Yhapojj

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When you think of Huntsville, its rich history of creating NASA rockets is perhaps the first thing that springs to mind, and it’s fair to say few would associate this Alabama city (nicknamed the “Rocket City”) with any kind of thriving Hip-Hop scene. It’s this reality that makes fast-rising local rapper Yhapojj (real name Jamaruean Micaiah Jones) such a fascinating prospect, with the versatile artist inspired to show the world that his hometown is about much more than just white scientists plotting a route into outer space. With uniquely slurred, pained vocals that recall vintage Young Thug, and a vulnerable core to his songwriting, where concepts like heartbreak and isolation are approached without fear, Yhapojj is essentially creating a Huntsville rap scene from scratch. On the potent “Hold It Down”, the artist pledged that “you’ve got to stand for something or you gon’ fall for nothing”, and he says his mission statement is to help young black males deal with their demons rather than bury them under layers of pride.

“I really don’t look at a lyric like that as being weak,” the 19-year-old explains, referring to another bar [“Heard you’re doing fine, but I’m really not okay”] from the lovelorn “SSorry I Can’t SStop”. “I just want to show my n*ggas that sharing their pain takes real strength. It’s dangerous in Huntsville, just the other week there was a mass shooting! It isn’t sweet here, so letting your demons out is important so that bad energy don’t get pent up inside. I could be a rapper who just makes turnt music all the time, but that ain’t how we be feeling all the time!”

Yhapojj was inspired to take music seriously after going to Pr*son on a gun charge, a stint that resulted in him writing dozens of confessional songs while locked up. He initially gained recognition after collaborating with Ohio-based underground rap innovator Izaya Tiji – while being fiercely independent, solo songs like “Hurt My Feelings” (1.3M Streams) and “Hittin” have surpassed the six figure mark on SoundCloud, with his overall US streaming numbers now in excess of one million. The latter song is the heart of his latest project called Gossip Girl, an album that sees Yhap experimenting with a high falsetto and trying to channel the strength of his mother, Jamie, whose energy can also be felt on previous albums like Yiix Yhap and When Angels Cry.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson and ILoveMakonnen, Yhapojj has began to cultivate his very own sound and wave, emphasizing relatability within his music, especially when you want to motivate the poor. “I’ve been studying Queen’s old performances and I love that Freddie has the audience in the palm of his hand just by standing tall,” he says. A reference to Queen might not be something you’d expect from a rapper from Alabama, but subverting expectations is what Yhapojj is all about. It feels like a real fire is now burning behind him, just like the rockets his city used to launch into space. “The rap game be so saturated and dried out, I just try to bring something unique and refreshing,” he concludes.

Yhapojj tends to make songs that reflect the ups and downs of his days, with songs like the aforementioned “Sstay Away From Me” written to cope with the anger of falling out with a backstabbing friend. Whether he’s flexing about putting his feet up at the house of an enemy’s girlfriend [“RATCHET”] or standing in the rain just to feel something after a brutal break-up [see “Forever”], listening to Yhapojj’s song has the intimacy of a late night chat with a friend, desperate to get something off their chest. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Yhap can regularly be found on Instagram live-streaming his studio sessions, letting fans play a direct role in his creative process.

Currently riding off his biggest song to date, the recently-released “You Lookin Gud”, YhapoJJ has racked up over 10 Million Streams in 2023 alone. There have been over 4,000 creations to the song’s sound on TikTok and his streaming numbers are up +400% compared to his past two singles. Serving as the backbone to his recently released EP Evolution of Xur which dropped pm 11/15, YhapoJJ is ready to take advantage of his moment by fully leaning into the wolf aesthetic and playing into the mystical sonics inspired by Twilight. In the process, Yhapojj is continuing to elevate his sound while staying true to his unique influences and intimate songwriting capabilities.

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