Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Griffith.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Justin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Recently, one of my first graders said, “Mr. G, when you were a kid, I think music was in your blood.” My Mom has told me there were signs of me, as a baby, immediately recognizing melodies from the radio. The first thing I remember though is my attraction to acoustic guitars at 12 years old. Around the same time, I began writing poetry. Those two passions have really shaped the course of my entire life. Throughout junior high & high school, I collaborated & performed in rock, blues, & metal bands & also sang in choir.
Recording became an interest, so I began building up a home set-up while taking basics & a few theory classes at Cedar Valley College (1999). Received my Associate’s Degree, then took off to study audio engineering & music production at The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, Ohio (2001). Got certified there, then came home to enroll at The University of North Texas. Studied classical voice & graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree, minoring in education (2005). All the while, I was experimenting with recording, producing, & writing. In early 2005, me & DJ three6t, a long-time friend, began building a loyal fan base by performing several times a month in various venues throughout DFW. I released “absolute truth,” my first official solo album, in 2006. The rest is history.
Over the years, I’ve released over 160 solo & collaborative songs, many videos, produced countless events, done five independent tours, & over 500 performances. I’ve been blessed with opportunities to share the stage with B.o.B, Lupe Fiasco, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Everlast, Bubba Sparxxx, Hopsin, (hed) P.E., Leon Bridges, The Revivalists, & Sisqo, to name a few. While desiring to help unify the scene for a philanthropic cause, I founded a non-profit collective called Hip Hop Helps Heal. Over the nine years that H4 was active, we threw charity hip hop events that raised thousands of dollars for organizations, such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Genesis Women’s Shelter, Toys For Tots, American Lung Association, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Salvation Army, & Children’s Medical Center.
It would be a mistake to not mention the giant movement known as DFW Cypher. I was an integral part of a six person committee bringing 10 official videos, showcasing some of the top hip hop talents in the area. Conscious lyricism, self-awareness, & struggle remain relevant in my contributions. A few accolades – won 3rd place in a national jingle contest for Cash America, “the senseless ep” was nominated for Best Local Music Release by the Dallas Observer, songs “HearSay” & “Lead” were nominated for Best Rap in the JPF Music Awards, “Her Ear’s Eyes” was selected as a Music City SongStar semi-finalist, & the song/video for “Yumminess” was a favorite in KXT’s Tiny Cake Contest. Beyond all of that, I’m a music teacher. For 15 years, I’ve taught between 600-650 kids a week, Kindergarten through 5th grade.
I’m proud of my journey & the experiences I’ve had, but don’t confuse it for arrogance. There are still so many things I’ve yet to accomplish. Learning is a life-long endeavor, so I’m constantly working.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not even close. Think traffic, potholes, unexpected detours, blowouts, overheating, & collisions. The road is endless & rewards are sometimes few & far in between. Professionally pursuing music is like putting a puzzle together with pieces that are constantly changing shapes. There’s no definitive path, no certainty.
A few consistent struggles are figuring out how to keep people’s attention in an over-saturated market, gauging opportunities being worth anything, harshly realizing some pursuits are a waste of time, reading people’s intentions, & disconnecting your worth from what others think is successful. Sometimes I attach my worth to the wrong things. Navigating through that without crashing has been a beating to me in the past. Lots of lessons in it all though – gotta learn to adapt & adjust.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I’m a songwriter, recording artist, & performer that releases music under the name – Grades Of Absolute Truth. Expect a soulful indie blend of hip hop that’s driven by purposeful concepts & lyrics that have meaning. My brand represents progression & positive movement.
Versatility is my specialization. You may see me with a mask on, spittin’ rhymes to a hip hop crowd on Friday night with my group The BARNyartists. Then the next night, I’m performing solo on someone’s couch with an acoustic guitar. On Sunday, I may do a cover set as a singer/songwriter at a winery. Then Monday, I’m back to teaching. Tuesday – I’m giving lessons, then running a recording session at my studio. I’m all over the place because I love it all. I’m an onion though – each layer contributes to my overall vision. Since 2005, I’ve been teaching at an elementary school. Music saved my life, so I’m a big believer in passing that gift to kids. Since 2014, I’ve been a private lessons instructor, live sound engineer, DJ, & performer with Stage Volume Entertainment. In 2014, I finished construction for The Intelligent South recording studio in my loft. I use it as my personal creative space, but also make it available to others & engineer sessions there too.
I’m probably most known for my #iFEEDuFEEDme Dinner Tours. During my summers, I pack up two acoustic guitars, merch, a suitcase, a sleeping bag, & an ice chest in my RAV4. By myself, I’ve traveled over 18,000 miles across 13 states & performed over 120 times in homes, venues, & all kindsa other spots. Wild, inspirational, shocking, awesome, scary things happen to me. The idea is simple. I perform at your home in exchange for a meal & a place to stay if I’m far from Dallas. You invite your friends & family over for a musical story-telling experience. The thing I’m most proud of is that I’ve molded a unique career in music that has never forfeited my integrity.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
My “why” is to affect the world in a positive way through music. That’s my purpose, so I taste success whenever I walk toward that. That’s my macro-goal.
My micro-markers are always connected to the current incline I’m walking up. My focus lately has been fundraising. The solo project I’m working on is about my journey with acceptance of a diagnosis. It’s important for me to have a strong budget behind it, so that’s in my crosshairs. Overall… success is having a purpose in my actions & my markers are seeing progression in that path.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://gradesofabsolutetruth.com
- Email: gradesofabsolutetruth@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicbygoat
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicbygoat
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicbyGOAT
- Other: http://eepurl.com/dn2Xhw
Image Credit:
Amberly Russell
Katrina Timmons
AnotherFaceInTheCrowd Photography
Tyler Sloan
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