APB Out for MIA J-Kwon

Rapper hasn't been seen in a month; his label is asking fans' help in finding him

By Josh Grossberg Mar 04, 2010 4:10 PMTags
J KwonLeon Bennett/Getty Images

J-Kwon has gone missing.

The "Tipsy" rapper hasn't been seen in nearly a month, prompting his label, Gracie Productions, to put out an all-points bulletin asking fans' help in tracking him down.

"J-Kwon is a big part of the Gracie family, and we are obviously increasingly worried and want to make sure he is OK," Gracie Productions CEO and President Tony Bucher says in a statement.

The Indiana-based indie is concerned enough that it set up a Twitter page @WhereIsJKwon to cull together reports of J-Kwon sightings and get an idea as to his whereabouts.

"We've already received thousands of emails from fans and supporters who are worried about J-Kwon, and we want everyone to know how much we appreciate the love and support," Bucher continues. "If anyone has seen J-Kwon or has access to him, please let him know we are worried about him, and to please let us know everything is OK."

The St. Louis MC, whose real name is Jarrell Jones, was last thought to be in the studio working on a self-titled CD that would have been his fourth release.

Authorities in both St. Louis and Noblesville, Ind., where Gracie is based, were not aware of the disappearance, nor had they received reports to that effect, but the latter is looking into it.

"We have no record of that name," Bruce Barnes, spokesman for the Noblesville Police Department, tells E! News.

J-Kwon first hit it big back in 2004 with the club hit "Tipsy." But like a lot of hip-hopsters, he hailed from a troubled background. Purportedly expelled from home at the age of 12, he was homeless for awhile, dealt drugs, but eventually climbed out of his hole to score an audition with former Arista mogul Antonio "L.A." Reid and Jermaine Dupri, leading to a record deal.

After the success of his debut album, Hood Hop, however, J-Kwon quickly faded into obscurity, releasing subsequent follow-ups Hood Hop 2 in 2008 and Hood Hop 2.5 in 2009 via Gracie to miniscule sales.

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