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LYRIC JONES

EMCEE. VOCALIST. DRUMMER.

 

ABOUT JONESY

 

Music is her breath of fresh air,” close friends say about Lyric Jones. Jones’ musical repertoire includes rapping, playing drums, singing, writing, producing and even DJ-ing a little. She dips into jazz, soul and mainly hip-hop. As a self proclaimed Emcee, Vocalist, Producer, Drummer hybrid she already has public cosigns from legends and pioneers such as Sway Calloway, DJ Premier, Chuck D, Ed Lover, Big Daddy Kane, Black Thought, & Pharoahe Monch.

A true artist at heart, Lyric is known for being passionate, multi-faceted and strives to be indispensable. “Why not do it all? Why can’t I be an emcee, vocalist, DJ and drummer? Music is music, I love Hip Hop, Jazz & Soul, so the world is gonna see it, know it and hear it eventually.”

From Boston, MA by way of Atlanta, GA, Lyric brought her blended worlds to the west coast in 2012; where she now teaches Rap Techniques at Hollywood’s “Musicians Institute”

She sees being an educator as paying it forward to the culture; as her own education in music was her beginnings. In her high school years, she was joint enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston; spent three years participating in their highly competitive summer and academic year programs. It was at Berklee where Lyric was known as everyone's “lil sis”, sponged from her close mentors & teachers and polished her natural ability as a performer, drummer and an emcee.

She got her start at age 15 under the mentorship of Brian “Raydar” Ellis; who introduced Lyric to recording and soon performing with him around Boston. Her senior year in high school, Lyric was a featured cast member in Discovery/TLC’s “Trial By Choir” reality series. Simultaneously, she was very much involved of her hometown community socially and politically; serving on the prestigious "Boston Mayor’s Youth Council” and traveled along the east coast to NYC, Philadelphia, Washington DC with multiple church groups to do charity work in hard hit neighborhoods.

Lyric Jones moved to Georgia in 2006 and studied Broadcast News at The University of Georgia. There at UGA, she had the opportunity to be the lead drummer in UGA’s Big Band; which led to the opportunity to play with Jennifer Holiday & the late Dave Brubeck. The big band led to experiences internationally in Beijing, China & Italy in 2009. Lyric credits her “Atlanta Years” as her true career beginnings and what started her climb & respect in hip hop circles.

Over the past decade, Lyric has been on tour with Rah Digga and The Cali Agents, as well as shared the same stage with countless others such as Pete Rock, Trey Songz, The Cold Crush Brothers, J.Cole, Rapper Big Pooh just to name a few. Her collaborations list is also long, some notables include: Planet Asia, Little Brother, Ras Kass, Skyzoo, Vic Mensa, Blu, Guilty Simpson, Rah Digga & more. She also independently worked with the late Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest & Grammy Winning Esperanza Spalding for her debut album titled "Jones St” released in 2012. 

Many have been introduced to Lyric Jones via Sirius XM/Shade 45’s “SWAY IN THE MORNING”; as she appeared more than three times. Most recently she released her 2020 LP titled "Closer Than They Appear" which was executive produced by Phonte of Little Brother & The Foreign Exchange. The project has since received several notable accolades from the likes for Pitchfork, Vibe, ABC - Good Morning America & more. Her NPR Tiny Desk performance & feature on Sesame Street were also some additional highlights of her discovery in 2020.

Her dedication and purist love for Hip Hop & Soul has led her to produce & curate many showcases nationwide and events such as B.A.R.S. ONLY Live & The Jones Experience

Her influences range from Jill Scott, Ledisi, Georgia Anne Muldrow to Foreign Exchange, Nas & Black Thought. As a true performer at heart she's incredible live and has memorable performances at SXSW, A3C Music Festival, Hip Hop Kemp, Heiro Day and other festivals. Being one of the only ones in her lane to play drums live while rapping, Lyric Jones is truly a treat to watch!

 
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SHOWS