Channeling the unwavering confidence of the New York legends before him, rising Harlem rapper TJ Porter burst onto the scene before graduating high school. • Growing up, Porter listened to rap greats like Nas, Jim Jones, and 2Pac—all of whom influenced him to write rhymes of his own. • He eventually shifted his focus towards basketball, but a broken ankle and the 2016 death of his best friend—a longtime supporter of his musical endeavors—prompted Porter to resume rhyming. • His 2018 single “Tricky” blew up on the Internet and earned him a deal with Def Jam Records. • Porter released his debut album, Voice of the Trenches, in 2019.