JPZ
JPZ
John Patrick Winkler born November 19, 1984, known to the world by his stage name JPZ (Jay-Peezy), is an American Rapper and Producer. He has charted multiple times on Billboard, accumulating over 50 million streams with his production catalog and solo projects.
His family called him by his initials J.P. since the day he was born. Later the neighborhood kids would nickname him Peezy. Inspired by the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and local rapper LBZ he took the name JPZ. He is well known for his heavy west coast bass lines and deep southern Influenced 808s, mixed with element ‘s of Kansas City jazz, blues and a whole lot of soul. He has produced and featured on records with Legends E-40, B-Legit, Tech N9NE, Rich the Factor, Young Dolph, NBA Youngboy, Larry June, Richie Rich, Boosie Badazz, Yo Gotti and many more.
Early Life
JP was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Don and Kate Winkler. He was raised in a blue-collar Irish-Catholic home, where the sounds of classic rock, rhythm & blues, country and soul were ever present. Baseball and the smell of Kansas City BBQ were the staples of his childhood. He developed an interest in music as soon as he could walk, using everything within reach as drumsticks. By the second grade he was taking saxophone lessons inspired by a children’s book called “Charlie Parker Played Be Bop”. After toying with guitar, and bass he found his true calling in a keyboard gifted to him by his uncle Billy. His Mother’s love and constant encouragement coupled with his Father’s battles with addiction, and frequent run ins with the law, became inspiration for his artistry. Finding an outlet in the aggressive sound of 90s Punk Rock and Hip-Hop, he was Inspired by the lyrical prowess of Emcees Like Nas, Eminem, Jay-Z, Big L and Big Pun. JP knew a music was his way out. While attending Hogan Prep, he was introduced to the gritty world of underground Kansas City and Bay Area street-rap, artists like Mac Dre, E-40, Fat Tone, C-Bo, Brotha Lynch Hung, Southside Posse, Luni Coleone, Rich the Factor and Tech N9ne, paired with the syrupy southern sounds of UGK, 3-6 Mafia, Nelly, Master-P, and the Hot Boyz would change young Peezy’s life forever.
History
JPZ started making a name with his first Rap Group DVC while still in High School. Performing all over Kansas City, from the G’s Jamaican Cuisine to the Firelight Lounge. Soon catching the attention of a local producer Mike “Mogul” Bell, Peezy got his shot to work the boards in a state-of-the-art studio. After losing friends to violence, prison and drugs the group disbanded and the music was lost in time.
After graduating high school, Pz was lost. Bouncing from couch to couch, and in and out of jail. He eventually had to clean up his act as conditions of probation. He used handy man skills learned from working on cars, to hustle his way into a job as a maintenance mechanic. He used the money he earned, to put together his first professional studio, starting to record and produce local acts. He partnered with his childhood friend Conor “Cass” Sherman and Rec the Beats was Born.
Chop Shop
JPZ started refining his sound, blending mob music with his blue-collar roots, and love for building old school cars, creating a project called “Chop Shop”. Featuring his first official single “H.U.S.T.L.E.R.”. The song gained traction around Kansas City getting him spots to open for artists like Camron, Slick Rick, Yukmouth, Rittz, Mc 8iht, Krizz Kaliko, Mayday, and Spice One. While on the grind passing out cds and performing, Pz caught the attention of Kansas City legend’s Rich the Factor and Rush Borda. Locking in his first production placements on the legendary “Black Border Brothers” series and Rich’s 2011 Album “2 Liters”. After years of patience and persistence, he finally persuaded The Popper and DJ Fresh to let him produce “100 Bars” on The Popper’s 2014 album “Values, Beliefs, Loyalty & Respect”
Straight out the Dirt
Losing his little brother Cordell “Logik” Bell to gun violence, and several of his friends caught in a sweeping Federal Indictment, JP began to question the lifestyle he was living and promoting in his music. Leaning on his best understanding of God, he began spending much of his time at the Islamic Center, praying, volunteering and studying the Arabic language. After a two-year hiatus, and a chance encounter with Suli4Q at an E-40 and B-legit concert, the two decided to team up and work on music. Suli helped Peezy change his negative outlook, and he began to study the law of attraction and manifestation. Later The Popper came to see JPZ about his “Kansas City Mob” sound for a collaboration between him and Rich the Factor. Inspired by the visit, Pz posted one of his “mob beats” to Instagram, the following Monday, the originator of the Mob sound, E-40, started following him. His life changed forever.
Days later Suli encouraged JP to tag E-40 in several beats a day. After weeks of tagging, 40 reached out. A phone conversation was had, and JP started emailing beats. The excitement was growing from the interaction between 40 and Peezy on Instagram, leading to more placements, with Rich the Factor, The Popper, Yung Cat, Suli4Q, Rush Borda and more.
On August 11, 2017, the 44th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, E-40 reached to JP to let him know he would be producing and featuring on his next single, “Straight out the Dirt” with NBA Youngboy and Yo Gotti. The song debuted on Dr. Dre’s “The Pharmacy” on Beats One Radio. It was an instant smash, earning 94.9 KMEL song of the week in the Bay Area and accumulating millions of steams in a matter of days. Before long Kansas City’s Hot 103 Jamz was reaching out about the buzz around JPZ’s single “Story”. Also buzzing around Kansas City was Rich the Factor and The Popper’s JPZ produced single “Prospect”.What was once a seed in the underground, had now fully taken root. Next E-40 and B-Legit dropped the Billboard charting single “Meet the Dealers” from their collaborative project “Connected and Respected”. Peezy began taking trips to California, building relationships, and planting his roots in the fertile Bay soil. With the help and guidance of B-legit, it was time to grow.
California Dreaming
Young Pz packed up his Tahoe and headed west. With the help of 707 legend Nathan “Nate Dank” Newman, Peezy was now Bay Area resident. He instantly went from a big fish in a small pond, to small fish in the Pacific Ocean. Nate showed him the ropes of how to move in the Bay Area, introducing him to Bay Bosses like Berner, Yukmouth, The Mekanix, Chippass, Keak the Sneak, J-Diggs, J. Stalin and more. Nate and JP frequently fought like brothers, Peezy was cocky, arrogant, and insisted on striking out on his own. After a string of bad relationships, and bad decisions Peezy found himself broke and alone in West Oakland. He had no option but to once again lean on his trade-skill as a handy man.
When Young John Patrick was at his lowest, Uncle Bela stepped in, to save the day. Inviting him to Hollywood for the release of Young Dolph and Key Glock’s album “Dum and Dummer”. The Next day they shot the video for the JPZ Produced single” Pocket Full of Money” Featuring Young Dolph and Boosie Badazz, unfortunately to footage was lost after Dolph’s passing.
Kansas City Blues & Kansas City BBQ
After returning to the Bay, Peezy was inspired, yet homesick. He composed his debut album with a unique blend of bluesy mob-soul ballads about his hometown. Craving BBQ and a hug from his mom, he headed back to KC to shoot a video for the first single “Charlie Parker”. He knew the perfect spot. The Popper’s legendary IMKC store in the Historic Jazz District on 18th and Vine where Charlie Parker once played. The follow up single “OMG” with B-Legit and Suli4Q, was a smash accumulating hundreds of thousands of streams within the first week. Returning home again for a show with E-40 and B-Legit they shot the video for “OMG” at JPZ’s car club hang out, Twin Cities Customs.
Promo for the album was cut short after the world was shut down due to a global pandemic. JP bounced back with the J. Stalin assisted “80’s Babies” and “Stay out the Way” with J-Diggs and Suli4Q. Shortly after E-40 reached out for the beat and the hook on his 2020 track “Smelling like a Brick” Featuring B-Legit. Soon after JP dropped “Kansas City BBQ” with the lead single “What I’m Made For”. A triumphant anthem, about a blue-collar guy turning his Hip-Hop dreams to reality through resilience, perseverance, hard work and a whole lot of prayer.
Game University
After a fateful trip back to Kansas City, Bela invited JPZ to the studio to work on a new song, this would be a night to remember. Enter his mentor, big brother, and East Oakland Legend Richie Rich. JPZ and Richie’s musical chemistry was instant, they shared a similar sense of humor, a love for cars, Hip-Hop, and Ancient Aliens. Within weeks Rich had Peezy in the mix with Too Short, Mistah Fab and Snoop Dogg. A few Months later while returning home to perform, JP’s Dad passed away. Though their relationship was turbulent, he was crushed. Rich stepped in a and took him under his wing when he needed it most. At times JP felt like the red headed stepchild, but with Rich, he was family. Dubble made sure he was backstage at every event, opening for him and Too Short, taking him on the road from the Bay to LA, Oklahoma to Vegas.
Before you know it, Richie Rich and JPZ were over 10 songs deep on a new album. This wasn’t just a musical collaboration; this was a master class of East Oakland Game. Dubble R took JP from the grittiest corners of “The Town” to the high rises of San Francisco. Introducing Pz to all the Players, Hustlers, Ballers and Bosses. Stacking up dope music with Larry June, Young Jr, Jane Handcock, E-40, Tray Dee, V-White, Curren$y and more. Rich tuned up JPZ’s game like a high-performance muscle car, helping him build his confidence, refine his look, define his style, sharpen his wordplay, and spot a sucka a mile away.
5816
With a renewed sense of confidence JPZ attacked social media with an innovative marketing strategy, posting beats everday, challenging his audience to rap to them. Offering “whoever is the dopest wins the beat”. His “Mob Beat Challenge” and “Detroit Beat Challenge” both went viral, gaining millions of views and helping to build his fan base all around the country. This push caught the attention of Kansas City legend Black Walt, an integral part of Kansas City Hip-Hop and close friend to the Kansas City King Tech N9ne. Walt reached out about a project he was working on with Tech, and within weeks JP was standing in front of one of his biggest influences rapping and playing beats. Tech liked what he heard, and within a few weeks had picked 16 songs for an album called “5816 Forest” named after address of the House where Tech started rapping. JPZ was thrilled. That night while in the studio playing music for Dennis Graham the hard drive with the beats for 5816 crashed. JPZ was crushed. He desperately tried to recover the drive, but the drive was corrupted. Not one to give up, he worked meticulously day and night to recreate all 16 beats. He considered not telling Tech and Walt, in fear it might jeopardize the deal. He had a change of heart after a conversation with Strange Music CEO Travis O’Guin, where he detailed a very similar incident, where Tech’s discerning ear was able to tell the difference immediately. Reluctantly he called Walt and told him what happened. Surprisingly calm, Walt assured him this wasn’t the end of the world. Walt explained to Tech what happened and after carefully listening and a few adjustments, the deal was done. The video for the first single “The Birth” is out now and the entire album is slated for release later this year.