Junii (Artists To Watch)
Detroit has a long history of birthing artists whose voices carry both grit and soul, from Slum Village to Dej Loaf, Dwele to Danny Brown. Junii is the next to emerge from that lineage, carving her own space with music that thrives in vulnerability and raw honesty. She reminds me of artists like Smino, Doechii, Samara Cyn, and even flashes of Doja Cat, but there’s a texture in her sound that makes her stand entirely on her own.
Her latest project, JINX!, is a sharp snapshot of her artistry: nine tracks, just 17 minutes, yet every song lands with the kind of tension that makes you hit repeat. It’s a project about cycles: heartbreak, resilience, self-reflection, and the push-and-pull of holding on versus letting go. Junii leans into both the heavy and the light, blurring rap and R&B while layering her vocals in ways that feel hypnotic, almost trance-inducing. That vocal layering is something I personally love most about her music, and on JINX! it becomes a signature.
Tracks like “worstway” highlight her versatility, moving from rhyme-heavy verses to smooth, guitar-laced melodies. “jinx!/weplayedthegame,” her collaboration with Kaelin Ellis, thrives on unpredictability, reflecting the honesty and chaos of internal battles. “keepyouarnd” is where her layered vocals create a haze of desire and hesitation, while “phnecharger”, my personal favorite, shows her ability to turn vulnerability into strength. She closes the project with “nerve,” delivering bold confidence over a delicate guitar riff, a reminder that toughness and tenderness can coexist.
JINX! builds on the foundation Junii has laid through earlier releases and high-profile features. She’s worked alongside Reason on his TDE album Porches and his independent projects I Love You Again (Extended Version), appeared on Oble Reed’s new album, and collaborated with artists like Doechii and redveil. Whether leading a track or featuring on someone else’s, Junii’s voice never just sits on a beat, it shapes it.
Outside of JINX!, songs like “Y?” and “SO WHAT” showcase her range. “Y?” leans into fragility, questioning, and self-doubt, stripped back enough to let her reflection hit deep. “SO WHAT” flips the script, confident and nonchalant, folding laid-back swagger into smooth R&B textures. Together, they demonstrate what makes Junii compelling. She’s equally magnetic in vulnerability and in command.
What makes Junii an artist to watch is her balance of vision and emotion. She’s fluid, intentional, and fearless, blurring genres without losing her identity. Her vulnerability cuts deep, yet her perspective, forged through Detroit grit, personal battles, and a knack for finding beauty in the uncomfortable, is entirely her own.
With JINX!, Junii has delivered both a statement and a starting point. It’s proof of her artistry now and a hint of what’s coming next. (I saw she recently started teasing a deluxe and… yeah, we would like that!) If you haven’t heard it yet, the project pulls you in immediately with “westside lova (baby)” and refuses to let go. For anyone curious about the future of Detroit’s sound and the artists shaping it, Junii is definitely one to watch.
If you want a sneak peek into why she’s become one of my new favorite artists, here’s a 10 song playlist: