Davenport rapper's My Space page results in contract
J. Wright is using MySpace for more than just keeping track of friends.
The Davenport-based rapper has used the social networking Web site to launch his music career.
J. Wright (“I stopped calling myself Justin years ago,” he said) has had more than 2 million views on his MySpace page and has more than 150,000 “friends.”
That caught the attention of the BET cable TV channel, which is putting him on tour with four or five other acts for the “Rap It Up” tour, a 33-city series of stops at historically black colleges in the South to promote HIV and AIDS awareness. He travels to Memphis today for rehearsals, to record a song together and room with the other acts on the tour.
“They want everybody to get to know each other so there’s no drama on the tour,” he said.
The 18-year-old, who calls himself “Mr. MySpace,” said he was discovered through his Web page.
“They hit me up on MySpace,” he said. “They said, ‘We see you out there doing your thing and wanted to know if you wanted to go out on tour.’
“Of course,” he replied, recalling the moment with a grin.
Wright attended both Davenport North and West High schools, graduating from West in 2006.
He’s been singing since he was 8 and recorded much of his album in his basement studio.
For the past month-and-a-half, he’s been managed by Rachel Hagen of Moline and her Seoul Sound Entertainment.
“His music is hot,” she said. “You should see all the comments from girls on his MySpace (site). You look on his plays at the end of the night and there are 6,000 plays (a day) on his music.”
Wright’s independent album includes collaborations with hip-hop stars Soulja Boy, Neo-Yo and Chris Brown, all of whom he’s opened for on tours.
Wright said he’s learned a lot from the established stars.
“They teach me to be humble and just be myself,” he said. “Don’t go out there and start being big-headed because it could all be gone tomorrow. You could have the hottest song in the world today, sell 100,000 records and then be nobody tomorrow.”
Hagen said major labels have shown interest in him, and his song “Wind Me Up” is getting some attention.
Wright’s “feel-good” music combines hip-hop and R&B with hints of country and rock, without violent lyrics, he said.
“It’s music that’ll make you feel good all the time, whether you’re lonely or sad or want to party,” he added.
He has already created his own company, Camp Entertainment, and is going to begin helping other young artists get established.
“It’s all about promotion,” he said. “You’ve got to promote yourself hard. If you don’t do it, nobody else will.”
ON THE WEB
J. Wright’s MySpace page is at MySpace.com/CampEntertainment
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David Burke can be contacted at
(563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.