Down AKA Kilo | |
---|---|
Birth name | Juan Jose Martinez[1] |
Born | 1985 (age 38–39)[2] Oxnard, California, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Years active | 1998-present |
Labels | Familia Records, Silent Giant, Machete, Universal |
Website | www |
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]