On the gritty streets of New York, Justin was part of a gang of teenage orchestrators who protected their turf with score paper, rulers and very sharp pencils. Rival gangs were forced to write out parts and contract players. Determined to keep him away from these troublemakers, his mother forced him into piano lessons and encouraged him to listen to rap music. When piano and hip-hop proved insufficient she added guitar and percussion. It wasn't until the threat of trombone however that Justin packed off to college.

Lucky to get out of the hood with only a few minor French horn revisions he attended Purchase Conservatory and earned a Bachelor degree in Studio Composition where he learned the deadly art of electro-manipulation and began touring as a multi-instrumentalist hired gun during breaks. he continued after graduation crossing the US a dozen times and conquering Europe, Russia, the Middle East plus the NY avante-garde and salsa scenes. Between tours he engineered, played on and produced critically acclaimed records for Touch and Go, Koch International, Island Def Jam, Tzadik, Knitting Factory and Munich Europe.

But the little gangster in JJ never died. He headed to LA in 2003 determined to put on his composer colors and throw down. He brawled for Slogan music until this year when he joined the bloodthirsty BWN syndicate.