The church is the first music opportunity for many artists in the world today, including the most successful ones. While many were interested in singing for the church, others simply did it out of obligation. J. Addo, born Jeff Addo, falls into the latter category, and it has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him.
J. Addo did not only join the choir begrudgingly; he was kicked out too after a while, and years later, he has become the artist with the catchy tune that his fans enjoy so much. “It’s crazy how the world works as I have learned never to say never,” the Silver Spring, Maryland artist said. J. Addo’s journey into music kicked off in 2010 when he convinced about 15 girls to allow him to sing on their voicemail. He did it, and they all loved it, and that boosted his confidence to pursue music. Over the years, he has connected more with his mother’s roots in Ghana, West Africa and infused those influences into his sound. His older brother, Prah Di Jay, is also an artist and producer who gave J. Addo all the musical support and direct musical influence he needed to take off as an artist.
Since he took music professionally, J. Addo has shown consistency, hard work, a strong support system and an openness to criticism as his ingredients for success. “Being consistent is something that is truly something important when you’re trying to chase your dreams, and being comfortable with hearing constructive criticism from peers is also a key growth factor. I am looking forward to the many more blessings coming my way, and with God, Family and a strong support system, anything is possible,” he said.
J. Addo has featured on media companies like MTV, BET, Music Choice, ABC 7, Fox 5, CBS, The Shade Room, Worldstar, WUSA9 and many others. His music style is based on feel-good sounds that can make people dance and feel happy. He sets himself apart with his work ethic and consistency. J. Addo believes preparing for the future begins now, and he ensures nothing gets in the way of releasing good music regularly. His strategy is to remain fresh in his audience’s minds by regularly putting out music and crisp, high-quality music videos to go alongside.
Some of J. Addo’s music include “Ain’t Right,” “Distant Love,” “Take Me There,” “Move Your Body,” and the most recent “Shake.” He has music videos for his songs on YouTube, where he tells the stories behind the songs while showcasing his musical and birth roots for the world to see. J. Addo never fails to recognize the support he receives from everyone around him and has on many occasions described them as his primary motivation to make music. “I was always told that there was beauty in the struggle, which is very true from the results I have seen. My family, my friends, my fans/supporters stream my stuff faithfully on Spotify, and my total YouTube views are almost at 800,000 views, for which I am forever grateful,” he revealed.
J. Addo sees himself climbing to the top of the music ladder in the next few years. He sees himself as a more established artist with a comfortable family. At the same time, he intends to diversify into his other areas of interest, such as starting a podcast, establishing an IT business and investing in real estate. Overall, inspiring others is one thing he’s passionate about; thus, as he works hard to become a success for himself and his family, he also hopes to create a blueprint for other people to follow and emulate. “I do it for everyone, but I mainly do it for West Africa (Ghana) and my hometown, which is the state of Maryland,” he reaffirmed.Learn more about J.Addo on his official YouTube channel or stream his music on Apple Music and Spotify.
