“Who Want It,” the new single by J3 the Rap Vigilante, is an aggressively motivational Hip Hop song. That may sound like a contradiction but J3 thrives on complexity and diversity in his musical offerings. “Who Want It” is confrontational and intimate, challenging listeners to stop making excuses and start pursuing their goals. “I want people to feel like they can accomplish anything. A lot of things are going on right now with the pandemic and some people can be fearful or doubtful about things they’re trying to get accomplished. Sometimes you gotta be like ‘Who want it’” J3 explains. “You gotta get out there and try if you want to move to the next level. You might fall, but you can’t stay down.”
J3 keeps moving to the next level by refusing to make the same kind of music he hears everywhere. Having grown up in Atlanta since age 4, he remembers when Outkast and Ludacris ruled the city scene, and he’s watched that scene evolve over the years. Now it’s his turn to propel that evolution. “It’s always good to push the genre forward so we can continue to grow,” he says. And the Rap Vigilante does his part by packing as many sounds as possible into his EPs including Nocturnal and Nocturnal II.
“Who Want It” is the lead single from Nocturnal II. The EP features seven songs and also showcases the work of J3’s collaborators, including his brother, Point Oh and his two close friends AveDaMafia and Since 9ty5. They all collaborate often and Point Oh makes the majority of J3’s beats. It is currently available across all streaming platforms.
The second Nocturnal picks up where the first left off. Both EPs showcase J3’s commitment to a diverse sound. “There’s something on there for everybody. You’ve got the aggressiveness, you’ve got the mellow, and you’ve got a soulful track on there. It was conscious,” he says.
Listeners have been paying attention as well, and they’re grateful to hear an artist who pushes himself—and the boundaries—whenever possible. “I get a lot of people telling me that I’m not trying to follow no trends, not trying to fit into a box. You can’t just put me in a corner and tell me I can only do this or that. I’m real diverse. I’m relatable. Those are the two biggest things,” the rapper says, considering the feedback he’s received.
J3 is relatable because he stays so true to his artistic vision. You don’t always know what his work will sound like, but you know it will be authentic. His music, like all people, contains an array of emotions and experience, helping him connect to his audience. He presents his message authentically, his messages of soul and force and mellow alike. In a landscape where artists are quick to make or follow trends, it’s refreshing to find an artist who ignores the trends and keeps his focus on the music.
