CJ is the future of rap. In the summer of 2020, his darkly booming, subtly grooving "Whoopty" rose from Staten Island obscurity to the national spotlight in mere weeks, and with good reason. Now signed to Warner Records, CJ plans to continue dropping singles and slowly build out his sound. As Staten Island's first star in decades, he aspires to be a dynamic, well-rounded MC. "When the time is right, I'ma pivot and change direction," he says. It's all in service of his borough, which he hopes to elevate into culture as a vibrant and important part of the city. "I definitely feel like I'm helping Staten when it comes to the sound," he says. And if the industry demands that he shroud his origins, he's going to be even louder. "Every chance I get, I gotta shout out my hometown. That's what molded me, that's my background, that's where I came from," he says. "I just love the fact that I can put Staten Island on my back. It's a beautiful thing."
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