Jungle Book is the latest release from America’s A.J. Crew. Releasing October 2021, the single is a fusion of Urban, R+B and other influences.
Although based in the United States, A.J. Crew has a strong connection with his audience.
A.J. has seen a string of successes with his previous work. In the past he has collaborated with Rhymefest (writer of Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks”) and been invited by Converse to record at OutKast’s studio, Stankonia.
Watch the Jungle Book video here:
Tell us more about your connection with your fans around the world
All of my friends listen to different types of music and over the past few years have introduced me to a number of artists I’ve become fans of. I’m yet to travel to different parts of the world, especially in Africa. My hope is to live there at some point and create good music with the incredible talent.
Did you always want a career in music?
Early on in my childhood, I was obsessed with music. Eventually between the ages of 12 and 14, I started incrementally writing songs more. From 14 onwards, I decided my primary drive in life was to become a full-time musician and creative.
Artists you’d love to work with one day?
Lately I’ve been wanting to work with the women in hip-hop that are killing it like Little Simz, Tierra Whack and Rapsody. I’m always discovering new South African musicians I’d like to work with. I’m currently keeping a playlist of those artists. There are some others like Tyler, the Creator and Childish Gambino that are in there too.
Who did you work with on this single?
One of my best friends and producers, Antonio (who goes by the producer name Novyat), made the instrumental before the idea for the lyrics came about. I was back home in Toledo visiting family and friends and the session where he played what would become “Jungle Book” was on the last night of my trip. Hearing it immediately drew me in and I knew I had to give everything I had in service of the song.
More about A.J. Crew:
A.J. Crew is an artist, songwriter and producer, born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. He is known for his work with Rhymefest, Skhye Hutch, Naledge (of Kidz in the Hall fame) and charitable efforts towards furthering Sickle Cell Anemia research. He previously attended Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University.
Crew was born July 1, 1990, in Toledo, Ohio and grew up on the South End of the city. He was raised by his mother, attended E.L. Bowsher High School and graduated in the year 2008. It was then that he decided to move to Chicago, Illinois, to pursue music. He was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at age 8.
Crew started his professional music career in 2009. Upon his arrival to Chicago, Illinois, he attended Columbia College Chicago where he met Austin Neely, and together they released a street album, “Nightmares & Daydreams”. The album was released on September 1, 2009, via RubyHornet.com, Dope Couture and Soundscape Studios, with owner Michael Kolar serving as executive producer. The Chicago Reader featured a review of said album with Miles Raymer writing, “…on the album in question, Crew shows a lot of potentials – he’s got a talent for punch lines and a way of mixing long lyrical with short chopped lines.”
In 2009, He worked with Grammy award-winning Rhymefest on “Destiny & Desire”, a song from his first mixtape, “Nightmares & Daydreams”.
On May 1, 2013, A.J. released “The Reality Of It All”, The project features a collaboration with Naledge from the indie hip-hop duo, Kidz in the Hall, entitled, “Nah Mean?”.
In 2015, Converse invited Crew to record at OutKast’s Stankonia Studios for their Rubber Tracks program. One of the songs recorded, “Vibes”, was released on 7″ vinyls distributed at Amoeba Music during a show Crew co-headlined in 2016. It was also featured on his 2018 album, “Excuses.”
In 2017, he featured in a satirical table read of “The Thing I Am”, a hip-hop musical written by Steve Bannon, that was produced by NowThis.
In 2018, he featured on “Rafters” by Clarence Clarity, which was reviewed favorably by Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop.