Phranchyze is The Black Larry Bird

"Phranchyze is quite literally battling his way to national prominence. The 26-year-old local rapper, otherwise known as financial adviser J.J. Shaw, is an emerging star…" (Austin Powell of Austin Chronicle).

The Nigerian-American born Jason Herman Alan-Jamal Shaw-Ogunro, JJ, has been curating his combative inflections in Austin since junior high. At the age of 16, Phranchyze won seven local hip-hop battles in a row, and knew that he had found his craft. Today, Featured in the international "battle" spotlight, he's consistently more jarring, charismatic, funny, and witty than any competitors. Phranchyze's YouTube portfolio of rap battles is conducive to wasting work hours. Having released over five full length albums and mix-tapes, his studio work is often regarded as vivid, concise rhymes mixed with compelling, moving beats. Over the past ten years, Phranchyze's unheard of "freestyle" skill has created a unique image that evokes intelligent, affluent thought.

Whether for underground hip-hop networks like Grind Time Now, or Eminem-sanctioned Red Bull promos, Phranchyze's features are top notch, winding, eight-to-ten minute slabs of humanism. In 2007, he cruised to the finals of the World Rap Championships, instinctively touting his Austin, Texas roots with a chip on his shoulder. Placing 3rd at the international finals in New York City, Phranchyze was able to add another impressive title to his other success:

2 x Rap Olympics Champion '04

World Rap Championships Houston Division Winner '07

5 X No Hurt Feelings Freestyle Battle Champion '07, '08

Toyota Scion "Keys to the City" Freestyle Battle Champion '08

2 x Epedemiic Freestly Battle Champion '09, '10

Red Bull "Road to Eight Mile" Freestlye Champion '10

5x Voted top ten in Austin Hip-Hop: '06, '07, '08′ '09 '10.

Phranchyze's battle career has developed a unique personality for the rapper, and has differentiated his brand in the international genre.

"He'll do homework on adversaries and pen exquisite one-liners, but leave the room and you will find a man that can flip a moment and leave an album in stitches with signatures." On Flowmasters (2006, 2007), Phranchyze was smooth, crispy, and hungry to show the world his abilities. His crossover style burst on Customs (2008), and featured themes that blew the album into a behemoth regional sneaker pimp anthem he'd win you over with. Released at the SXSW festival in 2009, Errybody Hates Me, took the flow high octane. Featuring mix-tape legend DJ Rapid Ric, the work featured Phranchyzes love for Austin and annoyance with popular culture. The Black Larry Bird was Phranchyze unhinged. Featuring stalker odes to porn stars, learned hometown hero raps brimming with persona, his biggest hooks, best laid to wax stanzas, and over the top production value, the album is Phranchyze's latest work and beginning to grow esteem in the local and regional marketplace.

Explore the region and you will find that Phranchyze not only freestyles, but writes and creates unique material. With packed, sweaty, and booming shows around Texas, Phranchyze has set the table for an aggressively fruitful 2011. It'll be a banner year.