Alias: Bumpy Johnson
Occupation: Hip Hop Artist
Set: Chicago
Wireless Device of Choice: Blackberry and Burn Out Phone
Between NY and LA the wind continues to kick up harder and harder in the city of Chicago. In 2004 two artists (Twista and Kanye West) have emerged to awaken record exec’s to realize that they have been sleep for too long. Hip-hop fans are probably asking themselves – “Who’s got next?” Well let me introduce to who’s coming off the bench for 2004.
Words: Nia B
The Southside of Chicago has produced various musical talent but none quite like Terrance Boykin a.k.a Bumpy Johnson. Many artists who are part of a crew have let one man step up and lead the way - 50 Cent and G Unit, Nelly and The St. Lunatics just to name a few. But don’t let the baby face fool ya. Bump has mad respect, not from only his crew The Goon Squad, but all over Chicago. “It seems like everyday at least 30 people come up to me and just start rapping”, says Bump. The streets have shown him love, and he’s gained it through the underground mixtape scene. “50 made it clear that you can create a buzz and be successful from the mixtape scene”, affirms Bump. “It’s like building a house. You put that first brick down and after that you just start building and it gets larger and larger”. Bump has been featured on over 20 mixtapes, one recently titled J Bravo Presents Operation Shutdown Vol. 1 that was featured on MTV’s Mixtape Monday’s and co-produced by urbanworldwireless.com’s own CEO Mike Johns.
Earlier this year Bump was signed to Free 4 All Records headed by Free Maiden, which is a division of Atlantic. “The first time I met him, he had a show in the park. Children, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, everyone was out there. If you walked through the neighborhoods, they knew him. He's already a star on the streets”, tells Maiden.
Being the product of a Catholic School education, it might come as a surprise that Bump lived the life of a hustler. At the tender age of 14 Bump moved out of his mother’s house to fend for himself. He describes growing up as one word -“poverty”. “My mom couldn’t really pay her own bills, so I left so I could be on my own”. Bump ended up living around the corner from his mom, pushing on the block to make ends meet and pay his school tuition. “I always seemed more advanced than the people around me, so private school was a good idea. It was either go to the public school and not get anything done, or go to the private school and learn something and become productive.”
Along with being a little more advanced than his peers, Bump spent a lot of time in the streets. Coming up with no father figure, drug dealers and gangsters filled that vacancy. Like a lot of his friends he got involved in gang activity. Being a member of the 4 Corner Hustlers gave him a sense of family and stability. “When I joined they told me they weren’t a gang, they were an organization that was all about business and making money. Even though it was one of the smallest groups around they seem to resemble who I was”. When looking at different gangs in cities like New York and LA Bump sees a difference. “Chicago is very segregated, but at the same time gangs here seem more organized and real strict on laws. Chicagoans are very slick and fast talkers. No matter where you go you get respect if you’re from Chicago. You can even look at Bishop Magic Don Juan and the life he lead. Right now he’s in LA a superstar.”
In the midst of drug dealing and gang banging Bump lost his brother coming up. When Bump was 20 his brother got killed. It was then he decided to get into the rap game. His brother always encouraged him to go the studio and record, and since he always knew how to rhyme it was just time. Hooking up with the members of The Goon Squad was just part of the process. The crew started out with 5 members - Bump J, Sly Polaroid, Brian Hussla, China Man, and G-Man. The crew lost G-Man, who was only 17 at the time, to an unfortunate incident with the police. The lost was a devastating blow, and though G-Man may be gone he’s not forgotten.
The bond between Bump and Sly is next to brotherhood. Sly took a bullet for Bump a few years back. Being that the two were from rival gangs and still maintained a relationship upset Sly’s crew. One day Sly’s crew went looking for Bump and Sly wouldn’t give him up, so they left a bullet hole in his leg, which explains why their like brothers. The Goon Squad members are bonded by a host of coincidences and events, which creates colorful lyrics and hot punch lines in their music. Now that their lead man on the rise, it’s only a matter of time before we get a glimpse of what they have to offer.
With his solo effort in the making, Bump explains that the state of hip-hop has evolved where people are making music to make other people happy and not themselves anymore. “Hip-Hop is more structured today than when it began years ago. There used to be a time when you could just rap and write how you felt and have feel good music. Today you have to make a club song, a for ya’ ride song, and a song for the females. Since there is a lot more money involved now, [Hip-Hop] has become more of a business.”
Bump’s untitled album will include appearances by several artists, one including his Chicago counterpart Kanye West and legendary funk soul singer Rick James. “Rick is a legend. He’s on fire right now. Working with him in the studio was a hell of an experience. We smoked weed together. It was a circus that day in the studio.” Days after talking with Bump, Rick James passed away and it was only fitting that I call Bump back and see how his death had impacted him. “At first when I heard about it I couldn’t believe it until I saw it on TV.” Bump was one of the last people to work with Rick and he says the experience is something he will always remember. “It’s real special to know that I was one of the last people to work with him. When we were in the studio I had no idea that he would pass away so soon, but now that he’s gone I realize he was working real hard to get that last song out. He gave it his all. Rick was a hard worker. Knowing that he was working so hard in his last days made me wonder what it would have been like to work with him in his prime.”
In his best R&B voice Bump sang the hook of the collaboration “On the Run”.
Lock me down/cuff me up/ since we hooked up/ baby I’m on the run/ and I can’t stop now...
“In putting “On the Run” together, Kanye came up with the concept added Rick and the whole thing just fell together. DJ’s and radio stations are looking for us to release the single, so look for it real soon”, tells Bump.
The last four years have taught Bump J a lot about the end and outs of the music industry. When talking about what he’s gone through and were he’s arrived he says, “I feel like I knew it was my time. I have always felt like I belong here”. Living in a city where Hip-Hop artists have been overlooked has made it a challenge for him. “Nobody has really come out of the Chi and had love from everybody in the Chi. Even Kanye had to prove himself and now you see people walking around Chicago rocking his style. And then you have Twista who’s been in the game for 10 years.” Bump says he just wants to be able to make enough money to make his family rich, and whatever it takes he’s going to do it to get there. – U DUB!!