J.P.

The American rapper J.P. was born as "Josiah Gillie" on April 4, 2004. Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he grew up interested in the arts as well as athletics, balancing a handful of musical pursuits — including roles in local theater productions and performances with his church choir — with his growing talent as a basketball player. Those dual interests took him to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, where he pursued a degree in music performance while also playing with the school's NCAA Division III basketball team. While there, J.P. also began making music of his own, taking inspiration from his hometown's traditional "lowend" sound. "Juicey Ahhh," his debut single, was released in 2022. The song became a viral hit on TikTok and was later endorsed by rapper Lil Uzi Vert, whose approval helped bring in even more listeners. J.P. released the full-length album Class Act that same year and returned one year later with three different records: Everything Your Not, No Discounts, and Highs and Lows. Another viral hit, "Bad Bitty," followed in 2024. Initially popular on TikTok, the song soon became a genuine hit on the Billboard charts, too, where it reached number 39 on the Top 40 Radio Mainstream R&B / Hip-Hop chart.