Also known as Stressmatic of the legendary hyphy group The Federation, TJ is much more than your average hyphy rapper – in fact, nowadays it would be safer to say that he’s a rockstar who happens to rap. Mixing guitar licks with 808s and rhymes about being broke, partying with white girls, having hangovers, and being rad, TJ and his group 1st Place have carved out a niche that most rappers are scared to go near. He took a few minutes to meet up with Em Dub of Thizzler On The Roof over in Berkeley and talked about the origins of the name Stressmatic, what 1st Place is, his career as a mountain bike racer, and more. He even spits a couple verses acapella.
