On November 17th, 1988, Jonathan “JP” Sauser was born at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo Michigan. JP’s family lived in the slums of Kalamazoo’s North side until he was 4 years old; at which point they were forced to move due to a house full of lead which left him and his younger brother Cameron both badly lead poisoned. The lead poisoning led to ADD, ADHD, Tourrettes Syndrome and Short Term Memory Loss in both JP and his younger brother.
JP’s family moved to Paw Paw where he started school. ...
On November 17th, 1988, Jonathan “JP” Sauser was born at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo Michigan. JP’s family lived in the slums of Kalamazoo’s North side until he was 4 years old; at which point they were forced to move due to a house full of lead which left him and his younger brother Cameron both badly lead poisoned. The lead poisoning led to ADD, ADHD, Tourrettes Syndrome and Short Term Memory Loss in both JP and his younger brother.
JP’s family moved to Paw Paw where he started school. Growing up was very difficult for JP having to deal with the effects of lead poisoning, but his mother would never let him use his circumstances as an excuse to not succeed. “Yes you have difficulties, but you are fully capable of succeeding. You just have to work that much harder,” is what his mother would tell him and that has played a strong part in shaping the man he is today.
When JP was 10 years old his father was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo a 16-hour surgery. The doctors only gave him a 33% chance of living 3 years. From that day on, life was different for their entire family. His father was a die-hard fisherman and after a few years later JP’s mother decided to put all the money they had into a small one-bedroom cabin on a lake in Allegan MI. A few years later JP’s parents ended up getting a divorce and his mother moved to Flint MI with his younger brother and sister. JP would stay with his father and graduate from Allegan High School.
JP states, “Watching my dad live everyday with cancer and still remaining to be the best man with the biggest heart I have ever known, has taught me so many life lessons! Life is never fair…but my dad taught me, by example, to not get upset and complain about what you can’t change, but to make the most of what you do have.”
After high school, JP moved to Flint with his mother, stepfather, brother and sister to attend Mott Community College for Graphic Design. Growing up, he ALWAYS liked Hip Hop, Rap and R&B, but it wasn’t until he got to Flint that he would start to make his own music! “I had never saw my peers rapping or performing in a club until I got to Flint…it was inspiring! And I thought to myself…if they can do it so can I!” says JP. Rapping was a pastime that turned into a lifestyle that is now the ONLY thing JP is focused on. “I have a degree in Graphic Design, I graduated at the TOP of my class…I know I can make a good living following that path…but music is where my heart is. And I wont be happy unless that is what I am doing!”
JP’s music reflects the life he’s lived: the joys, the pains…the laughs, the tears…hopes and dreams…where he has been and where he wants to be! He says, “Music is my savior! It’s a way for me to get away if I need to and a way for me to come to terms with certain things at the same time! It’s a way for me to live out my dreams and share my thoughts and dreams with others! It is the PERFECT way to express who I am!”
The death of JP’s two biggest fans, his best friend Ckali who died from a gunshot and his father who died from cancer, in 2009 have made him more focused that ever. “Losing is not an option. It is not even in my vocabulary anymore! I KNOW I will make it…its only a matter of time!”
JP is a very self-motivated, determined individual and anyone who knows him will say the same thing! He is a humble person, a good person to go to when you need advice or just to talk, and a very loyal friend! The values JP has learned throughout his life will not only leave him successful in the music industry but in life as well! “One of the most important things my dad ever taught is not to live with regrets…and I live by that! Not chasing this music dream and bringing it to life would be the BIGGEST REGRET of my life! And on my daddy I wont let that happen!”
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