MONA LISA

LOOPER

ABSTRACT

Philo - Circles

At a time where radio and TV seem to feed rap fans an unbalanced diet of money, girls, and partying; few MCs dare to be different, and even fewer dare to be themselves while playing hip-hop-follow-the-leader. Philo was born Jesus Kennerson on May 30, 1984 in Port Arthur, TX also known as (PA). Never being a stranger to adversity by age 17, the Texas native had overcome more negativity than the average American twice his age. He grew up without his father, surrounded by poverty. While watching his grandmother, who helped raise him, struggle with a drug addiction in her older age due to not being able to cope with the circumstance of her and her husband not being able to provide for their family. 

Philo was not allowed to listen to secular music in his home; it wasn’t until his cousin left behind a cassette tape of Aaliyah’s “One in a Million” and Tupac’s “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory” and was introduce to hip hop and r&b.

Life had dealt young Philo a difficult hand, yet he refused to fold and become a statistic. After becoming a high school dropout and a father at a young age he still continued and obtained his high school diploma and join the United States Navy in 2003 to try and provide a better life for his new young wife and child. While enlisted Philo with the help of three of the most influential people in his music career discovered he had a gift that could not be denied, even when he was told he was average he did not waiver. These young men formed a group called Every Angle (EA) which consisted of the late PR, Smurf, Cave and Philo himself. 

After the end of his time in the military Philo became more dedicated to his craft, he combines lyricism and an unpredictable delivery and undeniable work-ethic. Using his southern phonetics to propel him from rhyming in the streets of PA  to performing world-wide on stages in places such as Thailand, Tokyo, Japan, Los Angeles, California, Sydney and Australia just to name a few. 

In January 2013, Philo made a permanent move to San Diego, CA to pursue his career full-time.  Shortly thereafter, Philo packed his bags and moved to Hollywood and enrolled in the LA Film School Audio Engineering program, in which he obtained his diploma in December 2014.His well-rounded persona and humility that comes with rising above life's difficulties allows Philo to relate to a wide range of listeners from street soldiers to the socially-conscious. His music brings back that element of realism that originally helped hip-hop make the transition from a fad into a culture. Not afraid to stand alone, That is Philo!

IAM_PHILO