John Reuben
Encyclopedia
John Reuben is an American hip hop
artist signed to Gotee Records
until late 2010. Reuben has sold over 200,000 copies of his first four albums. He released his sixth album, Sex, Drugs and Self-Control
on December 22, 2009. The album was nominated for a Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year at the 42nd GMA Dove Awards, while the song "No Be Nah" was nominated for Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year. http://www.doveawards.com/nominees.php
Reuben continues to tour extensively, and has played with many popular Christian music artists such Relient K
, Five Iron Frenzy
, and TobyMac
.
, Ohio
, a suburb
of Columbus
, Reuben got his start in rapping by taking the bus into the city to rap on open mic nights and participate in rap battles at the age of fifteen. Reuben later released Monuments, an independent EP
, which caught the attention of Gotee Records
. They took a chance, signing him to the label and releasing his first project, Are We There Yet?
, in 2000. TobyMac
, the founder of Gotee Records, provided vocals for the album's final track, "God is Love." The album was nominated for a Dove award in 2002.
Reuben's next release, Hindsight
(2002), continues his use of a wide variety of musical genres and thoughtful, often funny lyrics. The album was praised as a "truly eclectic and creative hip-hop album that blends old-school sounds with progressive production." Once thought to be a Christian version of Eminem
, Reuben's first two releases established him as an original, witty, sarcastic musician, as well as Gotee's top-selling solo rap artist.
Professional Rapper
(2003) marked Reuben's debut as a self-producing artist. The album is noticeably different from his previous efforts, using more instruments and less DJ
sampling
for the tracks. Along with these differences, the album is noticeably darker in both lyrics and feel. It includes several somber tracks which allow a glimpse into Reuben's struggles and self-doubt. Adrienne Camp
of The Benjamin Gate contributes vocals to two tracks on the album.
The following year Reuben released So In Hindsight the Professional Rapper Isn't There Yet
(2004), an album of remixed versions of songs from his first three albums.
The Boy vs. The Cynic
(2005) continued Reuben's trek from the non-serious songs which characterized his earlier work to music that's far more somber and meditative. Reportedly, when the time came for him to submit his work for the album, Reuben turned in enough tracks for two albums, one light hearted, the other more serious. Rather than releasing a two disc release, the label decided to splice them together into The Boy vs. The Cynic. Relient K
's Matt Thiessen
contributes to the album's second track, "Nuisance". Tim Skipper of the band House of Heroes
appears on the track "So Glad". Most of Reuben's songs use "traditional" musical instruments, typically the guitar, though he experiments with many different instruments and musical styles.
Reuben is currently working on a reality show detailing his "rise" to stardom while poking fun at many of the conventions of reality television. The pilot of the show can be viewed on YouTube
.
John released his fifth album, Word of Mouth
, on February 6, 2007. Allmusic.com called Word of Mouth an "unqualified triumph" and said that "You won't find a truer, more honest, or more celebratory album this year."
Gotee Records
released John Reuben's sixth studio album, "Sex, Drugs and Self-Control" on December 22, 2009. The first single, "Town Folk" was released on July 14, 2009. The next Single, "Jamboree," was released August 18, 2009. Followed by "Confident," which was released September 15, 2009, "No be nah" was released October 14, 2009.
According to an interview with TVU
in January, John Reuben said that there are definitely more music videos planned to release in the coming months from his most recent CD.
star, Lisa Nova. John's home church is rumored to be Vineyard Columbus, which is the largest church in the Vineyard Movement.
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
artist signed to Gotee Records
Gotee Records
Gotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
until late 2010. Reuben has sold over 200,000 copies of his first four albums. He released his sixth album, Sex, Drugs and Self-Control
Sex, Drugs and Self-Control
Sex, Drugs and Self-Control is the sixth album by rapper John Reuben, released on December 22, 2009.-Track listing:#"Jamboree"#"Radio Makes You Lonely"#"Burn It Down"#"In the Air"#"Paranoid Schizophrenic Apocalyptic Whisper Kitten"#"Town Folk"...
on December 22, 2009. The album was nominated for a Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year at the 42nd GMA Dove Awards, while the song "No Be Nah" was nominated for Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year. http://www.doveawards.com/nominees.php
Reuben continues to tour extensively, and has played with many popular Christian music artists such Relient K
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
, Five Iron Frenzy
Five Iron Frenzy
Five Iron Frenzy is a Christian ska band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1995 and disbanded in 2003. The band announced they were recording new material on November 22, 2011....
, and TobyMac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
.
Background
Reuben is of Jewish heritage and according to his MySpace, his mother is the owner of a Christian Death Metal record label. Raised in PataskalaPataskala, Ohio
Pataskala is a city in Licking County, Ohio, United States. The population was 10,249 at the 2000 census. Pataskala was a small community until 1996, when what was then the village of Pataskala merged with Lima Township, vastly increasing its population and geographic area.-Geography:Pataskala is...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Reuben got his start in rapping by taking the bus into the city to rap on open mic nights and participate in rap battles at the age of fifteen. Reuben later released Monuments, an independent EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, which caught the attention of Gotee Records
Gotee Records
Gotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
. They took a chance, signing him to the label and releasing his first project, Are We There Yet?
Are We There Yet? (John Reuben album)
Are We There Yet is the first album released by Christian rapper John Reuben. It was released on May 9, 2000, and features the song "Do Not", which was the first song that Reuben made into a music video.-Track listing:#"Divine Inspiration" -- 5:32...
, in 2000. TobyMac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
, the founder of Gotee Records, provided vocals for the album's final track, "God is Love." The album was nominated for a Dove award in 2002.
Reuben's next release, Hindsight
Hindsight (John Reuben album)
-Track listing:#"I'll Try Harder"#"I John Reu"#"Hindsight"#"Big E Cypher Session"#"Soundman"#"Run the Night"#"Breathe"#"I Pictured It"#"01/08/02"#"Doin'"#"Thank You" #"DJ Manuel"#"Up and at Them"#"Defensive Offender"...
(2002), continues his use of a wide variety of musical genres and thoughtful, often funny lyrics. The album was praised as a "truly eclectic and creative hip-hop album that blends old-school sounds with progressive production." Once thought to be a Christian version of Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, Reuben's first two releases established him as an original, witty, sarcastic musician, as well as Gotee's top-selling solo rap artist.
Professional Rapper
Professional Rapper
Professional Rapper is the third full-length album by John Reuben. It was released on December 2, 2003.-Track listing:#"Move"#"Have No Opinion?"#"I Haven't Been Myself" #"Life Is Short"#"Treats"#"Freedom To Feel"#"Time To Leave"...
(2003) marked Reuben's debut as a self-producing artist. The album is noticeably different from his previous efforts, using more instruments and less DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
for the tracks. Along with these differences, the album is noticeably darker in both lyrics and feel. It includes several somber tracks which allow a glimpse into Reuben's struggles and self-doubt. Adrienne Camp
Adrienne Camp
Adie, or Adrienne Camp, née Liesching, is a singer and songwriter, mostly known as the lead singer of the Christian pop-rock band The Benjamin Gate before the group disbanded in 2003...
of The Benjamin Gate contributes vocals to two tracks on the album.
The following year Reuben released So In Hindsight the Professional Rapper Isn't There Yet
So In Hindsight the Professional Rapper Isn't There Yet (Remix)
-Track listing:#"Do Not" #"Divine Inspiration" #"Gather In" #"Hindsight" #"Breathe" #"Doin'" #"Move"...
(2004), an album of remixed versions of songs from his first three albums.
The Boy vs. The Cynic
The Boy vs. The Cynic
The Boy Vs. the Cynic is the fourth album by John Reuben released in 2005 on Gotee Records. It features the hit "Nuisance".- Track listing :# "Out of Control" — 3:50# "Nuisance" — 3:37# "Chapter I" — 2:49...
(2005) continued Reuben's trek from the non-serious songs which characterized his earlier work to music that's far more somber and meditative. Reportedly, when the time came for him to submit his work for the album, Reuben turned in enough tracks for two albums, one light hearted, the other more serious. Rather than releasing a two disc release, the label decided to splice them together into The Boy vs. The Cynic. Relient K
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
's Matt Thiessen
Matt Thiessen
Matthew Arnold Thiessen is a Canadian-American musician, known for being co-founder, lead singer, guitarist, pianist, and primary songwriter for the Christian rock band Relient K. With Relient K, he has released six full-length albums, including three that were certified Gold, and three that...
contributes to the album's second track, "Nuisance". Tim Skipper of the band House of Heroes
House of Heroes
House of Heroes is an alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio. They were also known by the name No Tagbacks. They are generally considered to be Christian rock, though their lyrics are not always transparently Christian...
appears on the track "So Glad". Most of Reuben's songs use "traditional" musical instruments, typically the guitar, though he experiments with many different instruments and musical styles.
Reuben is currently working on a reality show detailing his "rise" to stardom while poking fun at many of the conventions of reality television. The pilot of the show can be viewed on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
John released his fifth album, Word of Mouth
Word of Mouth (John Reuben album)
Word of Mouth is the fifth album by rapper John Reuben, released on February 6, 2007.-Track listing:#"Sing It Like You Mean It" – 3:06#"Tryin' Too Hard" – 3:09#"Make Money Money" – 4:29#"Focus" – 3:32#"Word of Mouth" – 4:04...
, on February 6, 2007. Allmusic.com called Word of Mouth an "unqualified triumph" and said that "You won't find a truer, more honest, or more celebratory album this year."
Gotee Records
Gotee Records
Gotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
released John Reuben's sixth studio album, "Sex, Drugs and Self-Control" on December 22, 2009. The first single, "Town Folk" was released on July 14, 2009. The next Single, "Jamboree," was released August 18, 2009. Followed by "Confident," which was released September 15, 2009, "No be nah" was released October 14, 2009.
According to an interview with TVU
TVU
Televisión Universidad de Concepción, TVU, is a TV channel of Chile. It currently airs in Concepción in the 11 frequence of VHF. Its headquarters are in Concepción, Chile, in the Universidad de Concepción....
in January, John Reuben said that there are definitely more music videos planned to release in the coming months from his most recent CD.
Personal life
John Reuben is married to Erin Zappin and they have a daughter named Lily Parker Zappin. He has one brother, Dan Zappin, who is in a relationship with the popular YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
star, Lisa Nova. John's home church is rumored to be Vineyard Columbus, which is the largest church in the Vineyard Movement.
Albums
- 1997: Monuments EP
- 2000: Are We There Yet?Are We There Yet? (John Reuben album)Are We There Yet is the first album released by Christian rapper John Reuben. It was released on May 9, 2000, and features the song "Do Not", which was the first song that Reuben made into a music video.-Track listing:#"Divine Inspiration" -- 5:32...
- 2002: HindsightHindsight (John Reuben album)-Track listing:#"I'll Try Harder"#"I John Reu"#"Hindsight"#"Big E Cypher Session"#"Soundman"#"Run the Night"#"Breathe"#"I Pictured It"#"01/08/02"#"Doin'"#"Thank You" #"DJ Manuel"#"Up and at Them"#"Defensive Offender"...
- 2003: Professional RapperProfessional RapperProfessional Rapper is the third full-length album by John Reuben. It was released on December 2, 2003.-Track listing:#"Move"#"Have No Opinion?"#"I Haven't Been Myself" #"Life Is Short"#"Treats"#"Freedom To Feel"#"Time To Leave"...
- 2005: The Boy vs. The CynicThe Boy vs. The CynicThe Boy Vs. the Cynic is the fourth album by John Reuben released in 2005 on Gotee Records. It features the hit "Nuisance".- Track listing :# "Out of Control" — 3:50# "Nuisance" — 3:37# "Chapter I" — 2:49...
- 2007: Word of MouthWord of Mouth (John Reuben album)Word of Mouth is the fifth album by rapper John Reuben, released on February 6, 2007.-Track listing:#"Sing It Like You Mean It" – 3:06#"Tryin' Too Hard" – 3:09#"Make Money Money" – 4:29#"Focus" – 3:32#"Word of Mouth" – 4:04...
- 2009: Sex, Drugs and Self-ControlSex, Drugs and Self-ControlSex, Drugs and Self-Control is the sixth album by rapper John Reuben, released on December 22, 2009.-Track listing:#"Jamboree"#"Radio Makes You Lonely"#"Burn It Down"#"In the Air"#"Paranoid Schizophrenic Apocalyptic Whisper Kitten"#"Town Folk"...
- 2011: Untitled independent project
Music videos
- No Be Nah
- Confident
- Jamboree
- Town Folk
- Good Evening
- Make Money Money
- Trying Too Hard
- Word of Mouth
- Nuissance
- Move
- Do Not
- Doin'
Compilation appearances
- Coalition: the Hip-Hop AllianceCoalition: the Hip-Hop AllianceCoalition: the Hip-Hop Alliance is a compilation album under ForeFront Records.It was produced by Pigeon John for the Telephone Company.-Track listing:# Sea Breeze # Deviance # Campout...
(Compilation, 2000) - AreaAreaArea is a quantity that expresses the extent of a two-dimensional surface or shape in the plane. Area can be understood as the amount of material with a given thickness that would be necessary to fashion a model of the shape, or the amount of paint necessary to cover the surface with a single coat...
(DJ MajDJ MajMike Allen, professionally known as DJ Maj, is a Christian music DJ, contributing to Gospel music albums released by tobyMac, GRITS, Ill Harmonics, Carman, dc Talk, and the Newsboys...
, 2001) - Extreme DaysExtreme DaysExtreme Days is a 2001 Christian-based comedy romance film about four boys on a roadtrip that they have been planning their whole lives. Their dreams are to participate in many extreme sports, but they are stopped short due to many circumstances.-Plot:...
(Compilation, 2001) - CollaborationsCollaborations (KJ-52 album)Collaborations is rapper KJ-52's second studio album, and his first distributed by BEC Recordings. It features his most known song, "Dear Slim" which was shown on Total Request Live and described his aspirations such as "Rise Up" as well as "Revenge of the Nerds" .- Track listing :#...
(KJ-52KJ-52KJ-52 is a Christian rapper from Tampa, Florida. The "KJ" part of his name refers to his old rap alias, "King J...
, 2002) - The Ringleader: Mixtape Volume III (DJ MajDJ MajMike Allen, professionally known as DJ Maj, is a Christian music DJ, contributing to Gospel music albums released by tobyMac, GRITS, Ill Harmonics, Carman, dc Talk, and the Newsboys...
, 2003) - Roots (The KatinasThe KatinasThe Katinas are a Contemporary Christian music group. The family of five brothers hails from American Samoa, and moved to Washington, USA after the death of their mother in 1988. The group's members sang in church as children, and began playing fairs, soon moving up to nationwide slots opening for...
, 2003) - Just Ragga (Compilation, 2003)
- X 2004: 17 Christian Rock Hits (Compilation, 2004)
- X 2005: 17 Christian Rock Hits (Compilation, 2005)
- Sens (The Evan Anthem, 2005)
- Hip Hope Hits 2006 (Compilation, 2005)
- Freaked! A Gotee Tribute to dc Talk's "Jesus FreakFreaked!Freaked! is a tribute album to the album Jesus Freak. It features artists from Gotee singing most of the songs on the original album. The last track from Jesus Freak is omitted, as it was a poem by Kevin Max.-Track listing:...
." (Cover Compilation, 2006)
External links
- Official John Reuben Website
- John Reuben at Purevolume
- Interview at Christianity TodayChristianity TodayChristianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
(March 2007) - John Reuben Music Videos at Rapzilla.com