Curly J

Curly J, the New York rapper born Joshua Cinquez Loftin, first surfaced in 2019 via the high-energy single “Bag Different,” steadily cultivating an underground audience through the initial years of the following decade via his melody-driven approach to trap.

Raised in Hempstead, New York, the artist absorbed the music of Drake and Speaker Knockerz during his formative period, which fostered a deep affinity for rap’s melodic dimensions. His recording activity commenced in late 2019 through a series of tracks—“Bag Different,” the buoyant “Kappa,” the aspirational “King,” and the propulsive “Take Off.” Working within the melodic trap framework prevalent in the early 2020s, Curly J channeled his singing abilities into core thematic territory of the style, touching on relationships, affluence, life in the streets, and individual development. The next year brought notable traction through “Keep It 100,” styled after Lil Uzi Vert, and “Big Dawgs,” echoing Lil Baby, along with a pair of follow-ups to “Bag Different.” March 2021 saw the arrival of his first EP, Kingdom, which paired the already familiar “Big Dawgs” and “Never Murder” with four additional songs.