From WV Roots to Global Beats: The Awakening of a HipHop Star

By Jacqueline Cox

Growing up in Huntington, West Virginia, my childhood was steeped in the vibrant rhythms of the city. It was here, riding my bike to Harrison Riverfront Park, that I first dreamed of making music that would resonate with people. When I turned 19, I bought a house across the bridge from where I grew up and transformed a spare bedroom into my first recording studio. This humble beginning in Huntington was the foundation of a journey that would take me far beyond West Virginia.

I have witnessed the rise and fall of some of the most enlightened and emotionally intelligent artists in history, and I’m honored to be counted among them. From the start of my rap career, I knew my interests and subject matter set me apart. The more I explored my talent, the more I encountered people trying to exploit it for material gain. These experiences taught me the complexities of building lasting relationships in music and life, but through networking, I’ve forged connections that have profoundly enriched my journey.

My career at Amazon, which began in Huntington and later took me to Seattle, was a significant chapter in my life. In Seattle, I helped launch “Amazon’s Got Talent” to showcase emerging talent within the company featuring a panel of celebrity judges. Sir Mix A Lot advanced me to the finals of the competition! Before Amazon, I was performing at dive bars opening for Nappy Roots and doing interviews on the radio in Huntington (Whiskey River, MU Cafe, Ale House, and 88.1FM WMUL). 

Two summers ago, I found myself at Venice Beach in the exact same spot Tupac once did an interview with MTV News in 1995. Despite the stereotypes of the life he led, Tupac enlightened the world about the reality of life in and out of the ghetto. He understood there was a significant need for him to share his views on poverty and crime and that people in the black community were products of the environment. Tupac used to his advantage of how he benefited from being disadvantaged in life. He held the mental capacity to articulate how the absence of his father left him in the presence of drug dealers that also did what they had to, to survive.  

Meditating on whatever my current truth keeps me connected to reality and allows me to calibrate at a high enough frequency to feel the sensation necessary to manifest and move forward when fight or flight responses would be the alternative. It is through conversation and art that I am constantly reminded of who I am when I need to be spared from getting sucked into the abyss of who I should and could have been.

Music is a railroad and there are people in the world that need that railroad to get to their destination no matter where it is in life they want to go. People need to hear it from the source directly that they are not alone and see that if I can do it, they can too.  Music is eternal and it’s true we never know what tomorrow may bring or if today will be our last.

If history repeats itself and the only thing left is the internet, what will count is content.

When I presented a question at a Recording Academy/ MusicCares event in 2022 at the Grammy Museum I gained healing and transformative words from executives on the panel like Kosine who took the time to articulate to me the importance of continuing to promote and educate the rap community.

KOSINE: “.when you shared your story, when you shared your story, did you see how the room started clapping? Because now your story has become a testimony. If I don’t do Truth Serum and take that time to create this labor of love, we don’t even have this moment for you to get some of this healing. You know what I’m saying? 

But that’s what’s in the art. 

That’s what we’re creating.

There’s healing in the art and there’s healing in your story. 

All you gotta do is just tell it. You don’t even need no extra added preservatives. 

You can just tell the truth and that will heal.”

Publishers Note:
BBG is pleased to invite commentary from the West Virginian diaspora. Contributors, like Jacqueline Cox, exemplifiy the deep connection many feel to West Virginia, even after leaving the state. Though no longer residing in West Virginia, her heart remains firmly rooted there. Jacqueline welcomes anyone interested in reaching out to connect with her on LinkedIn.