HOUSTON, TX – Energy. So much energy that it bursts from you in waves that inspire others.
 
JamesCurtis is full of that energy, and he wants to pass it along to fans all over the world through his music. The hot young artist from Houston, Texas, is rising in popularity with his energetic sound, and his new EP “SUPA” is the most recent example of how his music is inspiring others to embrace their individuality. He said it stands for Success, Unity, Positivity and Awesomeness.
 
“I created something awhile back that I put on social media and it received so much love that I kept responding to people with the word ‘SUPA’ over and over again,” Curtis said. “For me it’s a word that its filled with so much love and energy – it’s a word that shows how I channel my inner self and make it into something powerful that I can share with other people. It’s a word that says freedom and energy and being yourself. And that’s exactly what this EP is about – having fun and being free with the music.”
 
The first single from the EP is “Hypecrite,” and features fellow Houston artist Why Jae. The song is something Curtis admits is egotistical, but he considers it a statement to the rest of the rap community that he’s here and he’s ready to make his mark on the industry.
 
Curtis has been rapping professionally for almost two years, though he’s had a love for music for as long as he can remember. He said his mom often tells the story of how he would run downstairs every time he heard the theme song to “The Young and the Restless” just so that he could enjoy the music, and then run back up the stairs once the song was done.
 
“That just goes to show you that my love of music goes far back,” he said. “From the time I was a little kid to playing trombone in middle school, to starting to freestyle and even write my own lyrics in high school – I’ve always loved music. There’s a lot of freestyling in Houston, and it wasn’t until I put one of my songs on Facebook and people started getting really positive about it that I thought I should pursue music as a career.”
 
Curtis said most of his music is born of personal experience, and more often than not takes a more serious tone. He said he writes from experiences associated with watching his single mother raise three children on her own.
 
“To see her struggle and for her to still be able to do what she has done has been inspirational and motivational for me,” he said. “To this day I see her struggle from time to time, but she doesn’t let it get her down. She has a bigger goal and she keeps pushing. It motivates me as an artist to go harder, and when there’s a struggle to keep going. And I want to pass that along to people who listen to my music. I want to stimulate the mind and make you think. I want you to know that you’re not the only one going through what you’re going through. Music is an outlet for a lot of people and it helps a lot of people get over whatever it is they have to get over. I want to be that person who can help the world out and show them that they’re not alone – we can do it together.”
 
Curtis’ EP “SUPA” is scheduled to be released Sept. 15. In addition to the new EP and single, he’ll be headlining a show Sept. 29 at NotsuoH in Houston called “Where Hype Meets Talent.” Fans can listen to his music on his website ImJamesCurtis.com, on  Soundcloud, or see his music videos on YouTube. He’s also active on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Curtis is also looking for a team to help propel his career, and is welcoming all graphic designers, promoters, managers and any other music industry insiders who might have an interest in joining his rising career to contact him via email at imjamescurtis@gmail.com.
 

 
Pine Bluff, AR– Born Chermaine Jenkins, artist Young Finessa has seen the depths of struggle in his hometown of Gould, Arkansas. At the mere age of three, the performer would witness the horrific shooting of his sister’s father. His death became the catalyst for his move around the country, inevitably to Georgia where the budding artist took a liking to music. Young Finessa began watching underground artists and battle rappers on shows such as Ultimate Rap League hosted by Smack White, and finally took pen to paper to craft his first song in 2015, entitled “We’ll Never Know.”
 
Now, the Arkansas native is giving rap listeners a taste of his hometown in his latest mixtape under record label Onslot Musik.  The mixtape is a tribute to the streets, where Young Finessa sheds a different light on areas people see as “bad.” Says the artist, “I want to give people a different perspective on my city, and not just see the crime.” He continues, “There’s so much that people don’t see – people doing things for the kids, the music.” He’s inspired by his city, and by his two little girls, who are his music’s biggest fans. “When I see them dancing to my songs, I know I’ve made a hit,” the artist laughs.
 
While Young Finessa aims to top the charts and spread his music to the masses, money and fame aren’t the ultimate goals. Inevitably, once the artist “makes it” to the top, he’s bound and determined to give back to the community that shaped him as an artist and person. “I want to be an inspiration, and give people a bigger option,” he explains, “I want to tell them ‘You don’t have to be in the streets.’”
 
The budding star is one to watch, remarking, “I’m on my way.”
 
 
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