Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazzyriri.
Hi Jazzyriri, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. I started singing and creating melodies around age seven, but my path hasn’t been linear in the slightest. I was born in Newport News, Virginia, moved frequently growing up, attended high school in Columbia, South Carolina, and later studied fashion in Charlotte, North Carolina at Johnson & Wales University, before financial setbacks forced me to leave school after 6 months and start working in March of 2015. I got myself back into college at The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham close to a year later.
During winter break, December 2016, I moved to Georgia and experienced homelessness. I was living in my car, couch-surfing, and doing whatever I could to survive while staying creative.
That chapter eventually led me to the Art Institute of Atlanta, where I finished my degree and recommitted to building a future through art. A year after graduating, I planned a move to Los Angeles, only for my apartment to catch fire two weeks before leaving, destroying my belongings, my merch, and even my college degree. But still, I made the move.
In LA, I survived off DoorDash, lived with friends and kept pushing forward. I faced another major setback when my car was stolen the same month I got my first apartment in Cali, cutting off my only income for months. Despite the instability, I stayed committed to my artistry, adapting however I could to keep moving.
Musically, 2018 marked a turning point. While studying fashion and going through my first real heartbreak, I rediscovered my love for music. I realized that what I was writing didn’t want to be sung. It needed to be rapped. The moment I tried rapping, it clicked instantly. I released my first EP that year and began writing every day. Rap became the most honest and fulfilling form of expression I’ve ever experienced, and it keeps me going every day.
Today, I’m still building, stronger, clearer, and more grounded in who I am as an artist. Every chapter of survival, loss, and reinvention has shaped my voice, and I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I ran through my bumps in the road in the story portion but I can add and elaborate on some more things. I went through financial strain, living on my own while studying for my degree simultaneously. I nearly didn’t graduate on time because of all the hours of work I was putting in and not having enough time to meet with classmates for group projects. I almost experienced homelessness a second time, facing possible eviction. I put in more work hours which compromised my study time. I had two jobs then went to three. My car broke down several times and I found myself walking to train stations when rides hares were getting too expensive. I always found a way to stay afloat all while going through my first major heartbreak. Even with all the burdens I ran into I still managed to write lyrics daily, it was a sweet escape from the hardships of the world.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an entertainer in the music industry and an all around creative. I rap, sing, song write and have a huge passion for fashion. I studied fashion business in school obtaining my Bachelors degree from AIA (Art Institute of Atlanta). That is one of my greatest accomplishments along with many others. My first big performance, I headlined Juneteenth festival in 2022, where I performed a few songs with choreographed dance moves, backup dancers and cute matching outfits. I had another amazing performance at Dragonfly with unplugged LA with the same accompaniment plus a live band. Which I love more than using show tracks. Those two are my most proud shows I’ve had so far. As far as music projects, My most proud moment is when I released my eleven track project “Project 1111” It consists of rap records, singing records and a tribute song to a close friend I lost that same year. I believe what sets me apart from everyone else is my story and the different places I’ve lived and experienced. Any show I perform, I give the audience a show! I add some dance moves, I banter with the crowd and I get them hype and excited by engaging with them while performing my raps. I’d say my stage presence is Immaculate!!
What are your plans for the future?
My birthday is coming up January 6, 2026 and I’m launching my artist website as well as dropping a new single! I have a few other songs releasing shortly after as well. I will also have artist merch made to order on my site. I would love to do more interviews and big performances like festivals etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jazzyriri.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzyriri_?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jazzyriri?si=g4-qKMpBCvr-UDJK
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/TOq9RoFFVxfRb1A7Dz
