Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharaya J.
Hi Sharaya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a native Hawaiian, raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. I grew up in what I like to call a Hip Hop home. My mom was a music head and my father was lead of a legendary 90’s rap group called “Double XX Posse”. Music was my life. I loved the culture. At a young age, I was writing raps, short stories, and poems and I always had an affinity for dance. My first break into the industry was as a dancer/choreographer. I. never went to dance school, dance was always a natural thing for me. I got signed to my first dance agency Clear Talent Group at 19 years old. I begin bookings gigs, traveling the world, and hitting stages with artists like Alicia Keys, Jay Z, Ciara, Rhianna, Diddy, etc. After years of a very successful dance career, I transitioned to artist and signed a deal with the Icon Missy Elliott. I dropped my first record “BANJI” which is a song inspired by a movement that I spearheaded called “The Banji Movement.
BANJI is an acronym for Be Authentic Never Jeopardize Individuality. It encourages people to be themselves, and be unapologetic about it. I was always an advocate for thinking out of the box, being different, and being comfortable in your skin. Fashion has always inspired my life and my creativity. While pursuing my music career, I also became the first rapper to sign a modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models. In 2018, I represented Hip Hop on the Fox Network Show “The Four”. It was a music battle competition, which featured judges and mentors like Diddy, Dj Khaled, Megan Trainor, Laurianne Gibson, and Fergie. This show was a very monumental part of my career, I ended up winning the longest seat holder in history on the show ever and the show took home a film & television award for “Best Talent Show’ that season. I just recently participated in the musical remake of “Sister Act 2” by Michael Korte. I am currently working on new music, two new reality shows and I just launched my own black lipstick brand called “Blaque by Sharaya J”.
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 wish I could say that it was all smooth, but just keeping it real It has been a journey of highs and lows, but my passion has kept my fire lit. I mentioned that I never had any technical training as a dancer, so breaking into an industry of people who had years of experience and attended Juilliard & Alvin Ailey was definitely a task for me, but I pushed thru. The “Banji Movement” alone was created behind some label execs telling me I had to sell a little more sex, get a weave, and conform to this stereotypical “female rapper image” to make it in this industry. When I competed on the show “The Four” I simultaneously battled against my opponents and for my life. I battled and beat Stage 2 breast can while competing on the show that season. Being a creative artist & and entrepreneur is not for the meek. It takes a certain type of tenacity to wanna get up and still go hard even on days when you’d rather quit. That why quitting has never been an option for me, I just pick myself and go at it again from another angle.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a dancer, artist, writer, entertainer, model and fashionista, and entrepreneur. I am a survivor & a visionary. I am most proud of my family, they have been my true support system and I am grateful for them. I have always been a girl in her own lane, setting trends unknowingly and always working hard to be the best at whatever I do.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I love metaphysics.
Contact Info:
- Website: SharayaJ.com
- Instagram: @banjiraya @blaquebysj
- Twitter: @sharaya_j
- Youtube: Sharaya J
Image Credits:
Photographer: Steven Reid @shotbysteph2 hair: Al X. @sircareaction makeup: Felicia Graham @feliciagrahambeauty_
