I have this saying: “I would rather have the audacity than be delusional.” I would rather go after everything I want out of life how I see fit, approaching my path and blessings with confidence, authority, and intentionality, and the City Cinderella is doing just that!
JT is taking the streets and TikTok by storm with yet another solo track (snippet), “OKAY,” that wasn’t leaked this time. Since the leak and release of JT's first two solo songs, No Bars and Sideways, JT has taken control of her image & platform by riding the momentum strategically.
Jatavia Shakara Johnson, aka JT, is the creator and member of The City Girls from Miami, Florida. Deep in the south, with palm trees and beaches, JT still finds herself in unhealthy family dynamics & conditions. Being abandoned by her mom due to drug issues & instability, JT was sent to live with her dad, who had multiple children/stepchildren*. JT was treated like an outcast and with disregard. She did not conform nor comply with her father and stepmother's demands & mistreatment; due to her experiences, she became a runaway and in the streets.
“Run away; now I'm steppin' on the runway.” - JT, NO BARS.
Being on the streets and hustling for her dreams as an artist eventually landed JT in federal prison for fraud during the peak of The City Girls' mainstream success. Even though we didn’t see JT, we heard her name in popular tracks by major artists.
An outcast, former runaway, and federal property, JT did not give up on her dreams. She released “JT First Day Out” while finishing her sentence in the halfway house. During the celebration and buzz of her release, we suddenly began seeing her mugshots circulating, mocking her past & looks.
Yet, she kept going. City Girls continued where they left off. It didn’t take long before the people began comparing her to Yung Maimi and questioning and debating JT's position in the group, considering she wasn’t as vocal, seen, or desirable to them as Young Miami as if she were the ugly step-sister once more.
Eventually, the two slowly but indeed began to branch out, cultivate their fan bases, and establish themselves as solo artists. JT began to do solo brand deals that aligned with her creative and fashion aspirations as that young, ambitious black girl from the south with a love for lavish, bold, and exotic looks, sending the internet into a frenzy once more.
Unbothered and Unphazed by social media critiques & naysayers, JT took her time to release her two well-anticipated hit solo records, No Bars and Sideways, even though they were leaked well before the rollout and release. JT maintained her momentum, executing each rollout with the help of her many fans and supporters, bringing her visions to life.
Becoming more than just hit records but significant moments in the culture & girl world, sparking conversation again about cover art, promotion, and rollouts. JT has shown that she loves what she does, isn’t afraid to take risks, and is indeed a student of the game, drawing inspiration from one of her most prominent ideals, Jackie-O.
No stranger to the hustle and the grind, JT, she got in the field! She came up with the brilliant idea of doing a club-run tour, where she performs in intimate spaces and connects with her fan base (which she now prefers to refer to as Juives) on her terms, on a level we don’t see often. With intimate meet-and-greets, photos, poster signings, and rap cams.
I believe many of her fans share similar stories, sentiments, and characteristics, such as being a black woman with social anxiety, treated like a step-sister, with the only desire to do them, and no desire to fit in, yet constantly met with negativity. While also being overlooked, counted out, and deemed as another black b*tch with an attitude problem. This is why I think JT's impact as an artist at this moment is undeniable and the most relatable.
By taking control of her image and artistry, online and in real life, with her slick mouth, bold looks, and creative rollout ideas, JT continues to show us she is unfuckwitable. Her new snippet, OKAY, sounds like a track, unlike No Bars and Sideways, but a club + street anthem. Something tells me this song will have the Chicago Girls in a chokehold & become one of summer 2024 favorites, impacting the culture once more and showing us she is Truly The City Cinderella.
I look forward to watching JT grow and experiment as an artist, a student of the game, and a Black Woman with purpose and passion.
Check out her website & follow her online to learn more about her community initiatives, merch, and music.
https://thegirljtworld.com/
Written April 26th 2024