Name: Jewelzdagod
Full Name: Anthony Okwudiri Ehirim
Current Residence: Los Angeles, California
Country of Origin/Nationality: Nigeria, West Africa

 

 Jewelzdagod Bio by
JEWELRYENTERTAINMENT

 


Jewelzdagod- Starts with the love for God, the creaator,the designer of this complex universe. Jewelz simply means truth. God is the truth, everything else is an illusion. In no way does Jewelzdagod claim to be the creator. The name simply recognizes that we are all lesser gods. His son and his daughters, the spirit of god lives in all of us. Through self reflection and self actualization one is able to tune into their Chi and empower themselves....

Jewelzdagod (born, Anthony Okwudiri Ehirim, ) is a Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop, and World Music artist. His origin, a small village in Nigeria called Ubakuru, Mbieri. Mbieri is mud houses and tin/zinc roofs, unpaved roads, no running water or electricity. A small village in Nigeria/West Africa. One out of ten people speak english if its not broken or pigeon english. One out of a hundred has even been outside of the village. One out of a thousand has been to another city in Nigeria. One out of ten thousand has been out of the country.


Even though people lived in mud houses with zinc roofs, and some traveled by bicycle while others traveled by foot on dirt roads, everyone was connected with nature and their spirit. After jewelz's parents escaped the Biafra War as a young child Jewelz travelled a lot, experiencing first hand the beauty and unrest the world had to offer. Growing up in dangerous places like Israel and Pakistan, Jewelzdagod witnessed terrorist bombings in crowded shopping malls and guerilla warfare very early. As early as six years old Jewelz was desensitized, watching countless acts of terror...

Realizing the Middle East was too volatile a place to try to raise children, his family moved to Cyprus, a small island in Europe between Greece and Turkey. Even though both these countries are waring neighbours, there was less turmoil in this part of the globe. Most of the violence was along the border. Jewelz encountered many musical influences growing up; from Rock, to Pop, Hip-Hop to Indian music, Greek music and African jingles. While living on an island sold on pop and techno music, Jewelzdagod began DJ'ing at the "Elizabethan" igniting Hip-Hop in the hottest nightclub in Nicosia, Cyprus. Soon emceeing and DJ'ing became more than a hobby, it became a love and a passion.

Jewelz used school as a means to get him closer to his dreams. After experiencing so much of Hip-Hop's influence overseas, comming to America was a dream come true. While attending the University of North Carolina he met a group of 5 Per Centers who exposed him to a diverse ideology. Jewelz built with the gods and mastered the 120 Lessons. It was in America where Anthony was christened Jewelzdagod. The fire was lit, taking a sabbatical from his studies Jewelz moved to the city where Hip-Hop lives, NYC. New York was Hip-Hop from the walk to the talk. North Bronx is where Jewelz cultivated and built on his rhymes and later moved to Brooklyn. His receptiveness to all styles of music and his desire to educate while entertaining aided Jewelzdagod in creating his own sound.

By 2002 Jewelzdagod found himself in Los Angeles to complete his degree at the request of his parents. Determined to stay the course of his dream, Jewelz started to perform at various hot spots in L.A. like the Knitting Factory, El Cid,  Club Lingerie, The Temple Bar and more. Los Angeles brought much opportunity for Jewelz, which he seized by starting his own independent label, Jewelry Entertainment Enterprises. In 2004 jewelzdagod released his debut album L.I.F.E. (Love Is For Ever).   It was an independent success with hits like "Jewelzdaride"-which talks about the politics and gruesome realities that plagues Nigeria, inspired by the Biafra war. " Love for U"- a lyrically beautiful ode to a ladylove, "City Life"- Jewelz’s takes on living in the inner City, and "She" – an anecdote about "SHE" from two different  perspectives. With hits so enthralling the underground was left yearning for more. A following was fostered as Jewelz was invited to perform on underground circuits like The Frequencing All Star Jam, Smooth Sounds Showcase, Activate LA, The Urban Underground, Fais Do Do's and more, opening up for artists like The Souls of Mischief, Mykah 9, MIA, Defari, Medusa, Akil the MC and more. An activist by nature, it was foreseeable that he would also be asked to perform at events like "Seeds of Knowledge"- a show dedicated to saving the South Central Farm in Los Angeles. In between you may have caught Jewelz humbly spilling literature at different arenas and performing at many open mic and poetry spots in Los Angeles. In 2005 Jewelz started  "Cultural Therapy @ Gabah" (an independent artist showcase sponsored by Jewelry Entertainment) a place where artists could come showcase their talents, speak out about injustices and promote themselves. We saw performances by Jha Voice, Imiuswi, Himself, Luminaries, Myka 9, Sandbloom and more... Jewelz used his own venue as a place where awareness was raised for the ongoing genocide in Sudan and contibutions were given to the save Darfur coalition. Cultural Therapy is still going strong. In 2008 Jewelz started "Its All Love" at the Wilshire Royale Hotel once a week which saw performances by Jimetta Rose, Making Love 2 Life, Rashondra Angelle,  and more, this poetry spot will continue to be a staple as a new location is being researched.

In 2008 JewelryEntertainment celebrates its five year anniversary releasing Jewelzdagod's  sophomore album "Rebel Soul". This album is a double album, disc one being the Rebel side and disk two being the Soul side. It is passion and endurance, music, emotion, spoken word, poetry and song. The title track is melodic and directly calls out the Rebel Souls. With Jha Voice gracing the hook, it is a rare classic. Songs like "U made me" is for the soul rebel, those that don't know or cannot pinpoint exactly where their frustration is comming from. Other titles like "Its Solo" simply expresses how every person has to carry their own weight. This sophomore album is more soulful with production from Kai Chi , Adapt the Architect, Moorish Daze music, Zestone prod, and NJoh for Cameroon music. A Myka 9 production on "She part 2" was only meant to be, Joseph Leimberg who has done tracks for Snoop Dogg and G Unit also lends a hand in providing the beat for "Venting". Tracks like "All Day" and "Baltimore" touch on relationship scenario's, but perhaps the gem on the album is "Nigeria" which is recorded in jewelz's native language Ibo.Rebels Souls stand up...!

2009 JewelryEntertainment is still going strong, Currently Jewelz is working on "Da Arrival Of Da Godz" project which will complete a 3 album package for labels look at. J.E hopes to continue to make timeless music and activism is a standard. More branches of J.E. have been put into effect such as J.E. News( a random newsletter that is sent to subscribers that provides real news of many topics to its readers). Things Fall Apart publishing is the publishing company c/o J.E. In the future J.E. hopes to expand to J.E. films, release books that are socially and morally conscious, and J.E. promotions. More importantly  J.E looks to join forces with programs and organizations that help people that are disadvantaged and or disenfranchised to bring about a better tomorow.

 

 

 

 

                                                

             


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