From R&B to rock to hip-hop, these NJ musicians are ones to watch in 2024
What exit for great music in New Jersey?
It's all over, and the state has the track record to prove it. Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Whitney Houston, Sarah Vaughan, Queen Latifah, the Fugees, Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen are all from the state. In recent years, Charlie Puth of Rumson, Halsey of Warren County, and SZA of Maplewood have become stars.
Hackensack’s Coi Leray and Asbury Park's Joe P are on the verge. Check out nine more rising talents from New Jersey below:
Fatboi Sharif, Rahway
Fatboi Sharif of Rahway is turning the hip-hop world inside out — or is that upside down?
Sharif, aka Davon Sharif Butler, has been churning out cutting-edge, avant-garde hip-hop with multiple collaborators over the last few years. His latest work was the 2023 EP “Insomniac Missile Launcher” with underground legend Big Juss. It's a psychedelically expanding dissociative journey into the netherworld.
Sharif's music is on the vanguard, seemingly drawing inspiration from, among others, Gil Scott-Heron, Philip Glass, George Clinton and Dr. Demento. Or maybe it’s happening randomly. Coming up is a Valentine's Day gift: “Something About Shirley,” with frequent collaborator Roper Williams.
The hip-hop world will be Sharif's box of chocolates in 2024.
Info: instagram.com/fatboi_sharif ; twitter.com/fatboyprospect.
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Soup City Kids, Camden
Soup's on in Camden. That's because can't get enough of the Soup City Kids.
Dazoni (the tall one) and Denver are pre-teen influencers from Camden who rap, dance, lip sync and more on social media — and do so with a positive bent.
“Our mission is to bring our kids to the forefront, establishing our society's full awareness of how valuable our children are and allow our kids to express their thoughts, feelings and demonstrate their numerous talents,” states the group's website.
The girls have hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. They're making personal appearances, inroads to the Philly radio scene, and are just starting to drop their own songs. Like their latest song says, “Everybody” is getting on the Soup City Kids vibe.
Info: instagram.com/soupcitykids.
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J.1.DA, Montclair
Want some soulful grooves and a reflective stance with your hip-hop?
J.1.DA (The Wonder) of Montclair is your man. The up-and-comer, aka Jahque McCaskill, has both the rhyme skills and hook appeal to build some big numbers on 2024.
This year, look for a new album, “Red Ventura,” featuring some of the tri-state area’s top under-the-radar talent, including $ack$tarJ, Prince Hill, Isabella Curis and Mirza. J.1.DA is also part of “The Other Side Of Newark” music project, sponsored by the city of Newark and produced by Grammy winner Jerry Wonda.
And there's interest by the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim to play a few J.1.DA tracks as interstitial music.
Info: instagram.com/_j.1.da.
Ultraviolet, South Brunswick and Glen Ridge
This band is new, but they sure got a lot of potential.
Ultraviolet rocks hard, and they rock with command. Stone Pony house photographer Jeff Crespi was blown away when Ultraviolet played the Asbury Park club in December. The alt-rockers (Ashley Silva, guitar; Shannon Wilk, bass, vocals; Cooper Hughes, drums, vocals; Riley Volpe, vocals) formed in 2023, and are now in the studio with Steve Zing, bassist for music legends Danzig.
Ultraviolet is also headed to Nashville to play the Girls Rock Nashville benefit for the Music Health Alliance, which offers healthcare advocacy and access to mental health resources for the music industry nationwide. The show, at the city's Basement, showcases original female-fronted hard rock bands and artists.
Look for them at the Debonair Music Hall in Teaneck on March 16, and at Dingbatz in Clifton over the summer.
Info: instagram.com/ultraviolet_nj.
DNX 4, Jersey City
Teenage kids traveling across New Jersey with guitars to play rock 'n' roll shows is a rite of passage for many.
These days, a lot of the kids have guitars not to play rock, but to play bachata, a music born in the barrios of the Dominican Republic. DNX 4 (Junior “Jus Jay” Rosario, Jersey City; Jean “JeanZ” Rosario, Jersey City; Johvany “Gio” Castillo, Jersey City; Keven Nuñez, Bogotá, Colombia) is putting a bachata spin on urban music — and they're gaining fans.
Look for them in your school as they'll commence another anti-bullying campaign, which played in Jersey City and Paterson schools last year. They're looking to take the stage of the famous S.O.B.'s in New York City in the near future.
Info: instagram.com/dnx4official.
Via Ripa, Long Branch
Twangy guitars, a wry outlook and warm embracing of the groove mark the music of Via Ripa, who have been rocking Asbury Park clubs for the last few years.
The guys are working on their debut album, slated for a release early in the summer. Upcoming shows include Feb. 6 at Berlin in New York City, and a small tour of New England.
Info: instagram.com/via.ripa.
Surfing for Daisy, Asbury Park
The folk-rock music of Surfing for Daisy sounds like the ocean waves of their home base of Asbury Park — undulating guitars awash with quiet rhythms that both soothe and inspire (and sometimes crash into the jetty), rocking with a righteous clamor.
Surfing for Daisy (Nick Francis, Mike Bernabei, Steven Filippone, Max Giorgi, Dan DiSantis and Katie Mccarty) is getting a following on the oceanfront of Asbury Park and beyond. A new single, “Flannel,” is out Jan. 26. They play Feb. 8 at the St. Laurent in Asbury Park, and March 9 at Low Dive on the city's boardwalk.
Info: instagram.com/surfingfordaisy.
Cole Hallman
This Idol deserves a second act.
Cole Hallman of Manasquan was a noted contestant on “American Idol” in 2022. He made it to Hollywood Week on the show.
“Cole, man, you got your own thing,” said judge Luke Bryan.
Since then, he's released an album, the very appealing “Good Morning Mr. Hallman.” The music, which he calls “coastal folk rock,” is smart, tuneful, sincere and warmly burnished.
Hallman recently played the Stone Pony, where he worked as a bar back. Let's hope for an active summer for Hallman.
Info: instagram.com/colehallmanmusic.
Honey Bxby, Asbury Park
Honey Bxby's R&B flow — which includes plenty of raps — has pop appeal, street smarts, sexy sizzle and grown folks grooves. Honey, aka Ajaysiya Byers, made Jersey music history in 2023 when she signed with the Atlantic Records imprint Rebirth/ART@WAR.
She became the first R&B musician from Asbury Park to sign with a major label since Billy Brown of Ray, Goodman and Brown signed up with Polydor Records in 1979.
The upcoming year should be even more historic. Honey just dropped a “Touchin' " remix with Kaliii, and earlier this week she teased a new release.
Info: instagram.com/itshoneybxby.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: New Jersey musicians you need to know in 2024
