There is power in stillness. Sometimes, we must pause and quiet the noise around us to find clarity within ourselves. Genre-pushing artist J.P.’s new EP, Took A Turn, was created during a moment of stillness after having a turbulent 2024 with highs and lows.
“Long story short, I went through some personal things in my life, and I had to take a break from the internet for a while, almost a reset, to get my mind back together,” J.P. tells Rated R&B over a video call.
Before taking a hiatus, the singer-rapper, formerly known as Jody P, had a breakout moment with “Bad Bitty,” the lowend bop that went viral on TikTok and became his first Billboard-charting single.
The uptempo track, later remixed with rapper NLE Choppa, preceded his fifth LP, Coming Out Party, which arrived in June 2024.
Showing no signs of slowing down, J.P. continued dropping singles and two other projects, School Dance and The Groove, to close out the year.
As his popularity rose, it paved the way for opportunities to showcase his talent, such as his national TV debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
It also came with added pressure, leading him down a depressive road until he came to a complete stop. The Milwaukee native prioritized his mental health and spent time away from social media.
During his time away, J.P. turned to music as an outlet and refuge — and a means to bring light to a dark time. It was a space for him to bare his heart without feeling pressured to put something out quickly. “The music wasn’t rushed. We took our time,” he notes.
In late May, J.P. returned with the soul-barring ballad “My Peace,” produced by Keylime, via Roc Nation Distribution. The heartwarming tune is an ode to a partner who brings comfort during trying times. “You’re my peace when I’m troubled,” he croons. It served as a fitting entry point into his more R&B side – something he’s carried with him since childhood. He cites icons like Al Green, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke as some of his musical influences.
Took A Turn may only span six tracks, but it’s J.P.’s most cohesive and polished project to date. He trades his melodic raps for more heartfelt material that shines a brighter light on his vocal prowess. “I definitely got a tender spot for this music,” he shares.
The project includes writing and production by Darryl Bridgeman Jr., Bizness Boi, DCMBR, Keylime, A$AP P On The Boards, bluewolf and more.
Below, J.P. reflects on his journey of healing, his place in R&B, and breaks down every track on Took A Turn.
What sort of music was played at home when you were growing up that informed who you are as an artist today?
Growing up, me and my grandma would always watch a lot of musicals together: The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, and things of that nature. So I had started shaping my form around those kinds of movies. Of course, I was in church as well. Those two, hand in hand, informed the kind of singer I am now, while listening to artists like Al Green, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding.
Your EP Took A Turn is your first project since releasing your album Coming Out Party last summer. What inspired it?
Long story short, I went through some personal things in my life. I had to take a break from the internet, almost a reset, to get my mind back together, and this music that you guys have been hearing. Songs like “My Peace” and “Serenity” helped me cope with what I had going on at the time.
Once I finished, I started to move out of the dark space I was in. It felt like I would’ve been going backwards if I didn’t release the music because I spent so much time on it. This set of music is a lot different from the music that I was making before — not only sonically, but the process. It wasn’t easy. It took months to create and make sure everything was set up to be heard the right way. I definitely got a tender spot for this music.
During your time away, was there anything you learned that you kept in mind when working on Took A Turn?
Learning how to take your time and not be on everybody else’s time. With the internet, it’s easy to open your phone and get discouraged because you see somebody in a predicament that you want to be in. You can be like, “What I’m doing isn’t good enough because I’m not there yet.” Taking that break helped me focus on myself. It’s the same with the music, like I said, the music wasn’t rushed. We took our time, and it was just one day after another.
What’s your source of serenity during trying times?
I have to go to God first, just because when you’re going through those kinds of stages, everything is uncertain and unknown. Having faith that things are going to work out settles you down. Outside of that, I’ll say peace and quiet, making music, being around the people I genuinely love and know are there for me in my best interest. That’s my peace, besides the regular going to go hoop or to the gym.
This project is R&B and soul to the core. Is this a one-off or more of a pivot into the R&B space?
I’m definitely leaning more into the R&B space a lot more than the space I was in. But I do like not being confined to anything specific. I like making good music. I know good music, and if I make something and it is good, then I feel like, regardless of what I’m saying, I shouldn’t have to keep it or not drop it just because it is a country song, you know what I’m saying? I listen to all those kinds of music. I’m more than able to produce that kind of music as well. But I’m definitely leaning more towards the R&B space.
What message do you want to send to listeners with Took A Turn?
I want them to understand that vulnerability is OK. You don’t always have to [have] bravado. Also, when the music is good, it’s good, regardless of the kind of artist you are. For the longest time, I was nervous because I didn’t know how they would take the music. But they love the new music, man. And if there’s one thing I want them to take away from it, it’s that good music is good music.
OK. Let’s dive into the tracks on Took A Turn:
“Serenity”
I made “Serenity” in LA, right after I made “My Peace.” “Serenity” is definitely one of those ones for me. It’s a pleading, almost like “let me back in.” But then it’s a kind of arrogance that comes with it, where it’s like, “I know they won’t leave because of who I am.” That was a fun track to record. It took a couple of days to record that one. It’s a lot of background harmonies and things of that nature.
“My Peace”
“My Peace” was a song that I kind of put everything that was helping me at that point, and how I was feeling. I was coming out of those dark stages that I was going through at the time. I had everything in order when writing that song. I tried to make it general so that whatever it is in your life that’s bringing you peace and solitude, you can sing that for the song. I wanted to keep it broad so everybody could feel what I was talking about. That was a swift song. It wasn’t hard for the words to flow out. I was full when I started creating that one, so the words were right there.
“How Can I”
It’s a reassurance song for a significant other. It’s a bit of flaunting and a bit of giving credit to where it’s due. I feel like it’s going to be a sleeper. It’s short, but it does what it’s supposed to do.
“No Matter”
“No matter” is also a reassurance track, but more on my side. I’m basically saying, “I know everything that you want. You want it right now, but it’s going to take time. While it’s taking time, I’m here to be with you and bring you up. Everybody’s trying to get to that spot in their life, but it just takes a little time. You’ve got to be patient. We’re going to be all right.”
“Took A Turn”
It’s so much in that song. It’s so many different parts. The first half of “Took A Turn” was actually realizing your circumstance. I know the lyrics sound so specific to a relationship, but it’s really not. And it is just like, bro, when you get into those situations where something is just gone and you go back and try to pinpoint everything that was going on, like, “Why did this happen?” Everything starts to come back at one time. The second half is so big, colorful and real churchy. That part took so much time. It was so many different minds on that one track. We just put everything together, and it came out so beautiful. That’s why I decided to put that as the title track because that embodies the whole EP. It’s the reason why I went this way in the first place. It is all in that song.
“Strangers”
“Strangers” is the aftermath, but it’s like a cliffhanger. You really don’t get to the resolution of the whole EP. It’s melancholy but upbeat. It’s like, “OK, now I’m numb to the situation that was going on in ‘Took A Turn’ and I’m just going through the motions.” I’m talking like, “OK, it could have ended like this, but I’ll never know because I never got the closure on it.” It’s really good, but it’s quick, though. You’re not going to get all the colors and stuff you got in “Took A Turn.” It’s going to leave you off like, “What’s going on now?” And that’s going to lead into what we’ve got going on next.
Stream J.P.’s new EP Took A Turn below.