JT continues to make her mark on her own terms.

With the City Girls seemingly in rearview, the rapper is strutting ahead solo and her latest stop is the cover of Essence Magazine.

Stunning in the Zee Nunes-lensed shoot, the femcee pairs the fierce with the introspective. For, she seizes her accompanying interview to open up in earnest about her journey, the intentionality behind her solo moves, and a whole lot more.

Head below for pics and quotes

On TikTok About Her Inspiring Black Girls:

“When I saw that TikTok, it gave me chills. I don’t put any money into making anybody like me. I always want people to just like me for me. When I saw it, I first thought she was about to bash me—because I’m so used to seeing people talking shit. I listened to it again, and she said, “We haven’t had a dark-skinned girl killing it in fashion since Foxy Brown.” It gave me the chills. It makes so much sense. It’s no shade to nobody else.”

On No Longer Doing Twitter Beef:

“I have never had an argument that served a purpose. It’s a waste of time, and I’m growing up.”

On Her Advice to Newcomers:

“Be new, and be you. You have to be both. I hear people telling people all the time, “All you’ve got to do is be yourself.” But in this market, you have to stand out. What’s so special about you, that makes you deserving of people’s attention? And when you get in that position, you’ve got to fight to stay in that position. You’ve got to come in with your head on strong. You can’t look around and see that it’s working for her, so you’re going to go, and you’re going to do what she’s doing. And—whether they like it or not. People might hate something, but if that’s you, they’re going to be able to identify it. [Still], just being yourself isn’t enough in this industry—because there are so many of us, and it’s so oversaturated. You’ve got to be authentic and new. Invent yourself in a way that takes your authenticity and mixes it with something that’s going to make you stand out, no matter what it is. Then you apply your talent to that, and create your brand.”

On Her Outlook:

“There shouldn’t be any boundary on successful Black women.”

Your thoughts?

[Photo Credit: Essence / Zee Nunes]

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