Biography
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Christopher Michael Jensen truly embodies the DIY philosophy and mantra of "living hip hop 24/7." A student of the culture for half his life, Jensen began rapping in the year 2000 when he was just 13 years old. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Chris has been an extremely active member of the highly renowned Twin Cities hip hop scene and a cornerstone of the ever-expanding collective known as "Rapfam" since its inception. On any given week you'll probably find him playing shows at any number of venues, rocking plenty of house parties, popping up at various open mics, or just freestyling in cyphers on the street. He has shared the stage with many local veterans and legends, including DJ Abilities, Kristoff Krane, Carnage The Executioner, Guante, Ecid, Big Quarters, and Big Jess of Unknown Prophets, as well as national acts like Joell Ortiz of Slaughterhouse, Sadistik, and Soulcrate Music, just to name a few. Chris has gotten a fair share of media coverage, as well, including mentions in City Pages, RapReviews.com, and Music Emissions, amongst others. The latter remarked that he is "'true-school' hip-hop in the vein of old school acts such as A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, The Pharcyde and the likes" and that Chris has "got the flow...the thought-provoking—often introspective—lyrics, and obvious passion."

Immersing himself in the art form, the Minneapolis native spent years honing his skills as an emcee, performing at talent shows and school functions and making homemade CD's for people in his younger years. In 2009, shortly before graduating from the University of Minnesota with an English degree, Jensen released a lo-fi project to the Internet as a free download called Lyrical Combustion: The Mixtape. In 2010, he finally released his official debut album, entitled There's Meaning Underground, in stores and online. 2011 saw the release of The Chris Tape, Volume One, before being followed up with The Chris Tape, Volume Two in 2012. Both projects were extremely well-received, garnishing praise from critics and fans alike, and rotation from stations like The Current, Radio K, and KFAI.

Chris has also been heavily involved with many social causes, playing a benefit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2011, and the following year performing in support of international organization Oxfam and their fight against the West African food crisis. In December of 2012, Chris even helped organize and spearhead "Rap For Life," a suicide prevention show with friend Ashley Seeler that helped raise over $3,000 for Stillwater-based nonprofit group the Suicide Prevention Collaborative. Other charitable events he has been involved with include fundraisers for Avenues For Homeless Youth and the Minnesota Autism Center.

2013 looks to bring even more exciting things for Christopher Michael Jensen, including new music, more high profile events, and other surprises. Stay tuned...

- Exclusive November 8, 2011 concert pictures featured on the Minneapolis Fucking Rocks blog

- November 8, 2011 concert preview / Rapfam Vol. 1-3 (featuring songs from Christopher Michael Jensen) featured on the Minneapolis Fucking Rocks blog

-  Megan Hamilton's song "Telescope" (featuring Christopher Michael Jensen) featured on the Be Scene MPLS blog

- Exclusive song "Zombies Ate My Neighbors" featured on the Rapfam Vol. 3 compilation

- Guest appearances on Panash's songs "Hip-Hop" and "Hip Hop Back" on Panash's The Brave & The Bold Volume 1 mixtape

- Rapfam Vol. 2 (featuring a song from Christopher Michael Jensen) featured on the Resinous Recordings blog

- "The Serum" from The Chris Tape, Volume One featured on the Rapfam Vol. 2 compilation

- "I Just Wanna Go To The Show" from The Chris Tape, Volume One featured on the Rapfam Vol. 1 compilation

- The Chris Tape, Volume One featured on City Pages's Gimme Noise blog / "Anarchy In The U.S." featured on the Gimme Noise Mixtape Roundup, Vol. 3 compilation

- The Chris Tape, Volume One featured in RapReviews.com's weekly "Free Music Friday" column

- Commercial for The Chris Tape, Volume One featured on the Chase Show website

- There's Meaning Underground reviewed on Music Emissions

- There's Meaning Underground reviewed on ScreamFreely

-  Exclusive November 26, 2010 concert footage featured on 1st Amendment Productions' website

- Guest appearance on Andre Lipsey's song "When It Snows" / "Alone" from There's Meaning Underground featured on Andre's Armored Hearts compilation

- There's Meaning Underground reviewed on RapReviews.com

- There's Meaning Underground reviewed on InsomniacMagazine.com

- Interview and in-studio performance on the Apartment 219 Radio podcast (Episode 6 - June 7, 2010)

- "Come Of Age" from Lyrical Combustion: The Mixtape played on the Apartment 219 Radio podcast (Episode 4 - May 29, 2010)

-  February 12, 2010 concert preview featured in City Pages

 "He keeps the sound and feel of the album as close to the essence of real Hip Hop as possible. The album is far from pretentious; instead, it provides solid doses of authentic poetic lyricism, positivity, and choice production that lead to an overall enjoyable Hip Hop experience.
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Crammed with fifteen quality tracks, 'There's Meaning Underground' offers truth in advertising - Jensen's lyrics consist of authentic meaning and not fluff.
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'There's Meaning Underground'...show[s] that this genre can be more than what it's been pigeonholed to be during the last decade. It can have meaning,purpose and feeling. This is something that is found throughout this release, from discussions of relationships to positive vibes to pain, this album is sincere, something that you'll be hard pressed to find in much of what's labeled Hip Hop today."

- InsomniacMagazine.com review of There's Meaning Underground
(Read full review here)

"Rappers always boast an alter ego or famed alias as they claim yet another 'MC' this or that or other popularized nickname. However, Minnesota's Christopher Michael Jensen is plain and simply just...him.
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...Jensen's lyricism is unmatched as his message is clear and relevant. It's quite apparent that he lives for hip hop and the art and this is the true meaning underground."

- RapReviews.com review of There's Meaning Underground
(Read full review here)

"...There's Meaning Underground displays an average/modest disposition bolstered by a realistic confidence, humble awareness and the determination typical of a hiphop head. Though CMJ takes this confidence in a direction not often seen.
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A fair-share of spitfire, CMJ writes with purpose and passion enough for one to wonder when the next release will come through. The fifteen tracks explore what hip-hop has meant to another Minneapolis southsider, 'born and raised', while reminding one of what the underground means - just another playground for our imaginations."

- ScreamFreely review of There's Meaning Underground
(Read full review here)

"This is what I would consider 'True-School' hip-hop in the vein of old school acts such as A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, The Pharcyde and the likes. The production work (various) is definitely where the album shines the most. The mix is nearly flawless--a rarity I find amongst underground rap albums. Every sound, including voice, sits perfectly in its appropriate part of the sonic spectrum.

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...Chris is not short on talent. He's got the flow (just listen to him on 'When It's All Said And Done'), the thought provoking--often introspective--lyrics, and obvious passion.

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All in all, There's Meaning Underground is...a consistent listen throughout, and it manages to surprise every once in a while as well. I found 'Season's Greetings' to be one of those beautiful surprises. If Chris is the one singing on that song, then shame on him for not doing it more often. The boy can hold a note. There's not much pretense with Christopher Michael Jensen (consider his artist name). But it's his 'true-to-self' style that makes him an artist worth checking out."

- Music Emissions review of There's Meaning Underground
(Read full review here)

 

Discography/

Free Downloads

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The Chris Tape, Volume Two

Free Download
Released on August 15, 2012 to the Internet, The Chris Tape, Volume Two is the second in a series of free releases, featuring 20 tracks with all original production. Producers include Andre Lipsey, Ecid, Rich Garvey, Thawed Out, DJ Adatrak, Andre Mariette, The New Monarchs, Dayweed, Christopher Michael Jensen, PCP, .dB, Ackronem, Wesley Opus, J Merce, Xela, and Megan Hamilton. Guest appearances include Model Citizen, Zac HB, Ackronem, Eloda, The New Monarchs, Nickle Nelly, Rich Garvey, Panash, Irenic, Alex Frecon, and Kristoff Krane, with cuts and scratches provided by Epistêmê.

 

The Chris Tape, Volume One
Free Download
Released on July 12, 2011 to the Internet, The Chris Tape, Volume One is the first in a new series of free releases, featuring 20 tracks withall original production. Producers include Ecid, ShawnWayne, Thawed Out, Domingo, Christopher Michael Jensen, Andre Lipsey, J Merce, Psycho Capone, The Big J, .dB, and C.K. Guest appearances include Erok Foret, Ambrose of Option Two, Duenday, Bobby Phisher, Panash, .dB, Mary Ngunu, Andre Lipsey, RawGee, T.O.N.E., Nickle Nelly, MC Harv, and Model Citizen, with cuts and scratches provided by Nimo The Hooligan.

WATCH A PROMO COMMERCIAL FOR THE CHRIS TAPE, VOLUME ONE BY CLICKING HERE
 

 
There's Meaning Underground
Download from iTunes
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**Also available in select stores, including Cheapo, The Electric Fetus, and Fifth Element**
Released on May 13, 2010, There's Meaning Underground is the first real album of Chris's musical career, featuring 15 tracks of original production from .dB, ShawnWayne, Andre Lipsey, C.K., Ander, KOB, and Christopher Michael Jensen. Guest appearances include Andre Lipsey, N Squared, T.O.N.E., Nobuddie, and Model Citizen.

WATCH A PROMO COMMERCIAL FOR THERE'S MEANING UNDERGROUND BY CLICKING HERE

 
Music's A Revolution (Single)
Free Download
Released on April 6, 2010, "Music's A Revolution" is the first single off of There's Meaning Underground. Produced by KOB.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR "MUSIC'S A REVOLUTION" BY CLICKING HERE

Minnesota (Single)
Free Download
Released on July 6, 2010, "Minnesota" is the second single off of There's Meaning Underground. Featuring N Squared & T.O.N.E. Produced by Ander.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR "MINNESOTA" BY CLICKING HERE

The Girl With No Face (Single)
Free Download
Released on October 5, 2010, "The Girl With No Face" is the third single off of There's Meaning Underground. Produced by ShawnWayne.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR "THE GIRL WITH NO FACE" BY CLICKING HERE

 
Darkness Turns To Dawn (Single)
Free Download
Released on December 7, 2010, "Darkness Turns To Dawn" is the fourth single off of There's Meaning Underground. Produced by C.K.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR "DARKNESS TURNS TO DAWN" BY CLICKING HERE

Lyrical Combustion: The Mixtape
Free Download
Released on March 31, 2009 to the Internet, Lyrical Combustion: The Mixtape is a collection of lo-fi recordings over a range of classic beats and personal favorites from hip hop's mainstream and underground, displaying Chris's raw talent and lyricism throughout as he spits rhymes about a variety of topics and subject matter.

To stream songs from Christopher Michael Jensen, visit his Bandcamp page.

For more up to date information on Chris and his music, visit his social networking pages.

Check out Chris's YouTube channel for exclusive videos and live performance clips.

For booking and general inquiries,
contact Christopher Michael Jensen at:
Christophersmind@msn.com

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