Get To Know : JBee

The future for new musical talents look ever so promising in this present time. And it is a delight to see young people in particular hit the jackpot and receive soaring numbers, accolades and success too. With new artists rapidly arising and dominating the charts and airwaves, it wouldn't be surprising if it became a difficulty to keep up with all the latest names. It could also start a conversation about which career is perhaps a 'fluke' or who is a 'one-hit wonder', who is here to come and stay and who is here to come and go. However this does not seem to be a concern for rising star JBee. The 19 year old rapper stands firm that his skills and passion will not only drive him to great heights of success, but also prove his capability to obtain longevity too.

And JBee has made an impeccable start on doing that. Shortly after releasing his hit single 4AM in December, the North London rapper returned to deliver two freestyles on series 4, episode 2 of Mixtape Madness' Next Up series. JBee smoothly glides on two different beats, one being a Lofi - drill infused sample of Billie Eilish's 'Lovely', passionately rapping about his hardships and how he is using his past experiences as a fuel to better his craft. Attaining 600,000 views in 2 weeks, JBee explains how he has taken the support and feedback, "I didn't expect for people to mess with it that much as I thought both of the songs were quite deep. So it's crazy to see people being able to relate to the song to be honest".

As mentioned earlier, his Next Up freestyle followed after his highly acclaimed single, '4AM' produced by MasonXBeats, who has worked with artists such as Fredo, Unknown T and Digga D. Originally a freestyle shared on social media, the mass support and warm feedback pushed JBee to release the track in December of 2021. Prior to 4AM, JBee had released Drill, Wave and Afroswing songs showcasing his versatility, but he was certain that 'Lo-fi' rap would bring him his biggest triumph. As he says, "I knew it was a good decision to join the lofi-rap wave as it's popping right now". And JBee was most certainly right with his decision, with the official music video accumulating over 3 million views on YouTube, used over 15,000 times as a sound on TikTok, receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1Xtra, Kiss Fresh and currently sitting at 99 on the Official charts. When asked about how he took the support and feedback on the big hit, he took it as unexpected as he goes onto explain, "The way 4AM went crazy I didn't really expect it because it was just a freestyle. So it going from a freestyle to an actual song that's doing crazy numbers, is crazy. And to hear my song on the radio too was overwhelming, was definitely a good moment for me".

Jbee's marathon of accomplishments doesn't just stop there. The 19 year old rapper accompanied the Brit nominated HipHop duo A1 x J1 on their headline show at the O2 Academy Islington as a supporting act last month. Not only was this Jbee's first ever performance at the O2, but this was also his first ever live performance too. He expresses how he was 'nervous', but that the crowd "Went crazy for 4AM" and "It was a good experience having that as a first show". The appreciation for this opportunity not only went to the warm embrace of the fans, but to A1 x J1 for inviting him too, whom he shares a close bond with.

The conversation swiftly moves to JBee's artistry, his musical approach and influence. The 4AM hitmaker tells us his favourite genre of music: Rap. We also brought attention to JBee's selection of beats in his recent songs. His Next Up freestyle and 4AM both include samples, Shiloh Dynasty's 'I don't just want anyone' and Billie Eilish's 'Lovely'. "I feel like including samples is the smartest way to grab a listeners ear and attention. Plus it's the easiest way to get my message across because people love sampling these days". He commemorates artists such as Central Cee, Dave, Krept and Konan and many others as inspiring, and shines further light upon Central Cee's rise to success as 'motivational'. In the midst of his career heading into great fruition, we wanted to know whether there was any pressures JBee was facing of having to maintain the buzz he has at the moment. "Sometimes I do feel pressured. It's like I have to make a song better than 4am, but when I released my Next Up, I guess I proved to people that I'm not just here to make a 'one-hit wonder' or I'm gonna leave and never come back. But I feel like for me to get away from all of that and keep me at ease, I need to just have fun with this all and to not take it too seriously. Just have fun."

When asked to describe his music in three words, JBee responded with raw, versatile and motivational; qualities that he believes makes him stand out from the rest. "I'd like to say I'm quite raw. I don't talk about facades or a life I'm not living. I'm just real". One thing you notice with Jbee is his storytelling and and conscious messages he includes in his songs. A sense of relatability, humility and storytelling. Not only does JBee use music to tell a story and motivate others, but he also uses music an outlet to express his emotions. The rising star explains how " there is always a story" behind what he raps about and how he wants to touch people with his music too. "There's always a story behind what I rap about. It's always me rapping about what I am going through, what people around me have been through and most importantly I want my music to be motivational for others too".

JBee is amongst a collection of young talented artists who have gained a mass following from their singles quickly circulating and going viral on social media platforms. In Jbee's case, Tiktok was a convenient way for his song to reach the masses and receive attention. We wanted to know JBee's thoughts on using Tiktok as a formula for sharing music and gaining popularity. "With Tiktok, its there for you to use. I don't believe I need it. When the people come across my music, they love it, they share it. And I believe I have proved I'm not just a Tiktok rapper, people see me and my music for beyond that. My Next Up and upcoming music will prove that".

JBee is a just like any other 19 year old from London who is trying to chase their dreams. If he's not in the studio crafting, he's most likely at home - listening to Meek Mill, Central Cee, writing bars or playing some FIFA and GTA. Although having a prosperous career ahead of him, he is still in college and on his way to attaining a qualification in engineering. Balancing education and music may sound difficult, however, JBee has reassured us that he has been able to do so with ease, proving his determination and hard working mentality. In the cases that the passion for music and school may clash, JBee emphasises on how family is a huge motivation; something he mentions quite frequently in his songs too.

So, what does Jbee see himself doing next? And what can we next expect from him ?

"Most definitely more music and collaborations to come on the way. By the next year I see myself charting, releasing a full body work and working with different producers from all over the world". In the meanwhile, we can expect a remix to 4am very soon, more singles and potentially an EP as early as the end of this year. As our conversation draws to a close, JBee mentions his interests in branching into other areas within the creative industry such as entertainment, acting and modelling - areas he already has previous experience in.

The future looks bright for rising star JBee and New Wave Magazine is very excited to see it all unfold.

Be sure to stream 4AM and his Next Up freestyle.

Down below you can also watch the break down and making of 4Am with JBee and MasonxBeats too !