E.L.P.J. : The Embodiment of Hip-Hop
When it comes to real Hip-Hop, one name comes to mind without hesitation — my brother, EJ, better known as E.L.P.J. A true emcee born and raised in the DMV, E.L.P.J. is a rare talent with unmatched creativity, style, and lyrical mastery. From wordplay to delivery, he's the full package.
E.L.P.J. began rhyming at 10 years old and is not only a rapper but a poet at heart. At 14, he became a member of the DC Youth Slam Poetry Team, where he showcased his gift on national and international stages. As he honed his craft, he built a growing buzz with numerous performances across the DMV, Philly, North Carolina, New York City, and even Sweden.
“I was inspired to rap by my upbringing—being hip-hop, through my pops. We became participants in hip-hop culture, not just listeners. As a lover of the culture and the music, that eventually manifested in me actually taking on the craft of emceeing.”
- E.L.P.J.
Hip-Hop runs in his DNA. At only five years old, he memorized KRS-One’s classic “I’m Still #1.” That track marked the beginning of a lifelong journey.
“Six years later at the Howard Theatre, front and center, KRS entered then commenced to rock the crowd. 'Still #1' came on, and that song was the first I memorized when I was just five — it was so live.”
— E.L.P.J., “Golden Child”
The spark turned into a flame at age 11. One day sick from school, he was tasked with reciting the U.S. National Anthem for music class, he penned his first rhyme:
“Land of the free and home of the brave… so said the whites, put the African slaves.”
That line came from a place of truth and disillusionment. E.L.P.J. later shared that he was “tired of being lied to” about the history we were taught growing up.
In June 2011, E.L.P.J. released his first mixtape, Before Blue, which debuted at a friend’s pool party. It featured original tracks like Visions In Blue, The Return, Busboys & Poets Cipher (Snippet), Get Live, and Black & Yellow — a tribute to his graduating class at St. Ambrose Catholic School. The mixtape also included a snippet of Drake’s Going In For Life freestyle. Even at that early stage, it was clear: E.L.P.J. was something special.
Later that summer, at age 14, he dropped his debut EP Visions in Blue (2011), a project that blended earlier work with new material:
Shadowboxing, Tonight, The Spot, Joy & Pain, Fake Friends, Lamentation, Illusions, and The Ink of the Scholar (Outro).
This body of work was a deep dive into his life, tackling themes of family, friendship, society, and self-expression with emotional intelligence and lyrical finesse well beyond his years.
“Visions in Blue was inspired primarily by the beat to the title track. Produced by my man J Blacco during the later days of MySpace, folks used to have playlists of music on their profiles. J Blacco had the instrumental on his, which was called Visions in Blue. I loved the beat, hit him up, and asked if I could have it—and he let me. I expanded on the concept from there, drawing references from The Matrix—the blue and red pill in terms of meaning—and other things I was learning at the time as a young Five Percenter.”
- E.L.P.J.
Two years later, he released his second studio album, Verbal Technique Volume 1 (2013), featuring 13 tracks that reintroduced him to a broader audience. This project showcased his growth, maturity, and evolving worldview. E.L.P.J. flexed his lyrical muscles, addressed artistic integrity, and explored global and political issues. One standout track is DMV, Right On Time, an ode to his roots and local culture. At just 16 years old, he delivered a project full of brilliance and authenticity.
My favorite tracks from the album include Vice Versa, Straight Spittin’, Pump Up the Volume, and of course, DMV, Right On Time.
As his career progressed, E.L.P.J. continued to release gems through singles, collaborations, poems, and more. In 2014, he dropped an 8-track EP titled Canei Kick It?! (2014), built entirely on beats released by producer Canei Finch. This project revealed a more introspective and vulnerable side of E.L.P.J.
In Industry Rulez, he exposes the darker realities of the music business, borrowing Q-Tip’s iconic line:
“Industry rule number 4,080 — record company people are shady.”
E.L.P.J. uses this moment to affirm his independence and resistance to the industry's exploitation.
In Sometimes, he opens up about self-doubt and fear of failure:
“Failure’s a threat, a dark cloud that follows me behind. If I stop now, the shit’ll catch up... Sometimes, I wonder if I’ma make it, sometimes I wonder if I’m the greatest, sometimes, I wonder if I’m wasting my time…”
This kind of honesty is rare. E.L.P.J. isn't afraid to show vulnerability — proof of his depth not just as an artist, but as a human being.
Still, the EP isn’t without its high-energy moments. Tracks like Sunshine, DMV, Right On Time, and The Come Up bring the bounce. The closing bonus track, Who Am I?, is a powerful self-portrait that touches on identity, artistry, family, and his journey from Christianity to Islam:
“I am, the son of Eric Powell and Monique Sadler, and I am the proof to the youth that truth does matter.
And I am Allah’s found that’ll say by the master…
I am the emcee who be moving the crowds,
And I am hip-hop, the embodiment of sound,
And I am a Black man who be saying it loud —
That I am, that I am, alpha, omega, and now…”
— E.L.P.J., “Who Am I?”
Today, E.L.P.J. is a proud father of three daughters — Shifa, Hajur, and Aqsa — and a devoted husband to poet and author Sadiyah Bashir.
So, what’s next for E.L.P.J.? You're in for a treat. He is currently working on a deeply personal new project — a 5-track EP honoring the life and legacy of his father. While full details are still under wraps, the project reflects on identity, legacy, and the power behind a name.
“Currently, I’m working on a couple of different projects, but the main one I’m focusing on right now is a tribute to my father. I’ve been working on it since a year after he passed. It’s been developing—there’s so much going into it, and it’s taking me on a journey. In order to do it justice, I have to complete that journey. I can’t just slap it together. But that’s the main project I’m working on, in addition to a few others as well. New stuff is definitely on the way”
-E.L.P.J.
© 2025 Lauryn C. Powell
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