I chose influence because I felt that it best described me. I'm a person trying to make a positive impact in the hip hop influencing both young and old.

Yes I play live. I've done numerous shows in Chicago and Carbondale. Check out our contact link for booking info..

I would sign with a major label if it gave me the freedom and creativity to do whatever I wanted.

John Hirsch was born on October 28th 1983 in Evanston Illinois. He later moved to a suburb of Chicago called Vernon Hills where he spent the majority of his childhood. In 8th grade is when he started rhyming with friends in the lunchroom. That's when he adopted the moniker Influence. Upon entering highschool Influence's love for hip hop grew even more. He hooked up with the other local mc's in his area Etikit and analysis to form a collective dubbed Tabula Rasa (named after one John Lockes theory) and started recording via computer mic. Influence later began preforming at local talent shows and showcases and garned some attention within his community. His partner in crime at the time Etikit (using the moniker mc trip) released his first solo album entitled "verbal visuals" n wich Influence made some guest apperances on. Influence later started batteling and spitting in cyphers at local parties and was becoming known as one of the burbs most fiercest emcees. Before graduating Influence also realized his other love: production. Starting out on fruity loops and reason Influence started crafting his own beats. Influence later graduated and attended Southern Illinois University wich was where he really started to make his mark. Influence a radio-tv major hosted late night hip hop radio show called the underground sound with co-host knobodi and started making a name for himself in the Carbondale area. He later hooked up with 3 other mc's soft spoken,prufe, and hyphenate and began preforming at the weekly hip hop night. He also finished second place in a slew of battles happening on campus. It was that time Influence realized that he needed to get back to chicago and really start getting serious abuot his music. Influence is currently producing for a few groups and working on his first full length debut due out in february 2005.