Shorty J started his music career in 1998 with Underworld 805 Records, an independent record label from California specializing in Latin/Chicano Rap. At first his role in the company was a music distributor, taking many road trips and selling the label's merchandise through most of the U.S. In addition, he helped with promotions and concerts for the artists already on the label. "I liked working for the label because most of the artists were people I grew up with, went to school with, and knew for a long time," says Shorty J. "Besides promoting for them and selling their product, I was also learning how to get into this business and make music myself, which is something I wanted to do for a long time, but never knew where to start." It wasn't until 1999 that Shorty J got his first chance to record. Having already learned how to sample and loop beats, and write music in a correct format (by bars), Shorty J recorded his first song called "Central Coast 805." "I had already been to the studio so I knew what to do, I was just waiting to do it. The song was written already." "Central Coast 805" was first released on the CD "10 years in the Making Volume 3." The response was good. Shorty J was now performing with the rest of the "Underworld 805 Family" at concerts and car shows. Seeing the response from his first song, Shorty J finished writing 9 more songs. By 2000 he was ready to record a solo album. But due to Underworld's busy schedule of touring, promotion, and distribution, plus signing and producing new artists, it wasn't until 2002 that Shorty J was back in the studio to record the rest of his songs. "Finally one day he (Tomas Solis, CEO) told me that it was my turn again, and what did I have done and ready to record. I told him I had 9 more songs. He asked if I was ready to record again and I told him hell yea." He told me to hit the studio the next day. "Everyday I was recording at a studio 90 minutes away. But I was still finishing a song a day. I think we started on a Friday, and 2 Friday's later we already had the first 2,000 CD's pressed and ready for a show in New Mexico. That was crazy!" In late 2002, after learning the "ropes" of the independent music business, Shorty J left Underworld 805 Records and decided to release his next album on his own. "I decided to take a break for a while. But at the same time I was still producing music, for myself and others." It wasn't until late 2005 that the next album was released. "My local radio station had a featured called 'The 805 at 8:05.' Every Monday night at 8:05pm they would play music from a local artist. I had just released the new album "The Lesson Has Just Begun" and they decided to play a single I had submitted for the program ("Dippin' " featuring Dominator & Sara S.). I didn't expect it to hit so big. It really helped me out that they chose to play my song on that particular Monday. It was Halloween. It was a surprise, they didn't tell me I was picked for this week either. I had my radio tuned in and then heard my song.It was less then a minute into it that i started getting phone calls from just about everyone I knew, telling me that I was on the radio. I Didn't stop hearing about it for about 2 weeks after that either!" Featured on "The Lesson Has Just Begun" are:(in order of appearance) Sara S.-The original background singer of Central Coast Clique (a.k.a. Triple C) who now has several solo albums out. Wood Dog Da Funk Meista- A Chicano rapper and one of the BEST talkbox players from Cali (If you don't know, a talkbox is a piece of equipment that is used with a keyboard to make synthesized voices, like Zapp's "More Bounce To The Ounce") Tipsy-Another great female vocalist featured on the album. K-Deezil-One of the best MC's and hype-men around. Chile, Bobo, Candy-Homies & family that did the skit "On The Radio". Dominator-Producer, rapper, and vocalist most known as a member of Central Coast Clique (Triple C.) Listo-Rapper and vocalist, member of Gang Related Click. Young Creeps-Rapper with a few solo albums out. Lashell-Original background singer of Gang Related Click. Payaso-Rapper most known as a member of The Dukes Click. AC The Promoter-Southwestern rapper with a few solo albums out. Young Dopes-Rapper from Gang Related Click. Maddness-Rapper from Gang Related Click. Brownhood-Rapper with a solo album out. T-Dre-Rapper most known as a member of one of the founding groups of Chicano Rap, Cali Life Style (a.k.a. CLS) Menace-Rapper with solo album coming out in 2007. A. Giles-Vocalist from Cali but now in New York. Ese Grouch-Rapper most known as a member of Califa Thugs.