By: Reggie Parish
Mainstream music gets boring when it’s over-curated, thoughts become replaced with thots, and every other tweet is a twerk. Thankfully there are artists like Eminem, Jelly Roll and so many others really dishing out the unfiltered lyrics and raw emotion that the music population is hungry for. Both Marshall Mathers and the Leader of the Broken started as independent artists and used their intense and deep stories, albeit in different ways, to climb the charts and into the spotlight. Success stories like theirs are reminders that authenticity still prevails even in the over saturated market where mindless music all too often takes the center stage.
This shift toward authenticity in the Billboard charts and Top 40 seems to indicate that there is a demand for something more real. Social media influencers are doing away with heavy filters and posting their actual photos – well almost. The Be Yourself movement is hopefully here to stay, and there are a growing number of independent artists that are right on trend. From the first look at her 4’11 hourglass frame, platinum blonde hair, and high fashion attire, J. Irja doesn’t exactly look like a lyrical powerhouse. That is, until she turns her head to reveal her ballsy Spotlight head tattoo and her piercing blue eyes send an intense message as she walks shoulders back a Dolly Parton chest out with an aura of asserted confidence into any room she enters.
What J. Irja lacks in size she makes up for in depth and range of experiences and talent. Some say that J. Irja has multiple sides to her personality, which becomes obvious after falling down the rabbit hole of dozens of her YouTube videos featuring Legendary Artists like Twista, Royce da 5’9, Paul Wall, Young Buck, Benny the Butcher and some hair-raising solo tracks. Like an open book, this Finnish-Canadian Gypsy pours her story out into her music detailing some horrific experiences during her come up. From walking the streets homeless and eating out of a garbage can, to overcoming alcoholism and brain damage, to surviving trafficking and domestic violence, J. Irja has built an impressive resume of the underdog overcoming all and using her story to motivate others to do the same.
Photo Courtesy: Endless Elevation LLC
This motivational tone to her posts and music are why many of her dedicated fans and listeners were upset and left bewildered as to why she took almost a year break from releasing music from 2023-2024. Hate2SeeMeWin indicates that she went through a whole new set of obstacles, even being betrayed by her closest friend, and had to tear down her entire team and start fresh. But she is clearly starting from experience- not from scratch- as Hate2SeeMeWin is a testament to.
The lyrics and delivery in Hate2SeeMeWIn are a more polished and upgraded version of J. Irja’s previous music, from when she was still aiming to get signed by Strange Music. Although she makes it clear she still has a lot of respect for Tech N9ne – he even cosigned her SPvol2 album- fans speculate that the independent path was the right route for her. In recent months we still saw pictures and video of J. Irja and long-time partner Kinfolk The Plug meeting up with Tech when he was in Dallas. Even during her hiatus, J. Irja was still making moves. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelors Degree in Business, specifically in Leadership and Organizational Development- what a mouthful that is to say. She has been busy at work building her recording studio and music video editing studio with her bare hands. All of this circles back to the relaunch that so many fans were anticipating for months. Hate2SeeMeWin is an unfiltered, unapologetic message from J. Irja that she is back, she isn’t letting haters slow her down, and this is the beginning of what is promising to be a roller coaster of a comeback.
Hate2SeeMeWin Music Video: https://youtu.be/LbXRdzzrd90
Irja Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesexypsycho/
Irja Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.irja/
Irja TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialjirja
Published by: Holy Minoza
