J Noa is the future of Latine hip-hop. The rising Dominican star is not afraid to make music with strong social or political messages, which has already earned her a Latin Grammy nomination. J Noa tackles the topic of mental health in her new single “Era de Cristal.” Today (Feb. 8), Remezcla is premiering the true-to-life music video for her song.
“I’m happy and grateful to be able to represent my country,” J Noa tells Remezcla. “I’m proud of the goals I’ve achieved at such a young age and even more so with the type of music I make, which is rap.”
At 18-years-old, J Noa is a Latine rap phenomenon. She hails from the San Cristóbal Province of the Dominican Republic. In May last year, the self-proclaimed “La Hija del Rap” released her debut EP Autodidacta. J Noa used her fiery flow to take on subjects like drug use and unprotected sex that teens in underserved communities can face with “Betty.” The empowering “No Me Pueden Parar” was like a victory lap for the Afro-Latina artist who didn’t let any obstacles get in the way of her dreams.
“My goals are to continue developing as a rapper, to continue developing my art, and to positively impact the lives of my listeners in one way or another,” she says.
Last November, J Noa received her first Latin Grammy nomination. “Autodidacta” was up for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Song, nominated alongside Eladio Carrión, Bad Bunny, DJ Premier, Feid, and Nicki Nicole. And the accolades haven’t stopped. She is currently nominated for New Female Artist of the Year at the 2024 Premio Lo Nuestro.
“Just being nominated for these awards means a lot because I never thought I would be nominated so soon,” J Noa adds. “It’s a stamp of approval that the music I’m making is good and being accepted.”
With all eyes on J Noa, she is continuing to use her music to send a poignant message. She gets vulnerable in the emotional track “Era De Cristal.” J Noa spits sharp rhymes about the struggles that young people can face with mental health issues. Directed by Lennyn Salinas, the music video drives that point home. We see J Noa having a hard time getting out of bed as she grapples with depression and anxiety.
“For me, it was important to touch on this very personal topic that people do not understand,” she says. “A person with depression cannot be ignored. I felt that I needed to talk about this topic because I have gone through it and I also felt ignored when I needed help.”
Next month, J Noa will perform at her very first music festival, the Isle of Light in Santo Domingo. She will also appear in showcases at SXSW 2024 in Austin, TX. J Noa is working hard on her highly-anticipated debut album as well.
Check out the exclusive music video premiere of “Era de Cristal” below.
