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J Trey Ready To Break Through 3/13/03
from The Waterloo Courier
by Kelsey Foutch
Trio Wants Iowa On Hip-Hop Map.
First Iowa, then the world.
Cedar Falls based hip-hop group, made up of members Skylar Johnson, Jay B and JT, is setting out to do what no other hip-hop group from Iowa has done - be successful.
Thought the guys have only been together for about two years, they've accomplished a lot. They're close to signing with Independent label Eastside Records.
And on Friday night they'll host a release party at Lumpy's in Davenport for their first CD, titled "The Time Has Come." But its been an uphill climb.
"Hip-hip groups that are in Iowa, its real hard to make your name accepted,: says Jay B, a native of Davenport whose real name is John Baker. "But UNI and Waterloo have been very supportive of us."
Now that the Jtrey name is becoming known in the Cedar Valley, the guys hope to open the rest of Iowa's ears to their unusual sound. They have scheduled a 20-city tour of their home state. After warming up Iowa to Jtrey the group will try their luck out West.
Jay B believes the music of Jtrey is different enough to cross the barriers normally found with hip-hop. "We've invented our own style of rap. We even get attention from our parent' generation," says Jay B.
Each member of Jtrey brings a unique talent and style to the table.
Jay B credits Johnson with being an "In-your-face, Underground East Side Rapper" and calls JT "more of a laid back, West Coast type." Jay B brings R&B vocals as well as rap to the mix.
The difference in style is what keeps fans coming back to Jtrey.
"People's biggest response is that they love the singing that's involved in it," says Jay B "And they didn't know hip-hop could sound this way or be this much fun."
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