Bryan and Paul Johnson
Bryan and Paul Johnson are brothers born and raised in The Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Pinelake Village Cooperative housing units. They credit most of their life lessons to their neighborhood. It was a low-income neighborhood. But despite the obvious influences of drugs, it was a supportive and positive place to grow up.
As “80s Babies,” they became early fans of hip-hop. As teens, they dreamed of becoming rap stars and formed the rap group “5A2” (pronounced “Five ‘A’ Square”). It was later renamed “Lakewater” (Pronounced “Lake Water) in the late 1990s. They signed with an independent local record label, and their group was featured in the November 1998 edition of Spice Magazine. alongside well-known artists like Missy Elliott and DMX.
Bryan left the music scene to focus on earning a bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Hampton University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. At the same time, Paul completed a bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Southern A&M College and University. While in college, Bryan started his first novel and had dreams of publishing books. Meanwhile, Paul continued to write, produce, and perform music as a solo artist under the stage name “P. Casso” and in an alternative hip-hop/pop group named “AutoPilot III.”
In 2006, the brothers returned to Ann Arbor, where they reunited to form the artist management and promotions company, ProVarMedia, where they help local artists produce and promote their music. In 2011, they joined forces to pen the manuscript IXI: Rise of the King, which combines their love for hip-hop and their experiences in the music industry with their passion for writing. The novel is currently available everywhere books are sold.
