Today we’d like to introduce you to JohnPaul Freeman.
Hi JohnPaul, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From Pain to Purpose: The Journey of JpYouniverse
I started writing lyrics when I was 13—just a kid with a sharp mind, a curious spirit, and something real to say. I’ve always been introspective, driven, and wired with a deep need to grow. Back then, I was also training to become a boxer—disciplined, focused, and constantly pushing my limits. But life hit me hard. On my 19th birthday, I was shot in the eye with a metal BB. The injury left me with permanent damage and a piece of metal still lodged in my eye. My boxing dreams ended that day, but I didn’t lose the fighter in me.
For a while, I was just surviving. I picked up a job at a gas station, trying to find my footing again. That’s where I met someone who introduced me to recording and audio engineering. It flipped a switch. My love for writing evolved into a deeper calling—I became an artist, took online certification courses, built a home studio, and poured myself into learning everything about lyricism, songwriting, and sound. I’m a student of the craft—analytical, self-taught, and deeply passionate.
But the environments that came with the music scene at the time were heavy, even toxic. I spiraled into self-destruction, and that self-awareness—my ability to step back and observe—helped me realize I needed to protect my peace. So I pulled away. I kept recording at home, quietly refining my skills, but I knew I had to find balance.
That’s when I started training again—and yoga found me. It grounded me, challenged me, and opened a new part of my soul. I became a certified yoga teacher, made a promise to myself that the job I had then would be my last. I moved to India to deepen my practice, and when I returned, I stepped fully into entrepreneurship. I branded my own yoga studio and began teaching full time.
But creativity doesn’t die. That same spark I had at 13—the one that turned pain into poetry—was still there. With a clear mind and a matured spirit, I came back to the mic. Today, I live as a full-time entrepreneur: teaching yoga, making music, and engineering sound. I bring discipline, presence, and authenticity into everything I do.
This journey has never been linear—but it’s always been mine. And I’m just getting started.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In my experience, the road is very inconsistent. I experience a lot of extreme highs and extreme lows with not much of an in between. I get a lot of reasons to quit, but I also have a lot of reasons to go forward. One of the biggest struggles to me is inconsistent pay. At least in my situation, I’m building a business and paying bills out of the same inconsistent income. Don’t get me wrong when it’s good, it’s great! But when it’s bad, it’s awful. Another struggle that I faced at the beginning of my journey was proving income. Maybe it’s because I had no one to teach me, but as someone who’s filing 1099 for the first time I had no idea. It’s also very difficult at times having to play all the roles that go into what I do. I have to be the marketer, social media manager, make merch, etc. Often times, playing so many roles and working so many hours burn me out
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, audio engineer, and yoga teacher with a passion for storytelling, healing, and creative excellence. As a music artist, I specialize in motivational hip-hop—lyric-driven music that blends intricate rhyme schemes with real-life experience. I focus heavily on syllable placement, wordplay, and message-driven bars that speak to growth, resilience, and self-awareness.
What sets my sound apart is the balance between depth and clarity. I don’t just rap to impress—I rap to connect. I’m known for being intentional with my words and for turning struggle into something that inspires. My background in yoga and healing work shows up in my art—it’s meditative, raw, and restorative at the same time.
As an audio engineer, I specialize in mixing and mastering vocals with precision. I’ve built my skill set from the ground up—certified, self-taught, and deeply dedicated to quality. I understand artists because I am one, and that helps me bring their vision to life in an authentic way.
What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come—from surviving life-altering events to building a business around my creativity. I’ve rebuilt myself through every chapter, and now I live fully as an entrepreneur—making music, teaching yoga, and engineering sound. That combination of artistry and inner work is what makes my approach unique. I don’t just make music—I make space for people to grow, reflect, and heal.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I believe taking risks is a necessary part of any growth. Growth itself to me, should be at least a little burdensome. Taking risks can be very scary, and sometimes it will be a loss, but that’s why it’s important to make sure it’s well calculated. The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was me quitting my job to be an entrepreneur without being fully self sustainable. Regardless of how good or bad business is, my financial responsibilities don’t slow down. There have been times where rent was due in 2 days, power bill was a week late and all I had to pay were hopeful prayers and a willingness to work myself into ground to get out of this hole. Of course, if there’s a will there’s a way so it always gets better. To me, entrepreneurship itself is a risk.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpyouniverse?igsh=YjM1eXE2aGFrdzhr&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2XcyC4JpmPBcxLXRyW00Hf?si=leeaPaOCQLyjM2zqNySr9Q
