Right now, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Isaiah Wallace – also known by his known stage name, Justzai – is polishing up and prepping the release of his upcoming project, Here We Go Again. The project is 10-track illustration of the exploration of Wallace’s hip-hop and personal influences throughout his life and career.
Born and raised in the southeast Tennessee city of Chattanooga, Isaiah Wallace began writing poetry at a young age. Over time, his gift of poetry spiraled into making music. Everything came together for Wallace when he began competing in rap battles throughout his hometown. In 2012, after realizing his potential, Wallace began taking a career in music much more seriously. His music has been a helpful outlet of expression, helping him overcome negative self-imaging. In his creative process, Wallace describes himself as an extreme perfectionist. “I always felt like everything I released was flawed, and I was never satisfied. I had to accept that there is beauty in imperfections,” states Wallace.
Under the pseudonym Justzai, Wallace has now surpassed 400,000 monthly listeners as a completely independent artist. Next month, he intends to release his newest project, Here We Go Again, which explores and celebrates various aspects of the hip-hop genre. For Wallace, it is a way to pay homage to those who inspired him to make music. He hopes his work will inspire young artists alike, igniting the same spark that encouraged him to follow his dreams. With the album coming out next month, check out what Justzai has released up to this point on his Spotify and follow him on his Instagram, here.