Only Won was born in San Francisco and grew up in a Chinese family with humble beginnings and later moved to Sacramento. Though he played ball and hung out with different people from the streets, Only Won stayed out of trouble and was a creative honor student who played the viola in orchestra. Instead of being an "Original Gangster," he was an "Overachieving Geek" aka, the OG.

Influenced by RUN DMC, Will Smith and Holy Hip Hop pioneers DC Talk, JC Crew, and T-Bone, Only Won began to find a voice of his own in high school. He began rapping/singing at talent shows, youth events, and church worship services as well as later DJ'ing "The Holy Hip Hop Hour" at his college radio station. Word began to get out about this unconventional talent who would sometimes mix in Chinese with his clever rhymes. Soon, established Holy Hip Hop artists were inviting Only Won to share their mic.