Brooklyn has always been known for producing artists with stories worth telling, and Jae Finesse is no exception. Raised in New York City’s borough of Brooklyn, his journey is one built on family, sacrifice, and a passion for music that began long before he ever stepped into a recording studio.
Born to parents who were only sixteen years old when they had him, Jae grew up watching resilience firsthand. Despite their young age, both of his parents remained active in his life and raised him throughout Brooklyn. His childhood was spent moving through some of the city’s most recognizable housing projects, including Borinquen, Farragut, and Williamsburg. Those neighborhoods helped shape his perspective and gave him the foundation that would later influence his music.
Music was present in Jae’s life from the beginning. His father once chased a rap career of his own, making music with a group from his neighborhood. However, fatherhood came first, and he made the decision to put his dreams aside to focus on raising his family. Even though the music stopped, the influence remained.
As a child, Jae would quietly sneak around the house reading through the notebooks his father filled with handwritten lyrics. Those pages became his first lessons in songwriting. By just seven years old, he had already started writing music of his own, learning how songs were structured and discovering a creative outlet that felt natural to him.
While music remained a passion throughout his youth, he didn’t immediately view it as a realistic career path. It wasn’t until around the age of eighteen that he began recording professionally in a studio. During that time, he became one-third of the rap group GGM, a collective formed alongside his childhood friends. Even then, Jae remained focused on building a future beyond music, believing rap was more of a passion than a profession.
That mindset changed after college. At twenty-two years old, he finally decided to take his craft seriously and commit himself to releasing music consistently. What began as a childhood hobby evolved into a genuine pursuit, fueled by years of experience and a growing confidence in his abilities.
When it comes to inspiration, Jae credits his father as his earliest influence. Beyond that, much of his artistic motivation came from J. Cole, particularly the early stages of Cole’s career. The storytelling, authenticity, and dedication to craft left a lasting impression that helped shape Jae’s own approach to music.
His sound is best described as versatile. Jae sees his music as a collision between two eras, blending elements of classic hip-hop with the sounds dominating today’s landscape. Whether it’s traditional rap, modern drill, underground records, or experimental production, he prides himself on adapting to different styles while maintaining his own identity. The goal is simple: preserve the essence of older rap while pushing it forward with a fresh perspective.
Much of his music has been recorded at Mansion Studios alongside engineer Lyrical Young Lo, a creative partnership that has helped bring his vision to life.
His latest project, First Impression, is a collaborative album with GGM Nahh. The 17-track release showcases the full range of Jae’s versatility, combining hard-hitting Brooklyn energy with influences from early 2000s hip-hop, drill, underground rap, Brazilian phonk, and more. The project serves as a strong introduction to an artist who refuses to be boxed into one sound.
Prior to the album, Jae released the single Talk About It on February 15. The record gained additional attention after receiving a co-sign from R&B star Ray J, a moment that further validated the work he has been putting into his craft.
As his career continues to grow, Jae remains grounded in the people who helped him get here. He credits his family, GGM, and the rest of his team for supporting him throughout the journey.
