On June 29, 1984, a Legend was born. Born Joshua Gunn, this Durham North Ca… Read Full Bio ↴On June 29, 1984, a Legend was born. Born Joshua Gunn, this Durham North Carolina native began performing as early as his voice could pronounce words. Known to his fans as J. Gunn, he would sing in talent shows and even door to door for money to satisfy his thirst to perform even before he was old enough to attend school. Surrounded by the musical influence of his father’s passion for soul and funk records, and coupled with his older brother’s love for hip hop during its golden era, J. Gunn became quickly drawn to the art of emceeing. After penning his first rhyme at the age of seven, and performing that same song in a talent show that year, people immediately recognized that this was no ordinary young man. At just nine years old, J. Gunn began to enter every talent show possible and started winning prize money for his performances.

While his lyrical ability was obvious, his subject matter more closely reflected those of his early influences such as Common Sense, Big Daddy Kane and Nas, than those typical of a rapper his age. His non-traditional lyrics proved to be an obstacle for J. Gunn to gain the attention of major labels. As he matured into his early teens, freestyle and battle rapping became his forte. He entered and won his first major freestyle battle (the inaugural “Dual of The Iron Mics”) at the age of 13. Continuing to “battle” throughout his teenage years, J. Gunn accumulated nearly 200 freestyle championships garnering him major credibility within his region. It was evident that now was the time for J. Gunn to pursue a record deal. At the time J. Gunn signed his first independent record deal he was recording under the name “Baby J”. The year was 1999 and the deal was with Mike City of Hectic Records. Though the Hectic situation was short lived it allowed Gunn to record a song entitled “Blaze It Up” with one of his childhood idles, Big Daddy Kane. J. Gunn then entered a management period with Terminator X of Public Enemy and officially changed his moniker from Baby J to J. Gunn to reflect the maturity and growth he had obtained as an artist. A demo/album was recorded and was shopped to labels. Though some positive contacts were established, a record deal to release the long awaited J. Gunn project was never solidified.

The following fall Gunn would enroll in North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and continue his reign on the local hip hop scene conquering on campus battles and local shows. During the entire growth period Gunn’s close friends (K Slack and Killa K) remained by his side. This loose partnership in rhyme eventually would develop into a group known as THETHYRDAY (pronounced The Third Day, in reference to the rebirth of hip hop). Together they began working on the first installment of 9th Wonder’s compilation, “Mr. Dream Merchant, Vol 1″. The Group first began to operate under the direction of Terminator X, but later signed with the indie label Street Flava Entertainment started by their mentor and local college radio Deejay DJ Samps. Touring across the east coast and releasing an album (“The Perfection Xperiment 2″ which featured production from 9th Wonder, Krhysis and Nicolay of Justus League fame) created a legion of internet and international fans. THETHYRDAY would later disband in 2006 due to creative differences.

Rising from his tumultuous musical past, Gunn remains one of the most highly sought after and anticipated artists in North Carolina and the greater Hip Hop underground. After a short partnership with the now defunct Nxlevel Music Group, which produced one critically acclaimed project entitled “The Sky…” Gunn and his long time friend Rashad Ladson created the joint venture known as Red Eye Lifestyle. Red Eye Lifestyle is a lifestyle brand that will promote the music, entertainment, and digital media centered around the lifestyle of young entreprenuers. The first offering under the Red Eye umbrella will be “Earl Manigault,” a mixtape of original material set to be released in the early weeks of August. To know Red Eye is to experience it, and we formally welcome you to a new chapter in musical history, welcome to the world of J.Gunn, and welcome to The Red Eye Lifestyle.

“No Sleep ‘Til Success.”

Shut It Down
J. Gunn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I have good days, I have days where I am sound
If you ask me how I'm doing I'll say I'm good all around
Cause I'm feeling intact, feeling stable like the ground
Even my friends in my DM's laughing with me I’m a clown
But then I got a couple loose ends I ain't figured out
I’m just trying to lose them before they try to take me out
I just speak the truth when I say these voices are too loud
So all these thoughts, all these voices, all emotions it’s time to shut it down

You better shut your mouth
I'm gonna hold it down
I'm a hold my ground
It's time to shut it down
Ay yo, 2020
Crazy year man there ain't nothing funny
Been on that grind every day just trying to hustle that money
Quarantine began to proceed a pretty ugly
Side of my life the dark side rises to keep me company
They had me mentally struggling
Man I swear I was never bugging
So hard in my life
I wanted em gone but they kept on coming
I even picked up running to keep my mind from becoming
A prisoner to my thoughts, come to find that was good for nothing
Was on the brink of losing it all man you had to watch me
I'm pretty sure I had a fall in my heart cause it got me
I'm so surprised it didn't all fall apart it was sloppy
I cannot be the only one that couldn't shake it off me
I saw my wife struggling with anxiety it caught me
Off guard when she fell hard wringing her heart making her body
Lose all control no where to go like the waves of a tsunami
Crashing her mind tears in her eyes walking dead here like zombies
I have good days, I have days where I am sound
If you ask me how I'm doing I'll say I'm good all around
Cause I'm feeling intact, feeling stable like the ground
Even my friends in my DM's laughing with me I’m a clown
But then I got a couple loose ends I ain't figured out
I’m just trying to lose them before they try to take me out
I just speak the truth when I say these voices are too loud
So all these thoughts, all these voices, all emotions it’s time to shut it down
You better shut your mouth
I'm gonna hold it down
I'm a hold my ground
It's time to shut it down
And I
Had the kind of year where all I faced was danger
Felt like Millie Bob, Eleven months kept getting Stranger
Things kept feeling like they're upside down, I'm trying to anchor
Myself to something sound and no one else, I need a favor
Life, Can you please stop the anger that I
Write with, I'm not trying to be self righteous
I just know that I don't like this
I'm in a war that I can't fight with
Real guns or knives it's
Spiritual Leonidas type of war we fighting
Only defeated when I’m self reliant
I learned a lot being in the den with lions
One thing was how to be more violent
The other taught me that my feels are lying
I spent too much time bickering and whining
While I’m rollercoaster riding
Up one day and down the next, barley surviving
Backsliding in my heart, it’s the closest I’ve been
To being alone in the dark
I have good days, I have days where I am sound
If you ask me how I'm doing I'll say I'm good all around
Cause I'm feeling intact, feeling stable like the ground
Even my friends in my DM's laughing with me I’m a clown
But then I got a couple loose ends I ain't figured out
I’m just trying to lose them before they try to take me out
I just speak the truth when I say these voices are too loud
So all these thoughts, all these voices, all emotions it’s time to shut it down
I’ll look em in the face and say it straight you better shut your mouth
They aint gon take my faith, I ain't gon break, I'm gonna hold it down
They're making a mistake if they don't think that I'm a hold my ground
It’s time to shut it down
It’s time to shut it down
I’ll look em in the face and say it straight you better shut your mouth
They aint gon take my faith, I ain't gon break, I'm gonna hold it down

They're making a mistake if they don't think that I'm a hold my ground
It’s time to shut it down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to J. Gunn's song "Shut it Down" explore the emotional turbulence and inner struggles faced by the artist amidst the backdrop of the challenging year 2020. The opening verse highlights the contrast between good days filled with laughter and stability, and the presence of unresolved issues that threaten to overwhelm and drown out the positive aspects of life. The artist candidly shares the burden of intrusive thoughts and loud inner voices that stir up anxiety and distress, prompting a call to action to shut down these negative influences.

As the song progresses, the second verse delves deeper into the artist's personal battles and the toll that the year took on both mental and emotional well-being. The references to quarantine, struggles with anxiety, and feeling on the brink of losing control paint a vivid picture of the intense inner turmoil experienced. The artist's vulnerability is on full display as they navigate the dark side of their mind and the challenges of maintaining stability amidst chaos and uncertainty.

The recurring chorus reinforces the theme of resilience and determination to overcome the internal struggles and external pressures that threaten to derail them. The resolve to hold one's ground, shut down the negative thoughts, and maintain faith in the face of adversity serves as a defiant statement of empowerment and self-preservation. The artist acknowledges the weight of their emotional battles but refuses to be defeated, choosing to confront their inner demons head-on.

In the final verses, the artist reflects on the lessons learned from their struggles, finding strength in the midst of turmoil and refusing to succumb to despair. The imagery of battling with spiritual weapons, learning from the den with lions, and navigating the ups and downs of life's rollercoaster ride all point to a journey of growth and self-discovery. Ultimately, "Shut it Down" is a poignant exploration of resilience, perseverance, and the ongoing struggle to stay grounded and true to oneself in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

I have good days, I have days where I am sound
I experience highs and lows in life, some days are good while others are not

If you ask me how I'm doing I'll say I'm good all around
Even if asked, I'll claim to be fine overall, regardless of how I truly feel inside

Cause I'm feeling intact, feeling stable like the ground
Despite inner turmoil, I present myself as composed and steady

Even my friends in my DM's laughing with me I’m a clown
Externally, I may seem lighthearted and humorous to my friends, masking internal struggles

But then I got a couple loose ends I ain't figured out
There are unresolved issues in my life that I have yet to address

I just speak the truth when I say these voices are too loud
Acknowledging that the negative thoughts and voices in my head are overwhelming

So all these thoughts, all these voices, all emotions it’s time to shut it down
I've reached a point where I need to silence the negativity and take control of my mental wellbeing

You better shut your mouth
An admonishment to the negative voices or thoughts, demanding their silence

I'm gonna hold it down
I will stay strong and resilient in the face of adversity

I'm a hold my ground
I will stand firm and unwavering amidst challenges

It's time to shut it down
The moment has arrived to take charge and eliminate the negativity

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Jeremy Espinoza

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS