Today we’d like to introduce you to C.J. Watson.
C.J., can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Originally born in Portland, Oregon, I grew up with the love of music and entertaining. I was around music, whether it be in the church, in school, or at home. Education was key growing up. Nothing less than a B was acceptable. I read a lot. I got introduced to black writers, painters, singers, musicians, authors, and activists. None stood out to me more than the late-great Dr. Huey P. Newton, Co-founder of the Black Panther Party. I wanted to be just like him. Growing up in one of the poorest and violent neighborhoods in Portland, I saw a lot as a child and I tried to do that too!
When I got into my early teenage years, I got in some trouble (won’t give too many details) and my mom decides to get me out and move back to her home state of Texas. We settled in Dallas, and after graduating high school, I went to Texas A&M University-Commerce where I earned by Bachelors Degree in Speech-Communications. I also working in radio and started to understand the business side of music, furthermore, I learned how important my voice was/is.
I started taking music more serious and became more active and vocal in black and Hispanic communities about oppression, education, police brutality, and much more! I always kept it real, every single day. And that is how Real Every Day Entertainment was born.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road at all. Being a black kid in America in the 90s wasn’t the easiest. You add that with living in a single mother household, have a serious speech impediment, eczema, and being a fat kid! It was the worst. But it made me strong, made me smart and is what I use as motivation now in my music, my activism, being a husband, father, and co-founder of an entertainment label.
Real Every Day Entertainment (RED Ent) – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Real Every Day Entertainment (RED Ent) was originally founded in the late-Summer of 2010 by myself and my lyrical partner Neiman Flournoy in Crosswinds Apartment #32 in Commerce, Texas. We had a dream of just making great music and spreading black unity, We had a small roster of loyal artists, mostly friends and college students that had a passion for the music like us. Long story short, Flournoy and I had a big falling out in 2011 (we are good now) and he decided to stop music and continued with the RED name. Fast-forward a few years after a failed mixtapes and protesting in the streets, a fellow friend of mines, Randy James (stage name Ran D) had a vision. We put our heads together and began building something even greater.
I am the founder, co-President, co-CEO, lead audio engineer, songwriter, rapper, singer, I specialize in engineering and songwriting.
I think I am most known for my singles Fat Black & Ugly and X Rated, my rapping style in general, my consistency, and mostly my activism.
What I’m most proud of, of RED is the toughness. We been through a lot, but it is a team effort. We are different because egos are checked at the door. Everybody is going to eat. I like to say that everybody can’t be Jordan! We need to Rodman and guess what-Rodman is in the Hall of Fame. We have a linear goal, and that is to be great and make a positive impact in people’s lives.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment so far would be when my peers start to look up top me, and my ideals to start to notice me. Everyday is not easy, and sometimes I feel like giving up, but that validation lets me know that I’m doing something right, and somebody is watching me.
Pricing:
- Unapologetic Legacy $9.99 on all major digital stores
Contact Info:
- Website: iamcjwatson.com
- Email: chriswatson315@gmail.com
- Instagram: iamcjwatson
- Facebook: iamcjwatson
- Twitter: iamcjwatson
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