Raised in the Robert F. Wagner Housing Projects, the 18-year-old (born Terrence Reaves) grew up on Nas, The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. “My uncle would say, ‘I want y’all to listen to this and by the end of the day, tell me what the songs mean.’” Mature for his age, he began rapping at eight and made his first song at 12. “As a kid, I was always chilling with the older guys in the hood. I would always be rapping.” His natural athleticism led him to want to pursue basketball professionally. For several years, music took a back seat to his hoop dreams.
In 2016, TJ’s career—and life—hit a turning point when his best friend, Chico, was fatally shot in a gang-related incident. He questioned his life in the streets and admits, that he was filled with anger. “I ain’t gonna lie. It changed my life.” Through tragedy sprung hope. He took on “We gon’ ball,” the mantra of his slain friend, and the moniker “TJ Porter,” a nod to the debonair Rich Porter from Paid in Full, and set his eyes on rap as the prize.
With the forthcoming Voice of The Trenches, TJ Porter is ready to tell his story. Autobiographical, he hopes to showcase the many facets of New York City—good and bad. He’s slated to hit the road later this year and release a trilogy of projects leading into NBA All -Star Weekend 2019. More than anything, TJ hopes that his success can serve as a motivation, especially to other young people. “I’mma give you the trenches,” he says. “But these are the opportunities you can get.”
