MDF Newsletter Content Issue 46 April 2015

People
Jonathan “2J Harmonix” Groenewald was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of 2. Doctors told his
parents he would not live past the age of 4, but he defi ed the odds, and is now 31 years old and carving out a
career for himself as a rapper. Born and raised in Rustenburg, where he pioneered the area’s hip-hop movement,
he is now resident in Eersterust, Pretoria.
He grew up an introvert and had few friends, but as a teenager he began to jot down his emotions in the form of
aggressively charged rap lyrics and poetry – this was a way for him to let go of his negative views on life, he says.
His outlet became his passion, which meant he could break out of his shell and publicly express himself at poetry
sessions and corner ciphers.
By the time he fi nished high school his condition had caused him to lose mobility and he could not even hold a pen
anymore. But that did not stop him from making headway in the very competitive world of hip-hop.
He was a member of the group Power of the Taurus. Now known as 2J Harmonix, he is famed for his thoughtprovoking
lyricism and clever wordplay. He has many accolades to his name, including his ranking as Number
Four at the Urban Soul Poetry Slam in March 2009 and a performance at the Eersterust Idols in 2011. He has had
two Number One hits on Radio Mafi sa.
He has a recognisable voice with identifi able style. Besides
being an avid hip-hop head, he’s also an activist for muscular
dystrophy and youth development, particularly in Coloured
communities.
He says the biggest challenge for him has been “self-acceptance”.
Today his music carries a positive message, highlighting
the bittersweet nature of an artist with a disability
and the human instinct to overcome adversity. “I’m unstoppable,”
he says, despite not having the use of his body or
even his hands. His goal is that the world will hear his story
and be motivated to never give up. “If the sky is the limit,
the sun better give me space,” he quips.
In 2013 Jonathan was appointed as a Casual Day ambassador.
Jonathan, life is how you live it and yours is an
inspiration to us all, whether we are physically
challenged or not. Ed.
30
Jonathan Groenewald
aka
2J Harmonix