Kori Barnes 
City Girl JT has proven that she can hold her own weight with her latest solo track.
“No Bars” is JT’s first solo single since she released “JT First Day Out” in 2019. Not only did she drop this latest track, but she has officially released a music video for her single. Fans have responded positively to JT’s unexpected solo single and can tell that this artist is extremely proud of her work. JT shared her inspiration and motivation behind “No Bars” and how she needed a therapeutic outlet when dealing with the struggles of fame behind the scenes that most people don’t realize. In an Instagram post, JT stated, “’No Bars’ is a freestyle I made in the studio when I was having one of those days, at the time like most of the time ppl were doubting me & questioning why I wasn’t as visual and vocal as others! Not knowing me personally…,” she wrote. “I’d read the craziest things about myself & would want to scream but instead I went to the studio & popped my shit!”
Anxiety and mental health are aspects that artists are beginning to touch on and be more open with their fans about in this new generation. Artists and rappers such as Megan Thee Stallion have dedicated an entire track to being vulnerable with their fans about how they’re navigating through the fame and the underlying anxiety they may suffer from. JT is no longer having the disrespect within the industry and only sees herself as competition. “I know most of y’all have heard it but for those who haven’t, I hope this freestyle finds you in a great place & is a start of the respect I deserve in music!” she continued. “No more hiding my love for music, I love music! I love my voice! I love poppin my shit.” She concluded with: “It’s only ME VS. ANXIETY.” Additionally, JT is giving back to her community with her latest announcement of a No Bars Reform.
This No Bars Reform initiative will assist previously incarcerated women transitioning and rehabilitate them into society with necessary resources and support. This includes social services, job placement, therapy, housing, and more. According to nobarsreform.com, “After spending almost two years in a Florida prison before being released in 2020, JT has vowed to use her voice and platform to help other incarcerated women rehabilitate into society,” a statement on the site reads. Since the release of “No Bars,” this track is anticipated to appear on the City Girls upcoming album and has topped the iTunes and HipHop/Rap chart. Additionally, JT has secured a Top 5 spot on the iTunes all-genre chart.
By Kori Barnes, University of Southern California
Instagram: @korixnicole
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