Rising Stars: Meet Jason Cunningham of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Cunningham.

Hi Jason , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Charleston, SC. At the tender age of 2, I and my (10 month old brother, at the time) were abandoned by our mom and dad at the time. We were left in a house, with no parental supervision of any sort, alone. It was very traumatizing. My grandparents adopted us and raised us. They tried their best instilling values, morals, and principles in us. I still felt a lack of love and I often cried myself to sleep at night, feeling like noone loved me. I wondered why my mom and dad left us. I felt like it was my fault somehow. I was too young to understand that it was not my fault, my brother and I were just babies. My hurt turned into rage as I grew. I began acting out, getting in trouble with the law. My grandparents were getting older, so it was limits as to what they could do. My grandfather would pay special attention to my brother, showing favoritism to him at times, disciplining me for stuff that my brother would do, so I felt more rage. By middle school , I was making straight A’s in classes, but I still would act out and get into trouble with the law. My grandmother and I were close, I really appreciate that, but I could never get over the pain of my mom and dad leaving. I’m telling you from experience, a child needs his biological parents in his life as well, there’s something about it. I got banned from the state of South Carolina at the age of 15 and I couldn’t return to South Carolina until I turn 18. My grandparents finally got in contact with my dad and told him to step up to the plate and take care of his responsibility. He came to South Carolina and moved me to Missouri to be with him, my step mother, and my two step sisters. By the way, I also did well in boxing when I was in South Carolina and I received the silver medal at the Nationals Tournament in August GA, a year before I moved to Missouri. I began writing rhymes at 5 years old and I was very good at it. I would draw a crowd when I rapped, it would make me feel great, a sense of liberty and joy to see the smiles on people faces and to feed off the crowd. After my performance, I would go back to feeling the hurt and rage. Now back to Missouri, I moved in with my dad, etc,.., bur he was more like a friend to me and he let me run wild in the streets of Springfield, Missouri. I continued making straight A’s in school and I continued doing well in boxing, I made the paper and all (in the Sports section), but I was also running the streets, getting into trouble, and my dad would let me do it. One day, I got into a fistfight with a grown man on the streets and I got carried away, all my rage came out and I killed him. I was locked up, a little less than a week later, and certified to stand trial as an adult for second degree murder. During my incarceration, awaiting trial, I had a spiritual awakening after confessing my sins, repenting, and asking Jesus into my heart. All of the pain, rage, and hurt, that was inside went away. Jesus took it away and filled me with peace, joy, and the Holy Ghost, my life was forever changed! I end up receiving a sentence of 16 years in prison, but doing that time I received my GED, rational behavior therapy, and Christian Mentoring courses. Even though my sins were forgiven, I still had to pay my debt to society. My music also was anointed by God and He gave me a vision of myself rapping on stage in front of a large crowd, it was mind blowing, I will never forget it! The joy I have is not like the sense of joy I had as a young kid where I rapped, and after my performance it would go away, this is real joy that never goes away! I got our of prison in 2010, and within a few years, I was rapping and performing all across the nation. I moved to California in 2018. I perform here in California. I also became a licensed minister. I also have an Associate’s Degree in Music Production and I am currently in school now, getting my Bachelor’s in Entertainment Business. I have an EP out entitled “Scribbles in Ya’ Area” on all streaming platforms. I also have a mixtape out on Soundcloud entitled “Lion of the South”. Fan favorites are “Lion of the South”, “Barz of Soap”, “It Gets Real”, “I Ain’t That Dude” “Every Side (Remix)”, and my singles “Say You Do” and “Turmoil”, all on Soundcloud. You really have to hear those songs on Soundcloud! I strongly recommend it! People love those songs!!! My stagename is J Scribbles

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I listed my struggles in my previous answer. My struggles were neglect, abandonment, imprisonment, trauma

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an entertainer, professional recording artist. I am also a licensed minister and motivational speaker. I train people two times a week in boxing. I am also a full-time college student. I specialize in writing and performing rhymes. I encourage people to maximize their full potential through song, speaking, and training them in boxing/fitness. I am known for my music, tenacity, intelligence, charisma, influence, and resilience. I am most proud of my relationship with God, My EP, mixtape, and singles (especially my music on Soundcloud and my song “You Know You Wanna Say It” – which is on all streaming platforms), winning King Dusko’s Songwriting Guild in 2013 in Charleston, SC, winning GSU’s Panthers Got Talent in 2014 in Atlanta, GA, I was also crowned “Freestyle Battle King” at the Sweet Auburn Fest in 2014 in Atlanta, GA, I also won the grand prize at the Marion County Fair in Marion County Missouri in August 2016, I also won the “Spittin On The Mic” Poetry Slam in Los Angeles CA. I am also most proud of my ministry, college degree, my marriage, and my silver medal in boxing. What sets me apart from others is my uncanny ability to connect with the crowd, moving them with profound and prolific lyrics that I create, write, and perform. What sets me apart, also, is I have overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to rise triumphant. With me, what you see is what you get, authenticity, intelligence, resilience, I am profound, powerful, prolific, but relatable. There’s something for everybody, at the end of the day, after an encounter with me, you will be scribblized!!!

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice is give Jesus a try. He will reach to the uttermost! Don’t give up!! Don’t give in!!! Tap into the innermost part of self by prayer, connect with our Creator. He will heal you, He will change you!!! He will make you new!!! You can do it. Watch the company you keep. Choose wisely and think positive. Remember, the race is not to the swift, nor to the strong, but to he or she that endures to the end, that’s the real winner! So keep going, tap into, and maximize your full potential. Ask God to show you your purpose so that you can fulfill it. He will show you!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jscribbzmusic
• Facebook: J Scribbles Musician/Band
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-cunningham-1012b0173?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
• Youtube: Jasoncunningham8061
• Soundcloud: J Scribbles