Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnathan Campbell.
Hi Johnathan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started making music in 2014 when I was six years old. I grew up around sound — my father played in a rock band in the late 90s and later became a sound engineer and producer. Music wasn’t abstract in our house; it was something you build and break down.
Over the years I moved through different styles — early phonk instrumentals, trap, cloud rap — not chasing trends, but learning structure. Most of that growth happened independently, online and in isolation.
Today my work leans into Memphis-influenced underground rap, but with a colder and more restrained perspective. I’m focused on atmosphere and tension rather than surface-level aggression.
It’s been a slow build, not a viral moment — and I’m comfortable with that.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. I started very young, and that means a lot of my early work still exists online. To be honest, some of it makes me cringe now. I was experimenting, trying to sound older, darker, more intense than I actually was. That’s part of growing up in public.
Another challenge was isolation. I didn’t have a real scene around me that understood what I was trying to build. Most of my development happened alone — in my room, online, learning through mistakes. No mentors, no structured path, just trial and error.
I also had to outgrow certain aesthetics. It’s easy to lean into exaggerated aggression or “gang” imagery when you’re young and influenced by what you consume. The harder part was stepping back and asking myself what actually feels real and what is just imitation.
Even now, I’m still refining that line.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a rapper and producer working in the underground space, heavily influenced by Memphis roots but pushing it into a more psychological direction.
I build my own sound from the ground up. I handle production, texture, distortion and structure myself. Nothing is accidental. If something sounds chaotic, it’s controlled.
I’m not interested in horror as theatrics. I’m interested in tension — the kind that sits under everyday reality. My music often plays with contrast: бытовая normalcy next to unease, irony next to darkness. That balance is intentional.
I’ve been building this language for years. I didn’t jump into underground aesthetics because it was trending — I grew into them. What sets me apart is discipline. I treat underground music seriously. It’s not costume, it’s construction.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success is being understood.
Not numbers. Not money. Not streams. If someone listens to my music and genuinely feels what I was trying to express — that’s success. I’m not trying to force meaning onto the listener. I want the connection to happen naturally. If it resonates, it resonates.
Success is staying aligned with my principles. It’s building something that doesn’t collapse under pressure — whether that pressure comes from trends, expectations, or external systems.
I’m not interested in making music that adjusts itself to fit what’s convenient. Success is maintaining identity, philosophy, and sound without dilution.
If the message reaches the right people — even quietly — that’s enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://98gangfounder.github.io/98gang/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/98gangfounder?igsh=MXF2NjEwdzQ4MXJueA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7IR7AkIWzAwghFv9NpMAw
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/98gangfounder
- Other: https://98gangfounder.bandcamp.com/music
