From Harlem, for Harlem, TJ Porter has established his undisputed street cred with a streak of uncompromising singles and videos – highlighted by “Glowin’ Up,” “Tricky,” “Harder Than Ever,” “Do You Care?,” and of course his hometown celebration “Harlem” – all setting the stage for the release today of VOICE OF THE TRENCHES, his debut album via Def Jam Recordings.
LISTEN TO VOICE OF THE TRENCHES HERE
With the release of VOICE OF THE TRENCHES, TJ drops the gritty new video for “Harlem,” which COMPLEX hails as “one of the best songs of the year, so far.”
WATCH “HARLEM” MUSIC VIDEO HERE
“Porter’s bravado bleeds New York,” wrote Billboard passionately this week of the former high school basketball star, whose closest friends include future NBA draft prospects Cole Anthony and Julian Newman. There but for fortune, TJ’s career might have been on the court with them, instead of in the recording studio and onstage. As TJ showed during the recent NBA All-Star Weekend, however, at the Coca-Cola stage performance and then at a special 3-on-3 matchup game, the two driving forces of his life will probably always co-exist.
“I’m not a basketball player who makes music, I’m an artist who plays basketball, sometimes,” he told the Billboard reporter. “I make music. I want people to take me seriously as an artist. I’m cool with all the rappers and stuff like Meek [Mill] and all, but I need them to take me serious with the music. I want that longevity. I ain’t trying to go to the NBA.”
