmony was raised in Venice, California where she experienced a ...

from 2002 to 2010.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Is Clueless'' (2001) * ''

'' (2003) * ''

Sings the Blues ''Sings the Blues'' is a solo album by American rapper Pigeon John John Kenneth Dust (born John Kenneth Dunkin: November 30, 1972), better known by the stage name Pigeon John, is an American rapper based in Los Angeles, California. He is a for ...

'' (2005) * ''

'' (2006) * ''Dragon Slayer'' (2010) * ''Encino Man'' (2014) * ''Good Sinner'' (2016) * ''Rap Record'' (2017) * ''Gold'' (2017) (with

Flynn Flynn is an Irish surname or first name, an anglicised form of the Irish ''Ó Floinn'', meaning "descendant of Flann" (a byname meaning "reddish (complexion)" or "ruddy"). The name is more commonly used as a surname rather than a first name. A ...

, as Rootbeer) * ''Gotta Good Feelin (2020)

Compilation albums

* ''Featuring Pigeon John'' (2004) * ''Featuring Pigeon John 2'' (2007)

EPs

* ''Pink Limousine'' (2009) (with Flynn, as Rootbeer) * ''18 Minutes'' (2014) (with Flynn, as Rootbeer) * ''The Rebound'' (2014) (with Alpha MC)

Singles

* "Life Goes On" (2003) * "Originalz" (2003) * "Is Clueless" (2003) * "Nothing Without You" b/w "Sleeping Giants" (2004) * "The Bomb" (2011) * "Champagne on My Shoes" (2014)

Guest appearances

* Freedom of Soul - "Not This Record" from ''The Second Comin'' (1993) * LPG - "Judge Not" from ''The Earth Worm'' (1995) *

- "Spanish Harlem" from ''Louder'' (1998) * Flipside - "Sunny Days" (1999) *

Knowdaverbs Michael Boyer II, better known by his stage names Knowdaverbs and later Verbs, is a Christian hip hop artist. He has recorded for Gotee Records. Background He started rapping at the age of twelve, and spent time dancing with GRITS during the ...

- "Call of the Dung Beetle" from ''The Syllabus'' (1999) * MG! The Visionary - "Scared As..." from ''Transparemcee'' (2000) *

PAX217 PAX217 is an American Christian rock band from Orange County, California. The band's music gained popularity in the Christian rock scene in the early 2000s. PAX217's lineup consists of David Tosti on vocals, Jesse Craig on guitar, Josh Auer on ...

- "Gratitude" from ''Twoseventeen'' (2000) *

Soul-Junk Soul-Junk is an experimental genre-hopping Christian rock and hip hop group from San Diego, California. Background The roots of Soul-Junk began in 1993 when Glen Galloway began experimenting while touring in Europe with his rock band Truman ...

- "Sea Monsters and Gargoyles" from '' 1956'' (2000) * .rod laver - "All Around America" from ''Trying Not to Try'' (2000) *

Murs Murs may refer to: People * Marc Athanase Parfait Œillet des Murs (1804-1878), French ornithologist * Olly Murs (born 1984), English singer-songwriter * Murs (rapper) (born 1978), American rapper Places * Murs, Indre, France * Murs, Vaucluse, ...

- "The Two Step" (2000) * 4th Avenue Jones - "Truth or Dare" from ''No Plan B'' (2000) *

DJ Maj Michael Joseph "Mike" Allen (born October 9, 1970), professionally known as DJ Maj, is a Christian music DJ and rapper, contributing to gospel music albums released by tobyMac, GRITS, Ill Harmonics, Carman, dc Talk, and the Newsboys. DJ Maj ha ...

- "Golden Motorcycle" from ''Wax Museum: the Mixtape'' (2000) * DJ Maj - "Deception" from ''Full Plates: Mixtape 002'' (2001) * Flynn - "Endless Maze" from ''Burnt Out'' (2001) * Royal Ruckus - "Pocket Lint", "Jon&Stacie", "A Las Chicas", "Easily Forgotten" and "Let's Start a Boy Band" from ''Pocket Lint & Spare Change'' (2001) * Tapwater - "Debris", "Passion" and "The White Man" from ''Two Forty Five'' (2001) *

Red Cloud Red Cloud ( lkt, Maȟpíya Lúta, italic=no) (born 1822 – December 10, 1909) was a leader of the Oglala Lakota from 1868 to 1909. He was one of the most capable Native American opponents whom the United States Army faced in the western ...

- "The Pigeon John Song" from ''Is This Thing On?'' (2002) * Sharlok Poems - "Driven by Facts" from ''Left'' (2002) *

KJ-52 Jonah Kirsten Sorrentino (born June 26, 1975), better known by his stage name KJ-52, is a Christian rapper from Tampa, Florida. The "KJ" part of his name refers to his old rap alias, "King J. Mac,"

- "Revenge of the Nerds" from ''Collaborations'' (2002) * Future Shock - "Paperweights" from ''The Art of Xenos: Entertaining Aliens'' (2002) * DJ Maj - "God Music" from '' The Ringleader: Mixtape Volume III'' (2003) * 4th Avenue Jones - "U Rockin'" from ''Hiprocksoul'' (2003) * The Grouch &

Eligh Eli Nathan Nachowitz (born February 28, 1978), better known as Eligh, is an American rapper and producer from Los Angeles. He is a member of the underground hip hop group Living Legends. Biography Eligh's inspiration for making hip hop musi ...

- "No More Greener Grass" from ''No More Greener Grasses'' (2003) * Adventure Time - "Whetting Whistles" from ''Dreams of Water Themes'' (2003) * Crankcase - "The Next Big Thing" (2003) * Luke Geraty - "Brandon's Folly" and "Pandemonium" from ''It's Cold Out Here'' (2003) * Mars Ill - "Planes and Trains" from ''

Backbreakanomics ''Backbreakanomics'' is a studio album from American underground hip hop duo Mars Ill. It was released on Gotee Records in 2003. Track listing References External links

* Mars Ill albums Gotee Records albums 2003 albums {{2003-hi ...

'' (2003) * Kiz Charizmatic - "The Hype, The Hustle" from ''Rawthentic'' (2003) * Sup the Chemist - "Reaching" from ''Eargasmic Arrangements'' (2003) * Joey the Jerk - "Same Dark Sweater" from ''Average Joe'' (2004) * KJ-52 - "All Around the World" from ''7th Avenue'' (2004) * .rod laver - "The Official Pigeon John Guest Appearance" from ''The Dialogue: Rudolph Wayne Vs. The Man'' (2004) * Shape Shifters - "Little Life" from ''Was Here'' (2004) * Neila - "Rules" from ''For Whom the Bells Crow'' (2004) *

Braille Braille (Pronounced: ) is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired, including people who are Blindness, blind, Deafblindness, deafblind or who have low vision. It can be read either on Paper embossing, embossed paper ...

- "It Won't Last" from ''Shades of Grey'' (2004) * Fat Jack - "Pay Back" from ''Cater to the DJ Vol. 2'' (2004) *

Apsci ApSci is an Australian video-centric avant pop duo with origins in indie hip hop. As individuals, their roots go back to punk rock and opera. The duo consists of Bronx born, New Jersey-bred Ra Lamotta and his Filipino- Australian wife Dana Diaz ...

- "Stompin'" from ''Thanks for Asking'' (2005) *

Blackalicious Blackalicious was an American hip-hop duo from Sacramento, California, made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel. They are noted for Gift of Gab's often tongue-twisting, multisyllabic, complex rhymes and Chief Xcel's soulful pr ...

- "Side to Side" from '' The Craft'' (2005) * Bobby Bishop - "Show Love" from ''Government Name'' (2005) * Cheap Cologne - "Barry Manilow Is Alive and Well" from ''Something Random'' (2005) *

Opio Souls of Mischief is a hip hop group from Oakland, California, that is also part of the hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. The Souls of Mischief formed in 1991 and is composed of rappers A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, and Tajai. History East Oakland ...

- "Granite Earth" from ''Triangulation Station'' (2005) *

Project Blowed Project Blowed is an open-mic workshop, its affiliated underground hip hop crew and record label based in Los Angeles, California at 3333 Leimert. This hip hop function started in 1994 and features many music groups, emcees, dancers, music p ...

- "The People" from ''10th Anniversary'' (2005) *

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...

- "Shallow" from ''Alive at the Assembly Line'' (2006) * JRemy - "You Don't Know Me" from ''Backwoods Legend'' (2006) * Lightheaded - "Surprise Cypher" from ''Wrong Way'' (2006) * KJ-52 - "Revenge of the Nerds (Horns A Plenty Remix)" from ''Remixed'' (2006) *

- "I'm Just Raw (remix)" from ''Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born Live!'' (2006) *

Wordburglar Sean Jordan, better known by his stage name Wordburglar, is a Canadian alternative hip hop artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia, now based in Toronto.Cordor, Cyril.Wordburglar Biography, Allmusic, retrieved June 17, 2011 His style is best described a ...

- "Breeze" from ''Burglaritis'' (2006) * Mils - "Upside Down" from ''The And Album'' (2006) * Cookbook & Uno Mas - "Take Control" from ''While They Slept'' (2006) * Daedelus - "Something Bells" from ''Something Bells EP'' (2006) * 4th Avenue Jones - "Zoom" from ''Hip Hope Hits 2006'' (2006) * Acid Reign - "Never Fold" from ''Time and Change'' (2006) *

GRITS Grits are a type of porridge made from boiled cornmeal. Hominy grits are a type of grits made from hominy – corn that has been treated with an alkali in a process called nixtamalization, with the pericarp (ovary wall) removed. Grits are oft ...

- "Open Bar" and "You Said" from ''Redemption'' (2006) * Grayskul - "Dance the Frantic" from ''Bloody Radio'' (2007) * Heath McNease - "Love Me" from ''The Heath McNease Fan Club Meets Tonight'' (2007) * Toca - "Liar" and "Hearts and Gold" from ''Toca'' (2007) * DJ Stibs - "WildNights" from ''...And I Love Her'' (2007) *

Mr. J. Medeiros Jason Christopher Medeiros better known as Mr. J. Medeiros, is an American rapper, record producer, and songwriter. As well as releasing music under the name, Mr. J. Medeiros, he is responsible for forming the Hip Hop group The Procussions, ...

- "Money" from ''Of Gods and Girls'' (2007) * Hi-Fidel & DJ Crucial - "Small Victories" from ''FF Express: The Company of Wolves'' (2007) * Kruse - "Daydreaming" from ''True Stories'' (2007) * Mr. J. Medieros - "Money" from ''Of Gods and Girls'' (2007) * Redcloud - "Death of a Salesman" and "Tapatio" from ''Hawthorne's Most Wanted'' (2007) * The Remnant - "Catch Your Breath" and "The Salute" from ''PB&J: Players, Babes and Jesus'' (2008) *

Josh Martinez Matthew Edward Kimber (born August 6, 1977), better known by his stage name Josh Martinez, is a Canadian rapper, record producer and record label executive. In the early 2000s, Martinez started his own label, Camobear Records, to which fellow r ...

- "Beerhunger Lovestory" from '' The World Famous Sex Buffet'' (2008) * Yoni - "Fly" from ''End of an Era'' (2008) * The Gigantics - "Memory Loss" from ''Die Already'' (2008) * GRITS - "Beautiful Morning" from ''Reiterate'' (2008) * General Elektriks - "Crush" (2009) * Peter Daily - "Bright Lights Remix" from ''The 9th. Street Sessions EP'' (2009) * Scout Da Psalmist - "Change Is Gonna Come" from ''Emceeing Again'' (2009) * Soulico - "S.O.S." from ''Exotic on the Speaker'' (2009) * The Grouch & Eligh - "All In" from ''Say G&E!'' (2009) * Eligh & Jo Wilkinson - "Honor Me" and "Safe" from ''On Sacred Ground: Mother & Son'' (2009) * Sapient - "Shoot for the Ground" from ''Barrels for Feathers'' (2010) *

Factor Factor, a Latin word meaning "who/which acts", may refer to: Commerce * Factor (agent), a person who acts for, notably a mercantile and colonial agent * Factor (Scotland), a person or firm managing a Scottish estate * Factors of production, suc ...

- "They Don't Know" from ''

Lawson Graham ''Lawson Graham'' is a studio album by Canadian hip hop producer Factor. It was released on Fake Four Inc. in 2010. It features guest appearances from Gregory Pepper, Cars & Trains, Radical Face, Sole, Myka 9, Ceschi, and Moka Only. It is an od ...

'' (2010) * Eligh - "Whirlwind" from ''Grey Crow'' (2010) * Heath McNease - "American Idle" from ''The Gun Show'' (2010) * CookBook & UNO Mas - "Where Ya Been All My Life" from ''C&U Music Factory'' (2010) *

C2C Trenitalia c2c Limited,Companies House extract company no 789726 ...

- "Because of You" from ''Tetra'' (2012) *

Chantal Claret Chantal Claret Euringer (born February 21, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer for the rock and power pop band Morningwood. Early life Claret was born on February 21, 1982, in Berkeley, California, th ...

- "Light It Up" from '' The One, The Only...'' (2012) *

RationaL Rationality is the quality of being guided by or based on reasons. In this regard, a person acts rationally if they have a good reason for what they do or a belief is rational if it is based on strong evidence. This quality can apply to an abi ...

- "Dream On" from ''The BirthWrite LP'' (2012) *

Dumbfoundead Jonathan Edgar Park (born February 18, 1986), known by his stage name Dumbfoundead (), is an Argentinian-born American rapper and actor. He began his career in the 2000s as a battle rapper in Los Angeles and has since become one of the most prom ...

- "Freedumb" from ''Old Boy Jon'' (2013) *

Blu Blu or BLU may refer to: Businesses and brands *Blu (Italian company), a telecommunications company *Blu Manga, an imprint of Tokyopop * blu eCigs, a brand of electronic cigarette owned by Imperial Tobacco *BLU Products, an American mobile phone m ...

& Cookbook - "Popeye" from ''Yes'' (2013) *

Sleep Sleep is a sedentary state of mind and body. It is characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and reduced interactions with surroundings. It is distinguished from wakefulness by a de ...

- "Truth Serum" from '' Oregon Failure'' (2014) * The Grouch & Eligh - "Run" from ''The Tortoise and the Crow'' (2014) *

Abstract Rude Aaron Pointer, better known by his stage name Abstract Rude, is a rapper from Los Angeles, California. He is the MC of Abstract Tribe Unique, alongside dancers Zulu Butterfly and Irie Lion King, turntablist DJ Drez and producer Fat Jack. He ...

- "Relay" from ''Keep the Feel: A Legacy of Hip Hop Soul'' (2015) * Royal Ruckus - "Coulda Swore I Saw You" from ''The Summer of the Cicadas'' (2017)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pigeon John 1972 births Living people Quannum Projects artists American performers of Christian hip hop music Midwest hip hop musicians Musicians from Omaha, Nebraska Rappers from Nebraska Musicians from Hawthorne, California 21st-century American rappers Project Blowed