JT is the Rap Rollout Queen of 2024 (Article)
There’s a lot of work that surrounds the rollout look of when artists finally decide to drop new music. Music release schedule, visual creative direction, promo tour, finalizing distribution deals, and that’s all before the official drop. However, there’s one artist who is showing us that she is still hungry. She’s doing her music releases her way. She’s introducing us to her sound. She’s standing ten toes about her moment. Everybody better start paying attention to JT.
If you’ve been paying attention to the original City Girls’ story from the beginning, JT made it transparent that rap stardom was her mission and passion. She got her breakout hit through her Drake co-sign on Scorpion’s “In My Feelings”. The craziest part of this feat was that the day the track dropped, she had to turn herself in to start her two-year prison sentence for fraud. On the bright side, at least she knew that she was coming right back to millions. And surely she did. As soon as she was released, she was right back to work, hopping on remixes and getting heavily into the fashion game thanks to her beau, Philly rapper, Lil Uzi Vert.
After opposite City Girls member Caresha Brownlee, better known as Yung Miami, started a public affair with controversial music mogul Sean “P Diddy” Combs and was given her own talk show on Diddy’s Revolt network, JT got right to her own music. JT released her first ever solo single “No Bars” back in July 2023 to rave reviews and even started the social media caption trend with her lyrics “Muah...no bars”. Talk about knowing how to be a trendsetter. Her follow-up single “Sideways” of January 2024 solidified that is indeed a student of rap who studies those that made her intended image and sound possible. She pays homage to OG Miami rap Jacki-O. She represents her Sagittarius sister well with the cover art, donning an air-sprayed chest “top”, nameplate belt, and velour calf stiletto boots.
After the release of “Sideways”, JT announced her first solo promo tour and ironically, she was clowned for the quality of the venues that she was confirmed to show up for. A lot of the venues were local nightclubs and less than A-list lounges. For those aware of the earlier trends of the Black professional music industry, you would easily see that she is returning to the roots of the Chitlin’ Circuit. If you aren’t aware of the terminology, the Chitlin’ Circuit was a Jim Crow-era roster of American music and nightlife venues that provided safe and anti-racist spaces for Black musicians and performers to freely make a living and gain an audience.
In March, we were gifted with JT’s first official feature of the year. “Alter Ego” with Tampa’s Doechii is a homegrown hit and a great way to pay regional homage to her Florida fans. Atlanta’s DJ Milan is also featured to tie in that real clubby feeling to the track. It seems like despite the earlier adversity, JT’s rollout seems to be getting back on track.
Out of nowhere, JT goes on to drop what is probably her biggest solo hit to date. On Instagram, she shared a teaser for her upcoming single “OKAY”, which is definitely bringing back the early 2000s Waka Flocka-Jeezy trap anthem feel. Ladies immediately started using lyrics for their tweets and picture captions, and the full song wasn't even out yet. The cover art is nostalgic and gives that 2010’s electropop era look. Now, you would think that JT dropping something that streets instantly ate up would have solidified her star status. However, she ends up being met with more criticism.
JT posted a “HOW TO SUPPORT OKAY” streaming rule sheet on how to properly get her streams to count for her latest song for her fans to see on social media. Despite her getting clowned on social media for making the post, I personally commemorate any artist who is actually dedicated to making sure every stream counts in an age when an artist’s livelihood is based on their numbers. Say what you will, but she’s paying attention. Despite the jabs that have been thrown at her about her rollout, she’s solid as they come about her craft.
Now, it’s not certain that JT is indefinitely hanging up her City Girls crown. However, watching her organic rise to the top is nothing less than exciting to see. Her official video for “OKAY” dropped a couple of weeks ago to anticipating fans and critics alike. She’s got all the ingredients for music stardom: cadence, flow, delivery, bars, style, and originality. She stands out in a way where you would want an artist to grab your attention. Her debut solo album is on the way and I project it to be a straight success.