By: Zachary Cable
Not every rap artist wakes up at noon after another long night of drinking, smoking, partying and lounging around. Some work multiple jobs while pursuing a college degree and are passionate about crafting their art until exhaustion.
Not every rap artist pursued music as a career as an excuse to gain attention, fame and money. Some are truly in love with music and the process of making, improving and perfecting it.
It’s here just two miles from Ball State University’s campus where an iPhone alarm rings at 8 a.m. labeled “Job 1.” This one bedroom apartment-turned personal recording studio is just big enough to turn dreams into reality.
A one-way flight itinerary from Indianapolis to Los Angeles lies on the kitchen counter next to a framed Ball State University diploma awarded last May.
On the other side of the counter is a Bluetooth Bose speaker playing hip-hop instrumentals.
“This is usually how I start every morning,” said rap/hip-hop artist Connor Johnson, jotting down rhymes in the Notes app of his iPhone 7 Plus. “My life is always surrounded by music.”
Known as Conrad Jon on Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud, Johnson has three projects released and is working on his fourth, “Breakfast for Dinner EP.”
An EP, or extended play, is a short musical recording playlist that is usually unqualified as an album and typically contains a minimum of four and maximum of six tracks.
On the way to job No. 1 at Jimmy Johns, he’s still thinking of new rhymes and lines.
“Honestly, I think it’s because of my A.D.H.D. My brain is just always thinking creatively and music is my choice of creative outlet to lean on,” said Johnson.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (A.D.H.D.) is a mental disorder characterized by problems paying attention and/or excessive activity. Symptoms typically appear before a person is 12 years old. Johnson is part of the 4 percent of U.S. adults diagnosed with the disorder, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
After a 10-to-4 shift delivering sub sandwiches, Johnson immediately goes to Ball State’s David Letterman Building, up to the second floor and inside one of the audio studios.
“You know how people have safe places? This is mine,” said Johnson. “I don’t really have access to these studios anymore because I graduated. But whenever I want access, I just text one of my buddies and he lets me in.”
Johnson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in audio production May 2018.
“There have been times where I literally pulled all-nighters here working on audio projects and my own music. I just feel at home in this studio.”
It’s in this same studio that he edited and produced the music video to his song “Face Time,” which has over 1,300 views on YouTube.
“This sounds super corny and cheesy, but I’ve known I wanted to be an artist ever since I was like 10 years old. It’s crazy to see my dream actually coming to life. Like I’m actually moving to Los Angeles… that’s so wild.”
Through networking in his fraternity, Sigma Chi, he connected with a former brother who lives in Los Angeles – also doing audio work – who’s willing to let Johnson live with him while he settles into the LA lifestyle.
“I’m taking such a big chance,” said Johnson. “I don’t have much money saved up, but I know I’m not going to be able to start a successful music career in Indiana. This is a risk I have to take. It’s really now or never; the time is ticking.”
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Division has the second highest employment rate of musicians and singers in the country, behind just the New York City Metropolitan Division.
He becomes so engaged in creating music that he often forgets to eat. It’s 5 p.m. and he is just now eating for the first time since he had a bowl of Frosted Flakes when he woke up.
Today’s late lunch is the typical college-kid meal: ramen noodles, but with a twist: an added egg and a side of blue tortilla chips and leftover Puerto Vallarta Restaurant salsa.
Staring at his flight itinerary with a blank “is this a dream?” kind of facial expression, he starts talking about how he got here and the path he’s taken.
“I started taking rap serious serious when I was a junior in high school. I was always freestyling at lunch and people kept telling me how good I was, so I decided to get in a studio and start using the creative part of my mind to write something meaningful.”
“There’s been a lot of people throughout the years that have criticized my music and even made it a personal attack on me because they didn’t like that I’m white and rap. There’s been times where I thought, ‘maybe this isn’t who I am after all.’ But I know deep down this is my dream and this is what I want to do in life.”
People always ask Johnson if music is a Plan A or Plan B type-of-thing, and he always says, “this is my only plan.”
“I mean, it is important to have a backup idea. But if you drill it in your mind that you have a Plan B, then you’re not putting all your energy into your Plan A. I got a degree in audio production because I know it will help me in my music career. So, if I were to have a Plan B, it’d still be something music-related.”
His other day job is as the host of Tuesday’s Open Mic Night at BeHereNow, a D.I.Y. music venue in Muncie’s “village.”
“Conrad started coming to Open Mic Night a few years ago,” said BeHereNow owner Whitney Lewis. “He impressed a lot of people which eventually landed him his own shows here and now he hosts Open Mic Night every Tuesday.”
Johnson’s last performance at BeHereNow before he leaves for California is Saturday, Dec. 1 at 10 p.m. But right now, he’s preparing for his show tonight at Uggly’s Bar and Grill.
“So right now, what I’m doing is making my set list,” said Johnson. “I have 30 minutes to perform, so I’ll probably do six or seven songs.”
“There’s always one song I perform at every single show I do. It means so much to me.”
The SoundCloud-exclusive song is called “Supernova,” and is one of the first songs Johnson fully produced.
“It’s not my most popular song by any means, but it’s definitely, by far, my favorite.”
His most played song is “Never Understand,” which has about 5,000 listens on Spotify.
Before every show, Johnson says he likes to eat something light to give him energy. Today, he chose his workplace, Jimmy Johns; specifically, the No. 9 Big Italian.
Johnson’s set is scheduled for 9 p.m., but he shows up an hour early to “connect with similar people.”
He’s greeted by a well-known Muncie video producer, Thomas Daniel, owner of Golden Coast Films. The two talk about collaborating on a video when Daniel visits Los Angeles in the coming months.
“Honestly, he’s got the flow; he’s got the rhythm; he’s got the catchy lines; he’s got what it takes to succeed in this industry,” said Daniel. “He isn’t trying to be the next Drake or the next Lil Yachty or anything – he’s trying to be the first Conrad Jon.”
Johnson, sweating from his active and engaging performance, sits down on a stool after his fourth song, takes a long pause and makes the announcement.
“I appreciate y’all for rocking with me. For real, that’s real,” he said to the attentive crowd. “So, this is my last show here. I’m going to try to make this music thing happen, man. I’m moving out to Cali’ next week. It’s so crazy. Literally, anything is possible guys. Just follow and trust your dreams.”
While still sitting down, he takes another long pause.
“If you’ve ever heard me perform before, you know this next song. It’s the most important song of mine to me.”
“Supernova” begins to play as Johnson finishes the remainder of his Aquafina water bottle, looks at the crowd and passionately starts to sing his most-treasured song.
At the end of the song, he sits back down on the stool and just smiles.
“That song means so much to me, man. I still have 10 minutes left in my set, but I think I want to leave it at that,” said Johnson with a satisfied tone. “I really appreciate y’all, for real. But I’ve got moves to make. Join me on this journey and follow my Spotify at ‘Conrad Jon.’ Much love.”
Walking off the stage, a group of about five or six people shake hands and talk with Johnson for potentially the last time.
Walking out of the venue, Johnson wipes the sweat off his head with his plain white T-shirt as he steps towards his car.
“I’ve got another long day tomorrow… I have to start packing everything for next week’s LA move. I still can’t believe this. I’m literally about to be living my dream.”
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