AJ McQueen

Take pain, passion, and courage, mix that with knowledge, faith, consciousness and love, and then top it off with organic creativity, lyricism, and wit...and you'll get AJ McQueen. AJ McQueen was born and raised in the rough streets of west side St.Louis, Missouri, "Wellston" to be exact. At the age of 13 AJ became active in the neighborhood gang and at the age of 15 he was shot and nearly lost his life. However, with the prayers of friends, family, and loved ones AJ survived to live another day. After relinquishing ties to gang activity where his involvement almost claimed his life AJ was sent away to live with a friend of the family in Houston, Texas to help curve his behavior and to save his life.

AJ started rapping at the young age of 11 where he would grow to be known around the neighborhood and school hallways as one of the best freestylers and battle rappers on the Westside and Northside of St.Louis. However, when he was sent to Houston his writing and lyrics became something more "meaningful". He recorded his first song on a tape recorder and he let the man of the house hear the song, and after listening he said, "AJ you have great potential." That day AJ's life changed forever. After working 2 jobs at the age of 16 AJ purchased his own studio equipment and he began recording more music. He started performing at talent shows and events around the Southside of Houston, "Alief" to be exact. AJ recorded his first full length mixtape and passed it out around his high school campus, and It was at that time that he earned the respect of his peers. At 17 AJ joined a group called S.T.C. and performed all over the country spreading a message of positivity and faith. After a successful career with the group, AJ went solo. At 19 AJ was featured on B.E.T.’s hit show 106 & Park, where they gave him the title of "Youth Activist", and it was at that moment that he knew he had a God given gift and responsibility that was bigger than anything that he ever imagined. With this inner knowing he decided to put his past, pain, knowledge, experiences, and devotion all into his writing and music.

He has since toured the country performing on many stages and platforms including the Northern Lights Tour, SXSW Music Conference, and more. At the age of 23 He was recognized by President Barack Obama and received the White House Service Achievement Award for his service to his community and also his positive music. He has also received the Certificate of Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. To go along with those achievements he has received numerous awards and accolades for his music, writing, poetry and entrepreneurship. One award that he is most proud of is the Top 30 under 30 Entrepreneur Award for his company Writer's Block Inc, a nonprofit performing arts and literacy company established in 2013 where he is the Founder & CEO. To learn more about Writer's Block visit www.wearewritersblock.org

There is a lot to AJ McQueen, and hopefully one day there will be a movie that will show the many facets of his life of his life starting when he came out of the womb fighting to live weighing only 3 pounds and 6 oz, fast forward to him writing his first book "Art of Life", on to him releasing his debut EP, "The Gr8 Progression", and beyond. AJ's music signifies his on-going efforts of Inspiration, Activism, and Creativity as that of a lyrical painter who has been given a world sized canvas to compose a masterpiece. His music is organic, transparent, poetic, challenging, and some would say a breath of fresh air. AJ McQueen has many titles, such as emcee, lyricist, entrepreneur, author, and revolutionary. While he may be a man of many talents McQueen offers a new, fresh, organic, and captivating sound to Hip-Hop, this generation and the world at large!