Life & Work with Jolo Reeves of Detroit, Mi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jolo Reeves.

Hi Jolo, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Since 2016, I have performed all over the United States, from local bars and pubs to underground warehouse raves, and large EDM shows like “Meltdown” or the annual “Cannabash Festival”. My career as an artist started in 2015 when I was selected as a finalist for TeamBackPack’s MULA Contest, where I would eventually battle the legendary Token. Afterwards, my notoriety took on a life of it’s own, propelling me into my first viral video for my “70 syllables in 6 seconds” which gained 700k views on facebook on it’s first day.

Ever since then, I have continued to gain thousands of loyal fans, millions of views, and have performed for thousands across the United States, focusing primarily on my home state of Michigan where my team and I have built a support system for the local music scene, and provide local upcoming artists with the opportunities to perform and to be heard all over the world.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a Michigan music artist, I’ve faced countless struggles trying to break into the industry. Losing the rap battle against Token at TeamBackPack’s MULA 2015 finals was a tough blow, and it felt like my dreams were slipping away before they even started. Over the years, the inner voices urging me to give up on music altogether grew louder with each setback. Paying to perform at shows drained my finances, making it even harder to stay motivated. Despite these challenges, I continued to push forward, knowing that my passion and perseverance would eventually pay off.

Hip-Hop is an oversaturated market compared to other genres, and there is not a lot of money to be made in the early stages of your career. Investing in your career would often feel like throwing money into a bottomless pit leaving you with nothing to show for it in the end. After many wins and losses, I realized that I was the only one left in my friend group growing up that was still pursuing music. This made me feel alone like I had never felt before, but it allowed me to focus on improving my strengths and becoming self-reliant. I eventually got to perform with Token when he started touring in Detroit, and it felt like a moment of healing for me. I also began getting paid to perform and started seeing viral success in my music which helped me push through the mental fog.

Nothing was more nerve wrecking than when I competed against 8,000 artists on the WhozFire Contest (Formerly known as RoastNReview). The tournament was hosted by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, and renown producer Kayo. The contest focused on finding the best independent artist and took several months to get through every submission until only I was left standing. I won 1st place after several months of strategizing my song choices and studying my opponents catalogues. For winning 1st, I was given a beat and distribution deal with Beatstars, a viral TikTok with Shaquille O’Neal, and a check for $10,000.

Its been over 2 years since winning the tournament, and although I received 2 of the 3 promised prizes I am still waiting on the most important one. My Tik-Tok video with Shaq. The biggest struggle I have encountered has been my continued attempts to get my final prize from Shaq and show host Kayo. I have reached out to Shaq’s management, agents, and everyone in between, and had done the same with Kayo and his moderator team but to no avail. Kayo has put all of the blame of Shaq and claims that there is nothing he can do for me anymore, and Shaq is such a busy entrepreneur that I don’t even know if he knows who I am or even remembers that I won his contest. Seeing my face being used on the contest website as a testimonial kills me inside, as its a constant reminder that I was promised something that was never honored but the contest continues to use my story to promote their future contests.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For me, success isn’t just about fame or wealth. It’s about creating music that resonates with people and makes a difference in their lives. Success means staying true to my artistic vision and expressing myself authentically. It’s about overcoming obstacles and growing as an artist, while inspiring others to do the same. Ultimately, success is finding fulfillment in my craft and knowing that my music has touched hearts and sparked change.

My speed rap was what launched my career and is what I was most known for in the earlier years. Since then, I have branched out and am now what most would consider to be a multi-Genre Artist. I currently make 5 different genres consisting of: Hip-Hop, Hyper-Pop, Pop/Punk, Rock, and EDM. My versatility is what I pride myself most on, and what I value most in my creative process. Not being tied down to one genre removes all limits that many Hip-Hop artists struggle with. These days I am more than just a “Rapper”, I am simply a music “Artist”.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am currently on a Michigan wide tour, performing at several large festivals and renown venues. If you are interested in seeing me perform live in a town or city near you, please reach out to me on my website or one of my social media pages. I am making sure to see every corner of my home state before I venture out next year on a country wide tour.

Pricing:

• Feature (12-16 bars): $500
• Booking: Inquire about pricing

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joloreeves.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jolo_reeves/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJoloReeves/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70pi9BJ6KP4
• Other: https://www.joloreeves.com/rebelshowdown