Many artists spend their days finding ways to build relationships with their listeners, and Taylor
J has already laid that foundation with his loyal Taylor J Takeover legion of fans. But his musical
beginnings focused on strengthening his bond with his incarcerated older brother.
Taylor J was initially only a rap fan, but he caught the writing bug when his older brother
caught a bid. His older brother let him hear his own rhymes, and an 11-year-old Taylor J dug
up instrumentals and wrote daily verses to share during their phone calls. With his brother’s
steady encouragement, his skills improved and his passion developed, despite not having the
early support of parents who had more traditional values.
“The music brought us closer because it was something that we both were growing for. When
no one else understood, I could talk to him about any of my problems with music,” Taylor J
remembers. “Later, I just started falling for it: seeing my thoughts unfold the way they appear
in my head, onto a beat. It was a personal thing now.”
Once Taylor J began high school, he joined a group with two other rappers after impressing
them with a freestyle in the cafeteria. They performed at talent shows and other community
events, but the other members stopped recording as they got older. Taylor J moved to Las
Vegas for several months to pursue his music full-time—a trip that he says raised his ambitions.
“Here in St. Paul, you already know what’s likely to happen every single day,” he admits. “But in
Vegas, I just saw so many people living happy. I thought, ‘There’s no way in hell I’m not getting
that and living that life.’”
Once he arrived back home, he built his buzz in the Twin Cities by performing at parties and
opening for the likes of Ace Hood, Nipsey Hustle, and Wale while circulating his Now You Know
mixtape and music videos online. Tees and sweaters with his new logo flew off the shelves, and
the TJT—Taylor J Takeover—fan base was born.
“I also just stay positive and stay natural to myself, and people spread the music through word
of mouth” he says to explain TJT loyalty. “I really try to bring everyone together and make this
brand something that everybody can be involved in to better themselves.”
His weekly Taylor J Tuesday leaks and his latest mixtape TJT Takeover Vol. 1 (Hosted By
DJ Woogie, of Soulja Boy fame) satisfy his constituency with a confident flow, distinctive
Midwestern drawl and candid lyrics. “Gold” narrates falling victim to materialism, “Visions”
sees him trading bars with Neako about future success, and the subdued “I’m Straight” affirms
his spot after a brief hiatus. His base of supporters is much bigger than the older brother that
jumpstarted his addiction, but he revels at the opportunity to show his talents to the world.
“I’m not where I want to be yet,” Taylor J admits. “But I’ll get where I need to be once the
opportunity comes. I won’t stop, I’m going to keep going.”
An 18 -hour drive from Minnesota and a dream brought Taylor J to the Atlanta’s music
scene. "The Taylor J Takeover" campaign is establishing its place in Atlanta and he is currently
working on his mix tape with DJ Holiday. In 2012, TaylorJ’s "Mental Dope" is scheduled for
release in March, and as a creator of Scenious Entertainment he is seeking to represent other
artists and young songwriters. In the future, Taylor J plans to venture into songwriting for
artists and have a positive, dynamic presence in the hip hop industry.
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