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JT
JT at the BET Awards 2022
Background information
Birth name	Jatavia Shakara Johnson
Also known as	City Cinderella
Born	(1992-12-03) December 3, 1992 (age 32) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation	Rapper
Years active	2017–present
Labels	Quality Control Universal Motown Capitol (2018—2020)
Formerly of	City Girls
Partner	Lil Uzi Vert (2019–present)
Website	thegirljtworld.com

Jatavia Shakara Johnson (born December 3, 1992), better known by her stage name JT, is an American rapper. She formed the Miami, Florida-based hip hop duo City Girls with Yung Miami in 2017, and began her solo career in 2023. She co-performed on Summer Walker's 2021 single "Ex for a Reason", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and marked her first entry on the chart as a solo act. Her 2024 single "Okay" peaked at number 72 on the chart.

Life and career

JT was born and raised in Miami, growing up in Carol City and Liberty City. JT is the eldest of her mother’s three children and among the youngest of her father’s 16, the rest of whom were her stepmother’s children. When she was about five years old, JT’s mother was incarcerated, and she went to live with her father and stepmother in Carol City, where she often felt ostracized. “I always felt like I was the black sheep in my family,” JT told Angie Martinez in a 2023 interview. But despite that, she found a way to connect with her siblings.

JT was in a rap group when she was a little girl, called The Protegees, with her sisters and brothers. Throughout her teens, JT alternated between living with her aunt in Liberty City and sleeping on the couches of her friends' homes. One such friend was Caresha Brownlee, also known as Yung Miami, who would eventually make up the other half of the City Girls. JT was known among her friends for the freestyle raps she would come up with in her car and occasionally post on social media. Knowing she had potential but too shy to record and release a song all by herself, JT recruited Brownlee to rap with her. JT and Yung Miami uploaded their first song, “Fuck Dat Nigga,” to SoundCloud in August of 2017. The song was a diss track towards their ex-boyfriends for not giving them money when they asked. The song went viral, leading them to sign with Quality Control Music.

In her early 20s, JT studied Fashion Merchandising with dreams of becoming a designer. But she wasn't a fan of the broke college student lifestyle, and her dreams weren’t panning out as quickly as she’d hoped. JT worked jobs at the Miami Seaquarium, Burger King and Whole Foods, but the jobs simply weren't paying enough. Her friends would borrow her car for the weekend and mysteriously return with bags full of designer clothes and shoes obtained through credit card scams, one day, JT joined them.

2017–2023: With City Girls

The City Girls released their debut mixtape, Period, in May 2018. In July 2018, the duo were launched into mainstream recognition after an uncredited feature on Drake's "In My Feelings." In November 2018, the City Girls released their debut album, which included features from Cardi B, Lil Baby and Jacquees. On June 19, 2020, City Girls' second studio album, City on Lock, leaked in its entirety online. It was officially released the following day. The album's first single, "Jobs", was released hours before the album alongside a music video. The album includes guest appearances from Yo Gotti, Doja Cat, Lil Durk and Lil Baby. Their third studio album, RAW, was released in October 2023.

2023–present: Solo career

JT's debut single as a solo artist, "No Bars", was released on July 14, 2023. It is her second solo song altogether, her first being "JT First Day Out" in 2019. It placed at #25 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. No Bars also served as the fourth single for RAW. In February 2024, JT released her single "Sideways", which debuted at #7 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.

JT also features as a solo artist on records including Summer Walker's "Ex for a Reason" (2021), the "Queen Mix" of Nicki Minaj's "Super Freaky Girl" (2022), and Kali Uchis' "Muñekita" (2023).

On March 9, 2024, JT announced her 14-show solo tour, starting on March 23 in Houston, Texas, and ending April 27 in Kansas City, Missouri.

On March 24, 2024, JT announced her debut solo mixtape, City Cinderella. On March 29, 2024, JT and Doechii released their collaboration single "Alter Ego". JT teased a snippet of her single "Okay" as a part of her tour, which later went viral on social media. "Okay" was released on April 26. On May 7, 2024, "Okay" charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #74, marking JT's first ever solo charting record. An extended version with an extra verse was released three days later to celebrate this and further generate anticipation for City Cinderella. On June 28, 2024, JT released a remix of "Okay" featuring a verse from rapper Jeezy. City Cinderella was released on July 19, 2024.

Personal life

JT has been dating rapper Lil Uzi Vert since 2019. Her younger brother died in December of 2024.

In summer 2023, JT launched the merchandising retailer and lifestyle brand, thegirljtworld.

Legal issues

Shortly after the release of the 2017 debut single, "Fuck Dat Nigga", JT was arrested and convicted of aggravated identity theft on fraudulent credit card charges, and was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison. Following a pushback of her surrender date, JT turned herself in to the authorities on June 29, 2018, and began serving her sentence while being held at FCI Tallahassee in July 2018. She was slated to be released March 21, 2020. As she awaited her release, JT was transferred from FCI Tallahassee to a halfway house in Atlanta on October 8, 2019. During her stay in the halfway house, she was able to leave the house during the day to work and visit family and friends. To celebrate her release, JT released a track titled "JT First Day Out". JT was officially released from federal custody on March 7, 2020.

Discography

Mixtapes

Singles

Guest appearances

Accolades

Notes

1. "No Bars" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 25 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
2. "Sideways" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 7 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
3. "Okay" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 90 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.
4. Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

1. Apindi, Cyprine (2021-12-07). "Jatavia Shakara Johnson's biography: age, height, parents, baby". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
2. Lockett, Dee (2018-11-29). "How City Girls Scammed Their Way Into Rap". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
3. "Artist Search for "city girls"". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
4. Zellner, Xander (2018-11-29). "City Girls Debut On Emerging Artist Chart, Billie Eilish Spends Fifth Week at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
5. Spanos, Brittany (2018-11-01). "City Girls Announce Sophomore Album 'Girl Code'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
6. "City Girls "City On Lock" Album Reportedly Leaks In Full". HotNewHipHop. June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
7. Hussey, Allison (June 20, 2020). "City Girls Release New Album City on Lock: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
8. "City Girls Drop "Jobs" Single & Visual Following Album Leak". HotNewHipHop. June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
9. ^ Powell, Jon. "JT is ready to add to the summer heat with "No Bars" single". REVOLT. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
10. @chartdata (July 25, 2023). "Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100: #25(new) No Bars, JT (@ThegirlJT)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
11. @chartdata (February 13, 2024). "Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100: #7(new) Sideways, JT (@ThegirlJT)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
12. Sadler, Armon (2023-07-11). "City Girls' JT Announces New Single "No Bars" Out This Week". Vibe. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
13. Velasquez, Angelina. "JT announces 14-show tour ahead of solo album debut". REVOLT. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
14. "City Girls' JT Announces City Cinderella Her Debut Solo Mixtape". Uproxx. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
15. Mendez, Chris Malone. "Doechii And JT Bring Out Their 'Alter Ego' In New Collab". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
16. Trapp, Malcolm. "JT keeps the momentum going with promising music teaser for "Okay"". REVOLT. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
17. Mendez, Chris Malone (April 27, 2024). "JT Drops New Single 'Okay' From Debut Mixtape City Cinderella". Forbes. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
18. "Rapper JT Makes Solo Billboard Hot 100 Debut with 'OKAY' at Number 74 - Juce Magazine". 2024-05-07. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
19. Turner-Williams, Jaelani. "JT Unleashes Extended Version of "Okay," Claps Back at Sukihana and Other Rappers". Complex. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
20. Horvath, Zachary (June 28, 2024). "JT Grabs The Trap Rap OG Jeezy For Remix Of "OKAY"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
21. ^ Mamo, Heran (2024-07-19). "JT Crowns Herself 'City Cinderella' in Debut Solo Mixtape: Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
22. Ocho, Alex. "Lil Uzi Vert Calls JT 'My Baby Mom' as She Adds Uzi's Last Name to Her IG Page". Complex. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
23. "JT Mourns Death Of Little Brother On Social Media". Vibe. Retrieved 2024-12-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
24. "City Girls Rapper JT Is a Rising Fashion Fixture". Vogue. 2023-09-11. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
25. ^ Saponara, Michael (July 2, 2018). "City Girls Member JT Begins Serving Jail Sentence for Fraud Charges". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
26. ^ "City Girls' JT Released to Halfway House". Rap-Up. October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
27. "JT of City Girls Celebrates Her 'First Day Out' on New Song". Rap-Up. October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
28. Centeno, Tony M. (March 9, 2020). "City Girls' JT released from federal custody, no longer in halfway house". XXL. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
29. @billboardcharts (July 29, 2024). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200..." (Tweet). Retrieved July 30, 2024 – via Twitter.
30. ^ @billboardcharts (July 30, 2024). ".@ThegirlJT's 'City Cinderella' becomes the highest-charting album of her career..." (Tweet). Retrieved August 18, 2024 – via Twitter.
31. "Billboard Hot 100: Week of July 13, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
32. Peaks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart:
    • "Ex for a Reason": "Summer Walker Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
    • "Okay": "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of July 13, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
33. Peak positions on the Canadian Hot 100:
    • "Ex for a Reason": "Canadian Hot 100: November 20, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
34. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
35. "JT | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
    • "Ex for a Reason": "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
36. Peak positions on the Global 200 Songs Chart:
    • "Ex for a Reason": "Billboard Global 200: Week of November 20, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
37. "RIAA Gold & Platinum - JT". RIAA. May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
38. Flores, Griselda (June 25, 2024). "Carín León, Maluma & Peso Pluma Lead Premios Juventud 2024 Nominations: See the Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2024.

• Living people
• 1992 births
• Rappers from Miami
• 21st-century American women rappers
• 21st-century American rappers
• 21st-century American women singers
• 21st-century American singer-songwriters
• African-American women rappers
• African-American women singer-songwriters
• American women singer-songwriters
• American women hip-hop singers
• Southern hip-hop musicians
• Trap musicians
• Dirty rap musicians