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Critical Knowledge
Critical Knowledge Critical Knowledge Smoking
Background information
Birth name	Jonathan Ashley Powell
Also known as	Critical, CritiKnow
Born	Decedmber 08, 1982 Dublin, Georgia
Origin	Lyons, Georgia, Soperton, Georgia
Genre	Hip Hop, Hick Hop, Southern Hip Hop, Crunk
Occupations	Rapper, Musician, Song Writer, Ghostwriter, Record Producer
Years active	1998–present
Record Labels	Clay Road Records, Live Evil Records, Crunk Town Records
Associated acts	J.Paul (THE DEMIGOD)
Website	www.CriticalK.com

Jonathan Powell (Born December 08, 1982), better known by his alter ego Critical Knowledge, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter. "Critical Knowledge" was born in Dublin, Georgia to two teenage parents, where he grew up among impoverished surroundings, moving back and forth from Soperton, Georgia to Lyons, Georgia throughout his most of his childhood, never staying in on spot very long.

After his mother and father were divorced, he moved in with his grandmother in Lyons, Georgia, where he was the only caucasian kid in a all black neighborhood.

By the time he was 12 he had quickly turned to crime (stealing, robbing, and selling drugs), [QUOTE: "In order to have what other kids had"]. Critical Knowledge ran in and out of trouble for most of his life, which lead him to jail countless times, as well as prison.

He first fell in love with hip-hop when he heard; Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, House of Pain, and Outkast. Which became something of a safe haven for him. For he began writing his own rhymes at age 14.The first song he wrote was called: ("My Shoe Is Tore"), writing lyrics seemed to help him stay out of trouble ("Some...").

As an artist, Critical Knowledge produces all his music, with a style like no other (He calls it: "Ill Killing") blending multiple genres to create abstract music and converting it into his on creation. No he isn't just about Hip-Hop; for he is also a composer of Rock, Blues, Country, & Techno. [QUOTE: "Being from GEORGIA I get my influences from all genres of music."] His lyrics deal with social & political issues, to exposing, as he calls it: ("Brainwashing From The Industry"). There is no glorification of materialism within his music, or no genocide teaching. Critical Knowledge makes real life authentic music that anyone with a soul, heart & imagination can relate to ("Cutting The Puppet's Strings"), those whom are sick of what is programmed to be accepted as good music ("Seekers Of Truth").

The importance of this article is to inform people of the rapper "Critical Knowledge" and to educate them on his genre of music "Hick Hop", which most people do not seem to have much knowledge of. As Hick Hop is not something all that new, as it has been going on for many years, but has grown a lot in the last few years, thanks a lot to certain artist known as; Big Smo, Bubba Sparxxx, and Colt Ford.

But the question at hand is, who is the artist "Critical Knowledge" and how does he fit into this? -Well Critical Knowledge began rapping in 1998, but by late 2002 he had made quit a name for himself in the undergound rap scene of Georgia with a certain song named "We So Dirty" (Which speaks about growing up in the South and not really carrying about what people think of you, but to take pride in who you are, and where you come from). -Which just so happened be around the same time that Bubba Sparxxx showed up with his debut album: Dark Days, Bright Nights. But for Critical Knowledge, his life took another path, as he fell into drug addiction, which led him to pretty much giving up hope in music. Up until 2004, when he reappeared, with a new album entitled: Lukewarm E.P. -But as before Critical Knowledge quickly fell back into drug addiction. Over the years, he would release a single song here and there, which only left his fans in deep wonder as to what was really going on?

Critical Knowledge ended up becoming homeless in 2009, which soon led him to prison; where he would serve five years for burglary. He was relesed in Febuary, 2014 and since then he has released one song entitled: "Fuck Who?". The talk of a new album ("FORTITUDE") is in the air according to his official website: www.CriticalK.com, as to if it will happen, well only time will tell.

More info on "Critical Knowledge" can be found at the following links: www.hickhopking.com www.critiknow.com