Biography
The rapper Sharaya J first announced her commanding presence in hip-hop through the 2013 single "BANJI," issued via Missy Elliott's Goldmind imprint, though her East Coast-rooted style reached a national audience only after her participation in the 2018 competition series The Four. Born Sharaya Howell in Honolulu in 1984, she initially built her reputation as a choreographer and dancer, collaborating with Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Rhianna, and Ciara while also performing in the films Step Up 2 the Streets and Step Up 3D. In 2010 she joined the Goldmind roster and delivered her debut single "Green Light," produced by Souldiggaz. The DJ Jayhood-produced track "BANJI" arrived several years later and expanded her reach. Additional singles and featured appearances followed over the ensuing years until her departure from Goldmind in 2016. That year she issued the independent single "Big," marking a fresh phase, and followed it with "New Wave" in 2017. Her profile rose further when she competed on The Four: Battle for Stardom, finishing as runner-up after performing Migos' "Stir Fry," Missy Elliot's "She's a Bitch," A$AP Ferg's "Plain Jane," and her own "Go Raya."
Albums
Singles
