Award-winning Chicago Hip Hop group DA-MOVEMENT cements legacy, honoring fallen legends: Johnny P & Jason Pamon
West Side Chicago hip hop collective Da-Movement is bringing together generations of Midwest rap and R&B with its latest single, “24’s,” featuring Marrico “Never” Donte King of the multi-platinum group Crucial Conflict and the late, legendary Johnny P. Led by founder Pompey “Pay” Hicks III alongside Daries “Qraft” Jackson, Da-Movement continues to build its identity around authentic storytelling, soulful melodies and the unmistakable sound of Chicago street culture. The group’s musical foundation is rooted in the West Side of Chicago, a community whose influence extends throughout its production, songwriting and artistic direction. Da-Movement describes its signature sound as “Street-Soul,” a combination of cinematic Midwest hip hop production, smooth R&B melodies and direct, substantive lyricism. The result is music designed for the streets and the ride while maintaining a strong connection to the city's musical heritage.
Da-Movement draws inspiration from influential Chicago and Midwest artists, including Do or Die, Twista, Crucial Conflict, Psychodrama, Dawreck, Danny Boy, D.A. Smart, E.C. Illa and Triple Darkness. The group also recognizes the lasting contributions of John “Johnny P” Pigram, whose soulful vocals helped define an important era of Chicago hip hop. These influences continue to inform DA-MOVEMENT’s approach to balancing hard-hitting production with melodic arrangements and memorable vocal performances. With “24’s,” the collective brings that tradition into a collaboration carrying considerable historical and personal significance. The single unites Da-Movement with Donte King and Johnny P, marking what the group describes as the first time Johnny P and a member of Crucial Conflict have appeared together on a track.
The journey to completing “24’s” was far from straightforward. The original hard drive containing the recording session failed, placing the entire collaboration at risk of being lost. Engineer Rae Nimeh undertook an intensive 60 day recovery effort to retrieve the drive and salvage the original files. The successful recovery became even more meaningful following the death of the track’s original producer, Jason Pamon, who passed away at 41 on April 3 after battling cancer.
The loss of Pamon carried additional weight for Da-Movement, particularly given the passing of Johnny P on November 27, 2016. With both artists no longer here, completing “24’s” became more than a matter of finishing a recording. It became an opportunity to honor two important figures in the group's musical journey and ensure their contributions remained part of its continuing story.
Preserving the original character of the recording while preparing it for contemporary listeners was central to the finishing process. Nimeh carefully restored and rebalanced the recovered stereo mix, maintaining the essence of the original performances while refining the record's overall sound. Two time Grammy winning engineer Mike Tucci then mastered the track in Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio, giving the collaboration an immersive presentation suited to modern listening formats without losing its connection to the era and culture that inspired it.
The release also follows a major achievement for Da-Movement. On August 23, 2026, the collective received the 2026 InterContinental Music Award in the North American Rap category for its previous single, “All Black Everything.” The recognition marked a significant milestone for the independent group and brought international attention to its work originating from Chicago's West Side. For Hicks, Jackson and the DA-MOVEMENT team, the record stands as both a celebration of Chicago's musical culture and a lasting tribute to the brothers whose contributions helped bring it to life.
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