The fast-rising career of St. Paul rapper Taylor J is proof of the good things that can happen when an artist carefully balances quality and quantity. Taylor’s steady flow of projects, standout collaborations with artists ranging from Gucci Mane to Nipsey Hussle to Next singer RL, and the other moves he’s executed have made him a highly respected artist in his native Midwest and beyond. Over the years, Taylor has also earned praise from prestigious publications including XXL, HotNewHipHop, Fake Shore Drive, and many more. A lifelong lover of music, Taylor had musical aspirations from an early age. He first started writing raps when he was only 11, and he loved to sing along to songs from the early 2000s; he laughs while remembering his funny habit of spontaneously belting out Lil’ Mo’s “Superwoman.” Later on, during his teens, Taylor took to battle rapping and formed a short-lived group called Midwest Mafia while attending his St. Paul high school. After graduation, Taylor was finally able to pursue music on a more consistent basis. His work soon began to pay off.