JJC & 419 SQUAD

www.jjc2uk.com

ilkamedia handles the management of JJC & 419 Squad and is also solely responsible for press, TV, radio & online promotion, marketing, bookings, international and licensing.

Group Profile | Performances | Radio, TV & Press | Licensing| Press release | Images

GROUP PROFILE:
JJC & 419 Squad's music is an uplifting blend of Hip-Hop, African rhythms, salsa, R'n'B and beyond. They classify themselves and their music as 'Afropean', i.e. Africans based in the European Diaspora, in this case Nigerians living in London.

Lyrically, the four-piece (JJC, Smokey, M.P. and S.O. Simple) mixes English and Pidgin English with Yoruba, their native Nigerian language. 'JJC' stands for 'Johnny just come', a term Africans use to mock other Africans that have just arrived in the Diaspora. The number '419' relates to the advance fee fraud scam, often referred to as '4-1-9' fraud after the section of the Nigerian penal code which makes it illegal.

The humorous approach is carried over into the lyrics (example: "My name is Ade, I am a Yardie. You wanna make some money really quickly? Well, bring your passport and bank statement ...").

The group has established themselves as one of the leading African hip-hop acts, even winning the 'Best African Group' category at the 2004's KORA All Africa Music Awards (the pan-African equivalent of the Grammy Awards). JJC & 419 Squad have recorded tracks with a number of other African acts, such as Ghanaian hip-life superstar Tic Tac, Tanzanian R'n'B singer T.i.D., fellow Nigerian artists Maintain, Weird MC, Tony Tetuila, Trybesmen, Blaise & SID of Da Trybe, Sasha, Ruggedman and Kween.

Charismatic frontman JJC is also known as Skillz, a top UK producer who has worked with the likes of Jamelia, Lemar, Big Brovaz, Liberty X and Jay Sean.

To listen to samples of their music click on song titles:
Birthday Song |Gbao| Atide| Ewajo | Malemicita

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PERFORMANCES:
JJC & 419 Squad have thrilled audiences at the WOMAD (2004 & 2003), RESPECT and LONDON UNITED/ RISE festivals and also at the launch of the BBC's AFRICA LIVES season at the British Museum, as well as at the Fast Forward event on London's Trafalgar Square, at the Barbican (part of the Black President - Fela Kuti season), The Shrine at Cargo and many more UK events.

The group have also performed in Nigeria (including Femi Kuti's New Africa Shrine in Lagos), America, Italy and France. In April 2005, JJC & 419 Squad performed alongside Ludacris at 'MTV 100th LIVE' in Abuja, Nigeria, to mark the launch of MTV's 100th channel, MTV base in Africa. Highlights from this show have been shown on MTV channels worldwide - broadcast to 418.8 million households in 164 countries around the world.

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RADIO, TV & PRESS:
JJC & 419 Squad are probably the only act to have been guests on Tim Westwood's BBC Radio 1 Rap Show and Charlie Gillett's BBC London World music show. JJC was previously a BBC 1Xtra radio DJ (African Vibes) and has also presented a number of other one-off BBC radio programmes as well as a one-off special on France's No.1 taste-making station Radio Nova.

JJC & 419 Squad's music videos are on rotation on MTV Base Africa, Channel O, and Nigerian TV in Nigeria and the Diaspora (BEN TV, OBE TV, Passion TV).
To view a music video showreel and see extracts of some of the 15 videos available click here (play 'Promo 1' and 'Promo 2').

For a selection of the press coverage click here or check out the best press quotes.

Online coverage:
BBC Online
Fly Global Music Culture
Afropop Worldwide

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LICENSING:
JJC & 419 Squad tracks have been licensed to compilations, soundtracks and other projects:

Charlie Gillett's World 2004 (Wrasse Records) compilation features 'Atide' (The group's self-released CD 'Atide' has been Charlie Gillett's Record of the Month.)

Afrobeat Sessions (Sessions/ Union Square Music), compiled by Quinton Scott, features 'Malemicita'

Global Hip-Hop (Manteca/ Union Square Music), compiled by Phil Meadley, features 'Ewajo'

Beginner's Guide To Africa (Nascente/ Demon Music), compiled by Nigel Williamson, features 'Kilonsele'

Dirty Pretty Things Stephen Frears' Oscar-nominated film, features 'Atide' (featured in the film and on the soundtrack CD, compiled by Charlie Gillett)

The Rough Guide To African Music For Children (World Music Network) features 'Atide'

Lagos Stori Plenti - Urban sounds from Nigeria (out here records), compiled by Jay Rutledge, features 'Demu Gani'

Real Earth Vol. 1 (Amabala Records), features 'Atide'

Afrolution Vol. 1 (Afrolution Records), features 'Kilonsele'

Stealing Lives, a Channel 4 prime-time TV drama based on the true story of London-based Nigerians involved in identity fraud, features JJC & 419 Squad's music ('Kilonsele', 'I'm A Naija ...', 'Birthday Song' and 'Majaye') and cameo appearances (trailer: Stone City Films production)

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Download: Press release

Download hi res images: image 1, image 2, image 3

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