Down AKA Kilo explained

Down AKA Kilo
Birth Name:Juan Jose Martinez[1]
Birth Place:Oxnard, California, U.S.
Genre:Hip hop
Occupation:Rapper
Years Active:1998-present
Label:Familia Records, Silent Giant, Machete, Universal

Juan Jose Martinez (born 1985), better known by his stage name Down AKA Kilo, is an American rapper from Oxnard, California.

Martinez was born in Oxnard; his parents were undocumented immigrants from Mexico.[2] Growing up, he listened to Cypress Hill and N.W.A and began rapping at age 13. He made his first recordings at the garage of childhood friend Edward "E-Dub" Rios, who would later become producer of the Power 106 radio show Pocos Pero Locos. He released his debut album California Cowboyz in 2003,[3] and his second album Definition of an Ese in 2007, with two singles from the album, "Lean like a Cholo" and "Definition of an Ese."

On March 28, 2009, Down was injured in a car crash at Farmington, New Mexico and put in a coma while hospitalized.[4]

Discography

Albums

align=center rowspan=2Yearalign=center rowspan=2Titlealign=center colspan=2Peak chart position
align=center width=45US R&Balign=center width=45US Heatseekers
2003California Cowboyz
  • Released: July 8, 2003
  • Label: Down By Law (#1300), Silent Giant (#8006)
  • Format: CD, digital download
2007Definition of an Ese[5]
  • Released: April 10, 2007
  • Label: Silent Giant (# 880110)
  • Format: CD/DVD, digital download
7011

Singles

align=center rowspan=2Yearalign=center rowspan=2Titlealign=center colspan=2Peak chart positionalign=center rowspan=2Album
align=center width=45USalign=center width=45US Rap
2007"Lean like a Cholo"[6] 3415Definition of an Ese

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LEAN LIKE A CHOLO . ASCAP . American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers . May 1, 2023.
  2. Ben-Yehuda. Ayala. Down aka Kilo. Billboard. April 27, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070617193513/http://billboard.com/bbcom/breakenter/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003577853. June 17, 2007.
  3. Web site: Cordor. Cyril. Down aka Kilo Biography. allmusic. 2007. April 17, 2011.
  4. News: Barlow. Zeke. Oxnard rapper injured in New Mexico crash. September 5, 2011. Ventura County Star. March 31, 2009.
  5. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=down aka kilo|chart=all}} The Definition of an Ese]. Billboard.com. April 17, 2011.
  6. Web site: Lean like a Cholo. Billboard.com. April 17, 2011.