Jon Quest (1/3 of Varsity Squad)

After years spent working as solo artists, emcees Beedie & Jon Quest have joined forces with producer Shade Cobain to form Varsity Squad.

Currently working on an (as yet untitiled) Varsity Squad album the chemistry between the three talented Pittsburgh residents can be previewed on their first single “Mad Science”. - http://abovegroundmagazine.com/the-leak/09/20/varsity-squad-mad-science/

Featured in Jenesis Mag September 2010 Issue - Jenesis Mag

Video interview with ReppghHiphop.com - Reppghhiphop.com

Jon Quest is a new emcee emerging from Pittsburgh who is gearing up for his debut release "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest". With numerous collaborations under his belt, Jon Quest is ready for the world to truly understand his love and passion for Hip Hop. With a 5th Rhyme Calisthenics appearance, Quest finally made it to the finals in Rhyme Calisthenics 9 against BlackSun who left the battle as the Rhyme Cal 9 Champion in a very close game. Jon's music is heavily influenced by that true Boom Bap sound and 90's era of Hip Hop. Jon Quest is an upcoming artist that will help to further putting Pittsburgh, PA on the map. - RhymeCal

Another rising star from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jonathan Brown a.k.a Jon Quest. Jon Quest is a very talented emcee with nothing to lose at this point. He currently released a mixtape with Dj Vex titled The Real Advenures of Jonny Quest (totally different from the cartoon series, I assure you) that features production from Shade Cobain, BusCrates 16-Bit Ensemble, and many others to name a few. Now, to help promote this mixtape, he has featured a video shot by Rex Arrow for his song “Last Words” which puts me in the mind of a Spike Lee joint (Clockers for instance). Check it out and also get the mixtape! - Bama Love Soul

In this article, I am mentioned in this article along with the results of Rhyme Cal 9 - Rory Webb of StillTown

Hip Hop Chronicle in UK posted my newest music video "Last Word" - Hip Hop Chronicle UK

Crack of Dawn posts "Last Word" Music Video - Crack of Dawn

RhymeCal.com posts "Last Word" Music Video - James Armstead Brown

Flywiditcustoms.com puts up "Last Word" Music video - FlyWidItCustoms

The Word is Bond puts up information on mixtape and "Last Word" video - The Word is Bond

AboveGroundMagazine puts up my mixtape "RAOFJQ" - Above Ground Magazine

The 9 Elements puts up my new music video "Last Word" - The9Elements.com

The Sermons Domain puts up my newest music video "Last Word" - The Sermons Domain

The 9 Elements puts up my mixtape "RAOFJQ" - The9Elements.com

KevinNottingham.com puts up mixtape "RAOFJQ" - Kevin Nottingham

Germany Website "Istillloveher.de" puts up my newest mixtape "RAOFJQ" - Istillloveher.de

The Sermons Domain puts up my mixtape "RAOFJQ" - The Sermons Domain

France Website puts up my mixtape "RAOFJQ" - lovethisbeat blogspot

YNotmyDream.net puts up latest mixtape and video "RAOFJQ" and "Last Word" - YnotMydream.net

Republic of Lithuania website puts up my mixtape and music video "RAOFJQ" and "Last Word" - www.kream.lt

Featured on HipHopMeltdown Radio 92.1 WPTS on 7-16-10 - Hip Hop Meltdown

My latest interview with a website up in Canada. - TRPLifeStyle

France Blog showing love to my mixtape and music video - 22h22.org

Czech Republic press on the mixtape - Royal Flush

French website covering the mixtape - Fresh n Groove

As promised, here’s part 2 of the Pittsburgh newness, presenting The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, the brand-new mixtape by Jon Quest, mixed by DJ Vex. This is the perfect introduction to the young MC’s talent, for those (like me) who were not familiar with his music at all. I discovered hip-hop back in 1995 and at the time I felt attracted to it and could relate in a way, even if it was a completely different world from mine. After a short period, I kind of moved on and started listening to other genres. But I guess my love for hip-hop never disappeared and mixtapes like this one make me realise that it’s actually definitely alive!

As the title suggests, Jon Quest is sharing some of his experiences and thoughts on varied subjects and what strikes me is his honesty and openness, something that can sometimes be difficult to find in today’s hip-hop. This mixtape sounds like a diary, where the MC expresses his feelings and reflects on what he’s been through, whether it’s in the music industry or in life and love. Before anything else, I need to underline Jon Quest’s amazing flow and versatility, as well as his great lyrics, full of images and clever rhymes. Being a writer, I always appreciate hearing some well-written and clever lyrics, especially when the artist has such a great imagination. Tracks like 1-900 Lyrical or Emcee University show the MC’s talent with creating stories and playing with words and ideas. What is also great with the lyrics is that they are very inspiring and thought-provoking, which you can find more specifically with Dilla Don, Be free and Drive away. Finally, Jon Quest is also dealing with ladies and his experiences with love (She tried to tell me and This ain’t captain save A).

Another great thing about this mixtape is, once again the productions. I already told you about BusCrates and Shade Cobain many times and the tracks they produce on here are simply a confirmation of their amazing talent. They are not the only producers on here, as Jon Quest was also helped by Armstead Brown, Chemist and Big Jerm, whose music I was not familiar with and which is quite nice. It can be hard for me not to repeat myself, as I really want to say something I said a dozen (or is it a hundred?) times before, which is that I appreciate beats more and more. RAOFJQ is the occasion for me to indulge once again and discover producers’ creative universes. I have many favourites so I’ll spare you the details, but I’m sure you’ll be as enchanted by the musical patterns as I am.

I have only one thing left to say: you can get The Real Adventures Of Jonny Quest as a free download here. As is the case with Divine Seven and Shade Cobain’s LISTEN!!!, this one will be in heavy rotation for sure! - Marion Carminelitta London

Already a well-known name in the Steel City, Jon Quest blesses us with “The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest”, a mixtape that boasts everything from quality production, to lyrical dexterity, to solid guest appearances, to those always welcome “freestyles” over classic beats. This isn’t a mixtape you play once and then send to the recycle bin, this is something to be listened to multiple times and enjoyed thoroughly. I definitely recommend entering the mind of Jon Quest and experiencing the adventures from the headmaster of Emcee University.

Instead of bothering to ease you in, this mixtape pops right off, with the “Intro” track immediately dropping and Jon Quest going in over the laid back boom bap beat. Following that is “Hip Hop”, which pays respect to many legends in the cut samples, as well as bringing a funky but smooth beat, and again Quest comfortably flows with the skills of a vet. The hardest question to answer with this mixtape might be who had the hotter verse on “Bad Meets Evil Part 2” as both Beedie and Quest bring fire to the already hype beat, and leave you sitting back just dumbfounded at how these two feed off each other so well. “So Gone” is another joint highlighting the chemistry that Jon Quest has with guests, even though he is more than capable of carrying any track on his own, and with the blunted feel, this is definitely a joint to bring back a few times. After a brilliant skit, “Emcee University” is a solid effort that is the essence of Jon Quest’s style, conceptual yet lyrical, he knows who he is and he expresses that with confidence and consistency. Speaking of conceptual yet lyrical, “1-900-Lyrical” is just that, and with a bangin’ beat, this is one of the best tracks on the whole tape. And for more conceptual greatness, check “She Tried to Tell Me”, which got a happy-go-lucky beat that perfectly contrasts with the harsh story and hook. And if you haven’t had enough stories about girls, “This Ain’t Captain Save A” is yet another gem, with one of the best beats on the whole tape, so beautiful, so lovely, and so brilliant in every way.

The lowlights are not even really missed steps, more just slight filler on an otherwise solid mixtape, as tracks like “Dilla Don” aren’t terrible, but just aren’t necessary. Also a couple of the verses over the classic beats are forgettable as the beat outshines Quest, but that’s to be expected when you’re swagger-jacking tracks from Big L, Nas and Gang Starr.

“The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest” is, simply put, a solid effort. It will keep you entertained over and over and will certainly have you pulling tracks back due to slick verses and solid production. You might break your neck a few times, you’ll definitely laugh a few times, and the introspective tracks will have you saying “yup, you right” more than a few times. Jon Quest is an extremely diverse MC and this tape is more proof of that. This whole album is worth extensive listens, and ending with the true-school hypeness of “Real Grounds”, this mixtape goes hard from front to back. Don’t sleep. 3.5/5 - Classic Material

I’ve been on the hip hop scene in Pittsburgh since 2004. Before there was a uniformed scene. I watched every major show series come and go, new ones develop, I’ve watched rappers come and go with age and time, get famous off of Myspace, then become forgotten on Twitter. I’ve witnessed the end of Strict Flow, the combustion of Wiz, and Boaz and the genesis of quite a few promising talents here. Jon Quest is specifically that. The overnight sensation in Pittsburgh with actual MC credibility.....(more) - Ayatollah Jaxx

Hip Hop Meltdown Radio Interview June 14th, 2010 - Hip Hop Meltdown