Santa Ana rapper Jay Taj is quickly making a name for himself in the hip-hop world. Although he wasn’t raised on rap music, Taj found his way into the genre in his early teens, and today, he’s poised to become one of Orange County’s next big stars. “I’m continuing to just push the boundaries when it comes to being an artist,” says the 33-year-old. “And I’m definitely going to carry the city on my back until the day I die.”
Taj, who is of Chamorro (Guam) descent, made waves on Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow, the popular hip-hop competition show. He secured second place in Season 2, which premiered on November 20 and concluded in early December. The competition featured more than 30 rappers from across the country, who were mentored and judged by hip-hop heavyweights DJ Khaled, Ludacris, Latto, and Eminem, who made a guest appearance.
Reflecting on his experience, Taj said, “The show was amazing. I submitted some audition videos, just the typical song and dance for a TV show audition. I wasn’t confident at all that they were going to be into me. I was 32 years old, I’m racially ambiguous, I sound like a Black dude, I look like a Mexican, and I’m covered in Samoan tattoos,” he added, laughing.
With his Rhythm + Flow appearance behind him, Taj is focused on his next move: the release of a new EP. He’s using his platform to push the limits of his artistry, with a vision of taking his city, and his unique identity, to the forefront of hip-hop.
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