Jinjer is definitely a breath of fresh air to hop-hop! Just as Ginger from Gilligan’s Island brought that classy, sexy element to the island, Jinjer brings those elements to the island of hip-hop. Please don’t let her appearance fool you, even though many assume she is a model or R&B chick, they feel fooled after hearing her punch lines. Although Charlotte, North Carolina is her home, Jinjer was born in Huntington, West Virginia. She spent most of her childhood in Huntington and actually attended daycare with a fellow “Diamond in the rough,” OJ Mayo. “Huntington is not a very ambitious place to live for African Americans,” says Jinjer, “I remember seriously believing that you were rich if your parents worked at Mc Donald's. From that you can only imagine how far our dreams went.” Her roots are firmly planted into to music with her producer/DJ father and grandfather. Jinjer’s mother was also in a band until motherhood abruptly pulled her from her dreams. Moving to North Carolina changed the 12 year old’s life after seeing a black bank teller for the first time. In that instant she learned that her goals are limitless. “The move opened my dream world and since then I’ve accomplished every goal I set for myself.” She constantly proved the power of endless possibility throughout school after making the basketball team with no experience what-so-ever. By her second year she was the captain of the team. She did the exact same thing her freshmen year, making the cut on a collegiate cheerleading team after never cheering a day in her life. She turned down the opportunity to be captain her sophomore year to move to New York and follow her #1 passion……The Music! At age 7, she was writing organized songs with verses and a repeating chorus as if the formula was in her DNA. In the 6th grade she fell in love with the cello not only for the mellow sound but because you never had to play standing up all day. She has won several solo ensemble awards and was apart of her school orchestra for 7 years. You may hear Jinjer quote “I didn’t Choose Rap, Rap Chose me,” which is very true to her life. She began rapping at the age of 14 in the lunch room, where most artists began. All the boys would crowd around, beating on the table free-styling one after another. She enjoyed watching until she became the subject of topic. After school that night it was her business to retaliate on each of the boys that had commented on her acne in there earlier free-style session. She put all of her concentration into these verses, writing and memorizing 3 in less than one hour. She covered everything from the girl that had dissed them in the past, to the busted shoes they wore everyday. What began as retaliation grew into a demanding calling! The cafeteria went wild as she spit verse after verse gaining her respect. The boys looked as though they’d seen a ghost as the by standing students roared in amazement. From that day on hip-hop wouldn’t let her go! When students she didn’t know would continuously ask her to rap she realized “I can’t stop!” She became “The girl that raps” and she couldn’t make it from one class to the next without being asked to rhyme. Growing up she was known for her amazing creativity from rapping with her cello in talent shows to coming up with a new dance. Her lyrical content speaks for it self and her vow to represent real women through hip-hop is her formula to success. “It was hard for me to relate to some women in hip-hop because I was never the type to explicitly brag about my sexuality and obviously I’m not the one selling drugs or going to intentionally murder anybody. I am a woman! I talk about things women relate to using metaphors and punch lines that the men appreciate.” Her chart topping hits range from high energy hip rocking dance songs like “Jigglepop” which gets any party going to the max ranging to slow seductive word play in songs like “Chocolate Cream.” Other songs like “Tonka Toy” describing the view of the tricked out cars though a girl’s eye, “World Go Round” the thoughts of an addict, and “My La La” a high swag pop song make her catalog a publishers dream. She has performed and featured on numerous mix tapes in Charlotte, Atlanta, and New York with a concentrated presences. There is much opportunity for an artist like Jinjer! She is paving a new path for women in hip-hop proving that you don’t have to be one of the boys to be respected in this ever changing game. Jinjer brings the spice with a perfect blend of pop music, southern fried in the crunk era. She is certainly on the path that only the greatest to ever do it follow, conquering the road blocks with her talent and marketability. This superstar’s future shines so bright that she has to hand out shades in the audience so that no one is blinded.