As reported by HipHopDX yesterday (September 28), Flint, Michigan native emcee Jon Connor participated in BET’s annual Hip Hop Awards cypher alongside Wax, Rapsody, Emis Killa and Rittz at a taping that took place in Atlanta. Connor was grouped in the first of eight cyphers scheduled to air on BET on October 15 at 8 pm EST. Other cypher participants included Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Action Bronson and Kevin Hart amongst others.
According to a Tweet and consequent report by Rap Radar, Connor announced his being signed to Aftermath by Dr. Dre during the filming of the segment as a part of his cypher verse. The news was also confirmed by blogger Karen Civil who was also in attendance.
The news comes just months after pictures and reports of Connor and Dr. Dre together in the studio. In an interview with MLive, Connor admitted the pride he felt in Dre’s approval. “He was excited about the respect he had for my artistry,” he said. “Dre is a very particular person. He knows what he wants to hear,” Connor said. “…I made it through Dr. Dre’s chopping block of potential. Just to know he sees something in me, or that he respects what I do, or has an appreciation for what I bring to hip-hop, is something I put on my mantle.”
Connor’s meeting the West Coast legend was a product of a 2012 fall tour with Xzibit who eventually helped the two get in contact. Connor continued by describing the learning experience that has resulted out of working alongside the Beats headphone founder and CEO. “Any time I’m around him is constant growth for me,” he said. “He’s an inspirational person, he truly is. Anything and everything out his mouth is something to learn from.”
AD LOADING...
Connor has released a slew of mixtapes and music that included 2011’s Salvation and culminated in his retail debut this past July with Unconscious State. Unconscious State charted at number 35 on Billboard’s Top 200 the second week after its release.
(September 29)
UPDATE #1: Connor’s cypher alongside Wax, Rapsody, Emis Killa and Rittz can be found below.
“I cleared out all y’all that got in the way,” Connor raps in the cypher. “And y’all knew that I was ill, but now my doctor is Dre.”
Related: Dr. Dre & Jimmy Iovine’s Beats Electronics Receives $500 Million Investment
