Found in the Inbox: J French Hits the Road to “Dallas”

Jamal French is a rapper, multi-instrumentalist and producer based in Oklahoma City, and the son of Grammy-winning reggae percussionist and vocalist Brother Num of Burning Spear. The Rive Video Promotion campaign for “Dallas” traces a first rhyme at 12, written to Devin the Dude’s “Don’t Wait,” and a musician who also plays cornet, piano and drums.

200 CDs and an Exxon station

J French grew up between a father in Harlem and a mother in Edmond, Oklahoma, learning music on East Coast summers. After high school, the campaign says, J French packed a car with 200 CDs and moved to Austin, a town where musicians hustle, and sold them every day in front of an Exxon station on a busy road into downtown, stereo blaring the mixtape. The money went into a home studio.

Independent by choice

After the Too A.M. EP in April 2016, J French met with labels including Motown Records, then chose to release the debut album Jaguar Jesus independently on December 9, 2016 through the IV League Entertainment label. Its first single, “Dallas,” was charting on stations across the Midwest.

Why it was in the inbox

Turning down a label to bet on yourself takes conviction. “Dallas” is what that bet sounds like.

Watch the official video

Release details from Rive Video Promotion’s campaign for “Dallas.” This feature updates Exposed Vocals’ original March 2017 post.