J-Money: Mississippi Rising

Crawford, Miss., is poor — like the rest of the state that most readily brings to mind images of the slave trade. But that hasn’t stopped J-Money from putting himself on southern hip-hop’s map. With his 2006 hit (which sold more than 500,000 ringtones), “Peanut Butter & Jelly” with Cadillac Don, J-Money established himself as a rising act to watch out for. Money’s debut album Look at Me, due out on 35*35/Fontana, has him aiming squarely for the top.

“My album is a lot different from what we did with ‘Peanut Butter & Jelly,’ J-Money contends. “That was snap music. I’m letting people know who I really am as an artist. The streets love me.”

If the buzz for his lead single, “I’m Ballin” is any indication, he’s not exaggerating. Featuring Rick Ross, the single has steadily gained rotation throughout the South, led by the catchy, yet grimy production. J-Money is intent on making sure that people understand his sound is versatile and a real reflection of the way he approaches music as a whole.

“When I left college, I started rapping. I’ve always loved music and as I grew older, I got more into it,” says the rapper, who graduated from Mississippi Valley State University. “There’s a lot of talent in Mississippi and there’s more coming.” -jh