Critical Praise:
“There’s something to be said about Detroit rap right now, and Allstar JR is proving to be a mainstay.” – Billboard
“…he’ll leave you making a stank face.” – The FADER
“Allstar JR continues to peel back layers and provide good music along the way, further showing Detroit is a hotbed for talent and he is a name you cannot leave out of the discussion.” – VIBE
The Video:
Stacking punchlines and bankrolls in equal measure, Allstar JR is never satisfied with less. The Detroit rapper trades bars with fellow Eastsider Peezy on “I Ain’t Made It Yet,” his new single and music video. Produced by FlexOTB (Lil Baby, Moneybagg Yo, 42 Dugg), “I Ain’t Made It Yet” is a classic Detroit instrumental, riding a rising three-chord piano pattern and spritely steel drums, occasionally breaking down to just the bouncy 808s to give more space to each rapper’s outlandish flexes. Swapping punchlines like a trap Abbott and Costello, JR and Peezy dismiss haters with a sneer: “Jealous ass n****s cracking jokes on the hater side/Meanwhile, they working sh*tty jobs, barely gettin’ by,” says Peezy, and JR quickly responds, “Meanwhile, I’m countin’ 50 thou, I’m eatin’ chili fries/Heard a n**** tagged me on the ‘Gram, got hos-pit-a-lized.”
In the video, directed by Diego, the two rappers bring their Escalade and designer attire to a stylish Detroit warehouse, where they count cash and party with some of the city’s baddest. “I Ain’t Made It Yet” is the latest glimpse at Ball Up Top, JR’s upcoming album, which arrives on May 28th via Get A Bag Records / EMPIRE.
Allstar JR has been a fixture in the Detroit scene for more than a decade. The Eastside native has been rapping since his middle school years, when he and Tee Grizzley founded the rap group All Stars Ball Hard, building a cult following around the city for their hustle-hard anthems. In 2016, after run-ins with the law derailed his hoop dreams, JR released his first mixtape, Get A Bag Or Go Home, emphasizing his unparalleled work ethic and determination to achieve independent success. Get A Bag Or Go Home became JR’s signature mixtape series, inspiring the name of his record label, Get A Bag Records. The artist and CEO scored several street hits over the ensuing decade, notably the 2017 single “Cases Pending,” which has millions of streams across platforms. In 2018, as the city of Detroit started to get national notice for its busy rap scene, JR started his second signature mixtape series, Organized Crime, home to his local hit “Million Dollar Thoughts.”
Recently, JR has become one of his city’s dot connectors, fluidly moving between the sounds and scenes that populate the 313. He has collaborated with everyone in the city–he’s equally comfortable talking shop with Icewear Vezzo on “Ice Bag,” engaging in stick talk with Babyface Ray on “3 Macs,” and swapping punchlines with BabyTron on “MMA.” “MMA” appeared on his 2023 album Organized Crime 2, JR’s first release in his partnership with EMPIRE. Last year, JR remained prolific, releasing 4 albums including his solo album Parked At The Bank, featuring appearances from CEO Trayle, Babyfxce E, and Baby Money, Casino Bag 2 with LOM Rudy, and Overlordz Get A Bag with Overlord Scooch.
JR is primed for a level-up in 2025, as he prepares to release his most accomplished music to date. Stay tuned for much more from the Eastside baller very soon.
Watch “I Ain’t Made It Yet” ft. Peezy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8IbWPRRh5M
Stream “I Ain’t Made It Yet” ft. Peezy: https://music.empi.re/iaintmadeityet
Pre-save Ball Up Top: https://music.empi.re/balluptop
Photo credit: Top Line Filmz
Please contact Michelle or Annjie for more info.
Links:
official store | instagram | youtube | spotify | apple
“I Ain’t Made It Yet” ft. Peezy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8IbWPRRh5M
“Baby Momma Vision Board” ft. BabyTron: https://music.empi.re/babymommavisionboard / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o6HJALmG1M
“I’m The Guy”: https://youtu.be/iEDTPJSYeAo / https://music.empi.re/imtheguy