Justin Good, a fourth-year education student from California State University at Sacramento, otherwise known as artist J.Good, believes in keeping it real.

From writing his own music to talking about his own personal experiences in his songs, Good said he feels that is the best type of music.

“I don’t believe in someone writing your stuff. That way, you can feel emotion from the artist. I honestly write everywhere,” Good said. “I write at work. I write at class. I write at stoplights in the car … I write about girl problems, my experiences, something that I’m going through. That, to me, is the best music.”

Good will perform tonight at Kerckhoff Coffee House as part of Cultural Affairs Commission’s weekly concert series. He will be the first artist that will kick off a month of hip-hop appreciation, in honor of Black History Month. CAC co-programmed the event with Hip Hop Congress.

Amanda Haas, a third-year international development studies student and CAC concert series co-director, said that this is CAC’s first year co-programming with other student groups. She also said this year’s concert series, which originally was a jazz series a couple of years ago, is going to be different than previous years’.

“Last year, there was a lot of focus on student group and jazz influence, which we still have a lot of, but now, we’re pulling bands from different schools,” Haas said. “We try to bring in what people want to hear that’s within our price range, and also (create) a platform for student groups to express their music and get their voice out.”

Good, who was raised by his parents to listen to artists such as Outkast and Lauryn Hill, said he has always enjoyed hip-hop.

“I think it’s great. Hip-hop as a genre is a very important part of the African American culture, especially when it’s presented in a positive way,” Good said.

Good, who said he loves the ’90s, took inspiration from that decade and incorporated it into his music and his latest album, “Searching for Alicia Silverstone.”

“My best friend tells me that I should’ve been in the ’90s. Everything I enjoy is from the ’90s, from the way I dress to the music I listen to,” Good said. “So, I got this idea to pay homage to someone who was more prevalent in the ’90s. I got inspired by that because I was watching an Aerosmith video, and (Alicia Silverstone) was super hot.”

Good will perform many of the songs from “Searching for Alicia Silverstone” and also from past albums such as “Looking on the Bright Side.” He also said he will bring members of his Sacramento crew, The Usual Suspects, to perform with him on stage.

One of the members of The Usual Suspects, rapper Efren Lipana, also known by his stage name Konkwest, will be performing a song called “Anti-Vanity” with Good tonight.

“(The set) is a nice mix of up-tempo and slower-paced music. We like to get a feel for everyone,” Lipana said. “I was on (Good’s) ‘Scrubs’ tape, the song ‘Anti-Vanity.’ I rapped on one of the songs.”

Good said his music is relevant because he’ll never rap about anything he doesn’t have. Good said an example is that a lot of people can relate to being broke in college.

As for after graduation plans, Good said he wants to pursue teaching – more specifically, at elementary schools. He names education as his first priority, but music is definitely not far behind it.

“I want to go to school and get my degree because it’s always something I want to do. I’m the first person in my family getting a degree, so that’s pushing me,” Good said. “But if an opportunity presented itself to expand my music and everything, I’ll take that, no doubt.”