Adebowale was born in a poor village in Zambia, South Africa. His parents were poor, so he was born into poverty. His mother was beautiful, and she was talented at singing. So, at some point, she was discovered and took up singing, since she had made a deal and would get paid big money for singing and touring. 

     She had to leave home, but she sent her earnings home so that her family wouldn't live in poverty. They moved to Katete, South Africa, and Adebowale's father got a good job. Then he was discovered for his talent with basketball- he had played in school before he had become poor. So, when Justin's mother returned home, he became a basketball coach for Adebowale's school's basketball team, which he was a part of. He was a good player and wanted because of his height. 

     (When Adebowale was born, his uncle who had moved to America had been up, and he gave Adebowale his third middle name, Justin, and he was called that sometimes.) 

     When Justin was eleven years old, his mom became very, very ill. After a three year battle with colon cancer, she passed away, leaving Justin with his dad, who became angry and bitter about her death. 

     Justin wasn't ever harmed by his dad, his dad just wasn't the same again. And his dad became very angry when he heard that Justin wanted to be a singer and possibly an actor rather than a basketball player. He was very talented at basketball, it just wasn't his passion. And he would rather do something that he felt passionate about, something he would love that would make him happy, rather than doing something he'd be unhappy doing. 

     His father was very against it, so he didn't let Justin pursue it. So, Justin taught himself instruments and practiced his singing, rapping, and acting when his father was away from the house. When Justin was sixteen, he still hadn't changed his mind about anything, so his father sent him to LA to live with his uncle, the same uncle that gave him his third middle name, and his cousin. Justin hasn't heard from his father since.