Wikipedia

Pigeon John

John Kenneth Dust(bornJohn Kenneth Dunkin:[3]November 30,[4]1972),[5]better known by the stage namePigeon John,is an Americanrapperbased in Los Angeles, California.[2]He is a former member ofL.A. Symphony.[6]

Pigeon John
Background information
Birth nameJohn Kenneth Dunkin
Also known asMC Pigeon
Born(1972-11-30)November 30, 1972(age 52)
Omaha, Nebraska,U.S.[1]
OriginLos Angeles, California
GenresUnderground hip hop[2]
Occupation(s)Singer,Rapper
Years active1992–present
LabelsSyntax,Basement,Discograph,Quannum Projects

Early life

edit

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."[7]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 inRoots.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".[8]

Career

edit

In the early 1990s, Pigeon John and his childhood friend B-Twice formed the hip-hop duoBrainwash Projects.[9]Brainwash Projects contributed the single "Muchas Muchachas" to theChristian rapcompilation "Sanktifunctafyd" released by N-Soul Records in 1995. Brainwash Projects eventually released a record titledThe Rise and Fall of Brainwash Projectson the independent label Jackson Rubio.[10]One reviewer characterizedThe Rise and Fallas "pure, uncut, holy hip-hop" but gave mixed reviews of its beats and lyrics.[11]

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 releasedIs Dating Your Sister(2003) andPigeon John Sings the Blues(2005). In 2005,Lyrics Bornsaw Pigeon John on the Cali Comm Tour and brought him intoQuannum Projects.[citation needed]That same year, Pigeon John's single "Deception" was featured on a series ofNestle Crunchcommercials.[12]In 2006, after signing to Quannum, Pigeon John released his fourth solo album,And the Summertime Pool Party.The album has received positive reviews from many sources, includingLA Weekly,Entertainment Weekly,andVibe.[13][14][15][16]

A new album, entitledDragon Slayer,hit physical and digital retail October 12, 2010.[17]With the aid ofGeneral Elektriks' Herve Salters, he produced the whole record, including, for the first time, sampling original instrumentation rather than flipping samples from records.[18]A single[which?]from the album,The Bomb,was used to promote the premiere of theCartoon Networklive-action TV filmLevel Upin late 2011.[citation needed]In 2014, he released an album titledEncino Man.[19]

In 2019, he released "They Don't Make Em Like Me", included in the officialMotorola Razradvertisement, which was based on Motorola's default ringtone for the new Razr.[20]On April 24, 2020, he released his eighth studio album:Gotta Good Feelin'.[21]

The single "Step on Out" by Pigeon John andSpencer Ludwigwas prominently featured in television and online advertisements for the 2024Chevrolet Traxcompact crossover SUV.[22]

Personal life

edit

John was married toHarmony Dustfrom 2002 to 2010.[23][24][25]

Discography

edit
Main article:Pigeon John discography

Studio albums

edit

References

edit
  1. ^Kettmann, Matt (September 20, 2010)."Pigeon John".Santa Barbara Independent.
  2. ^abThomas, Dan (February 21, 2008)."Hip-hop star Pigeon John at Whiskey Dick's on Friday".Tahoe Daily Tribune.
  3. ^Pigeon John."About".Pigeon John. Archived fromthe originalon September 16, 2015.RetrievedOctober 31,2015.
  4. ^Pigeon John (dothepigeon) (November 30, 2012)."Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Love y'all. Ill be rocking Denver tonight with @therealgrouch & @therealeligh at Cervantes! Come party!".Twitter.RetrievedOctober 31,2015.
  5. ^Intelius."John K Dunkin in Los Angeles, CA".Intelius.RetrievedOctober 30,2015.
  6. ^Langhoff, Josh (March 10, 2011)."Pigeon John: Dragon Slayer".PopMatters.
  7. ^Anti (January 11, 2007)."LAist Interview: Pigeon John".LAist.Archived fromthe originalon September 5, 2008.RetrievedDecember 1,2007.
  8. ^Anti (January 21, 2008)."Jordan, Jesse, Go!: Conventions".
  9. ^Powell, Mark Allan (2002)."Brainwash Projects".Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music(First printing ed.).Peabody,Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p.105.ISBN1-56563-679-1.
  10. ^"the rise and fall of the BRAINWASH PROJECTS".Published by Jackson Rubio. Available through theInternet Archive.
  11. ^Jones, Justin W. (March 1, 1999)."Brainwash Projects: The Rise and Fall of".The Phantom Tollbooth.
  12. ^"Sweetdisaster Newsblog Archives".Sweetdisaster. May 12, 2005.
  13. ^Sullivan, Kate (December 6, 2006)."L.A. Music '06: Welcome to Indie Land: Retro-Futuristic Postmodern House Party".LA Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon December 19, 2006.
  14. ^"Pigeon John".LA Weekly.June 8, 2006.[page needed]
  15. ^"Pigeon John".Entertainment Weekly.September 2006.[page needed]
  16. ^"Pigeon John".Vibe.October 2006.[page needed]
  17. ^I.G.O.D. (August 25, 2010)."Pigeon John Will Slay Some Dragons This October".The9elements.com.Archived fromthe originalon March 6, 2012.RetrievedAugust 11,2012.
  18. ^"P.G.A. - the Progressive Global Agency".Archived fromthe originalon October 24, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 15,2010.
  19. ^Finley, Adam (July 25, 2014)."Pigeon John: Encino Man".PopMatters.RetrievedAugust 19,2015.
  20. ^"$1,500 Razr with Bendable Screen Being Released by Motorola".Nerdist.com.RetrievedDecember 3,2019.
  21. ^"Gotta Good Feelin' [Album11409514]".Rateyourmusic.com.RetrievedApril 24,2020.
  22. ^2024 Chevrolet Trax TV Spot, 'Stay Connected, Safe and Charged' Song by Pigeon John, Spencer Ludwig [T1].RetrievedJanuary 2,2025– via www.ispot.tv.
  23. ^"Important Announcement | Treasures".Iamatreasure.com.Archived fromthe originalon March 11, 2012.RetrievedAugust 11,2012.
  24. ^"Album Review: Dragon Slayer By Pigeon John « Christian Rock 20".Thechristianrock20.com.RetrievedAugust 11,2012.
  25. ^"News - Q&A: Pigeon John (plus podcast!)".FILTER Magazine. October 15, 2010.RetrievedAugust 11,2012.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pigeon_John&oldid=1266731759"