01/10/05 | Ground Up
       Ground Up Records is the newest and hottest label on the West Coast. It's home of Logic, Manson, E-Nuff, Scan, Swiss Cash and Juan Jones.




Ground Up was founded in October of 2003. It's the perfect name for the label considering that the CEO Donald Johnson ran his company operations from his Navy paycheck. He runs Ground Up Records like his mentors Damon Dash (Roc-a-Fella Records), Russell Simmons (DEF JAM), and Lyor Cohen (Warner Brothers). He studies his mentors blueprints for success and applies them to his record label. On top of running an up and coming record label he serves in the United States Navy, he is stationed in Ventura CA and has been in the Navy for 5 years.

Jason Strother is the Company General Manager and Don will always say “Jason is a genius and is smarter then I am on a lot of industry topics.” The first artist signed to Ground Up was Logic. The West is really thriving for an artist with Logic's style, charisma and lyrical prowess. Some of the West Coast hottest artists have reached out to record with him; artists like Knoc-Turnal, Spitfiya, Planet Asia, Tha Relatives, Techneic (Dynamis Certified) and many others have took notice to what’s going to be the biggest label and artist on the West Coast. Major labels have already showed interest in Ground Up and Logic such as Ballr Records, Def Jam (East) and Interscope Records. His album will be hitting the streets soon and is yet to be titled but is sure going to give the West an extra platinum plaque. Logic was signed with the now shutdown Rawkus Records when he was 18 years old and since has been ripping MC’s and amazing every A&R at every Major Label and now, teamed with Donald Johnson, he is set for stardom and is going to be a major part in the resurrection of the Left Coast. Ground Up will be Logic's home forever just like every other artist on Ground Up as every artist is real serious and committed to the Ground Up emblem. Logic states “If it wasn’t for Don getting me back rapping none of this that is happening and is going to happen in the future would be possible.”

The next MC’s that signed to Ground Up was Manson and Juan Jones. Jones is currently serving a bid in the California correctional facility in Taft California but will be out next year. Manson is a versatile rapper that started rapping when he was eleven years of age; him, Logic and Spitfiya (Next Up Interscope) formed a group named “Dot Com." Manson's voice tells a story like no other rapper that graced the mic before. His songs tells a story that will give you chills and before you get to cold he will have you dancing with his tongue spitting lyrics. Manson, just like all of the Ground Up artists, will go down in history in hip-hop. His album “The Gemini” is going to be slated for later on this year and is going to be one of the best albums ever on the West Coast.

The next artist on the roster was a CEO pick, and that is Scan. Scan caught the attention of Don while freestyling at the Spitfiya video shoot. It took six months for Don and Spitfiya to put a tap on the streets of Compton, Watts, Gardena, Inglewood and neighboring cities to find the mystery MC. Once found, Scan has not disappointed his label mates or even more importantly his hard to please label exec. He spits hard and his lyrics are off the charts. Scan brings to Ground Up raw lyrics layered on top of cleverness. He has worked with many top producers and his album is slated for later in the year.

E-Nuff is the official left hand of Ground Up. His voice, lyrics and delivery will make him one of the greatest MC’s ever to come out on the Left Coast. He's been rapping since he was nine years of age and has been improving on every bar. E-Nuff was brought to Don by Manson and Logic and has been amazing the CEO ever since his first bar. His album is under development and will be coming out next year.

Last by not least is Swizz Cash; he is the newest member of the Ground Up classic roster of MC’s. He was just recently released for jail and is excited to work with the label. He rapped side by side with the rest of the Dot Com family that consist of Logic, Manson and Spitfiya (Interscope). He'll bring the streets and the nightlife of the West Coast on wax and will keep you on your toes with his delivery and versatility.

The Ground Up roster is full of talent that is going to explode on the West Coast. Each of the artists are lyricist and the average age is only twenty one so Ground Up will be around for a long time to come.--Tha Schizo WWW.WESTSIDERAP.COM


Here are 5 cuts for ya'll to check out, so make sure you peep them, these cats got some serious heat!!

» Logic - What It Do (ft. Spitfiya)

» Scan - Let 'Em Go (ft. Logic & Spitfiya)

» Logic - Sup Crip, Sup Blood

» Manson - Wake Up
» E-Nuff - I'm E-Nuff