By Morgan Rousseau
For Queens native Kenndel Johnson, also known as “Ace1der Da Don,” an emotional song about feeling torn between his musical aspirations and his girlfriend’s needs didn’t save his relationship with the girl, but it may have given a boost to his recording career.
Johnson took top honors for the month of August by the Song of the Year, an international songwriting contest affiliated with VH1’s Save the Music campaign, for his song “Tears on a Pillow.”
The Hollis resident wrote “Tears on a Pillow” at the tail end of a failing relationship. The song is about the tension created by Johnson’s commitment to his musical career and his lover’s need for more attention and emotional security.
To earn his win in the category of hip-hop and R&B, Johnson competed against songwriters from all over the world. The rotating panel of Song of the Year judges is drawn from a pool of music industry figures, including some Grammy Award winners.
“Tears On A Pillow” was composed in the spring of 2009, immediately following an argument with Johnson’s then-girlfriend.
“The song was a real-life occurrence of what was happening — about a girl that felt I was choosing music over her,” said Johnson, adding that he wrote the song mere hours after the woman in question confronted him.
“She was complaining because I wasn’t picking up my phone, but I was trying to write and trying to focus — it’s not so easy to just grab your phone. I just began to let out my emotions in my work,” Johnson said. He said he and his ex are still very close.
His win for “Tears On A Pillow” was preceded by a success in July, when Johnson was named a Suggested Artist for his song “Confessions.”
The 24-year-old has been featured on radio station Power 105.1’s Discover & Uncover program as a promising new artist. He recently was selected to perform at the Oct. 27 talent display Faces In The Crowd Showcase in Times Square.
Johnson says his stage name Ace1der Da Don is a reference to a Jay-Z song and also to poker. “It works as my poker name as well. It’s tattooed on my skin. That’s forever,” he said. “As far as the rest of the name goes — The seven wonders of the world, Ace Wonder of the world,” Johnson said.
He began writing songs at the tender age of 13, while he was a member of a rap group he formed with his friends. Since then, Johnson has strived to bring certain aspects that he says have been missing from hip-hop back to the table.
“The way I feel about hip-hop is, it’s not what it used to be,” said Johnson. “I’ve been doing this for so long, I’ve seen the best come and go already. The Biggies, the Tupacs, and what’s replaced them — nobody of their caliber.”
Johnson said he thinks the songwriting essence of hip-hop has been replaced by gimmicks, where tough stories and bling cancel out great music. So his goal is to make great music.
“As far as my career goes, if I can get more people to listen to my music I will be the happiest person on earth. People can experience what hip-hop has been missing for a while,” Johnson said.
“The reason I stress the fact that two of my songs made it,” Johnson added, “is because if I put out 10 songs, they would all make it — because everything is heartfelt. They all mean something.”
Johnson cites fellow artists Kahlil King and Moka Blast as musicians that have helped him through a lot of difficult struggles. They are also artists Johnson is currently collaborating with.
You can listen to “Tears on a Pillow” at songoftheyear.com.
