Billy B

Jahdira Atkins, professionally known as Billy B, was born in the Cypress Hill project of East New York Brooklyn, New York. For those who don’t know, East New York in the late 90s, early 2000s was nothing like the show on TV. The neighborhood was flooded with drugs and prostitution, the murder rate was one of the highest in America, with the education and employment rates being some of the lowest. So, as you can imagine, life for the young Jahdira was extremely turbulent, yet, she persevered. As a child, Billy sought music as a comfort from the mayhem surrounding her. She fell in love with Missy Elliot’s swagger, Nicki Minaj’s lyrical expertise, Patty Labelle’s soul, and Aretha Franklin’s range. However, Billy didn’t begin pursuing music until 2015. Over the next few years Billy B collaborated with various artists and producers; 808 Mafia, June The Jenius, Dizzy Banko, Nico Demi, Synesthetic Nation, Sukihana , Fetty Luciano , Lola Brooke , Connie Diamond , and Skeme to name a few. She’s also featured in some of Hip-Hop’s biggest publications; Complex, Vibe, The Source, and No Jumper. To accomplish this much, with no help from a label, is a testament to not only her resilience but her musical abilities.

With the release of her newest single “Break”, the increasing popularity of her and Lola Brooke’s “Don’t Play With It”, and a successful Rolling Loud performance, Billy B has been gaining popularity around the country. According to Billy, “this is just the beginning” stating that she’s happy the industry is beginning to recognize more female talent. Billy is a lyrical mistress that empowers women and underprivileged individuals through the relatability of her music. This East New York princess, raps, and sings on occasion but don't tell anyone I told you, over gutter drill beats. By chronicling her encounters with jealous wannabe female rappers, men she’s too good for, and her financial accomplishments, Billy is able to relate to the everyday woman who probably doesn’t share her experiences but can relate to the emotions expressed. That jealous coworker, or that guy in your dm that just won’t quit, or the pride felt from a big purchase, Billy takes what’s at the heart of those moments, the feeling, and puts them into catchy trendy bars; “She so sweet, make him wanna lick the wrapper.” Billy is an affable, funny, and charismatic woman whose love of music continuously drives her to excel. Everyday Billy spends time writing, perfecting her flow, testing new sounds, and interacting with her fans. Few would expect such a beautiful and mindful soul to spring up from the war-torn Cypress Hill project she used to call home, however, through relentless perseverance, sleepless nights, and nonstop networking, Billy has grown her socials to over seventy thousand followers on Instagram and almost a quarter of a million followers on Tiktok. If one thing is for certain, the people pick their champion, and Billy B is poised to be the next big thing out of the City.