ARTIST, MODEL, ACTRESS

SOUTH JERSEY

At a young age, Carina Barrios found herself drawn to music. One of her earliest memories is watching and listening to Michael Jackson with her grandmother, an experience that ignited her creative spark.

Her media presence and self-managed brand show an independent-artist who is driven. Carina’s Instagram bio reads,“I am my own damn experience”. If you know her, then you know that Carina Barrios is not only talented but goes after what she wants with all goals in mind.

Carina’s recent tracks, One of One (2024) and Do It 4 Me (2025) show her emotional depth and her ability to create club ready music. Her style is smooth with a mix of R&B and Pop infused, with lyrics that reflect both aspiration and the everyday emotional experience. In Carina’s own words, her song Nervous, “is special because anyone can enjoy it! Bump it in the car, club, home, wherever you are.”

Barrios’ local identity and New Jersey roots gives her a raw but authentic edge. Providing her with an origin many fans relate to, while being able to transcend beyond local boundaries. She draws from personal experiences and emotional honesty, a narrative that will continue to help her connect with listeners and fans.

Carina Barrios embodies the exciting space of emerging artists who combine independence, regional identity and musical ambition. Her New Jersey roots give her character; her music gives her voice. If you’re into R&B/pop artists who build from the ground up, Carina is “One Of One” and one Jersey’s best kept secrets.

HIP HOP ARTIST

NEWARK, NJ

Born in Boston, raised in Newark, artist Doe973 is a true East Coast MC with an independent hustle. This origin story matters, Newark, NJ has a rich hip-hop history, being Boston-born adds another layer. With that being said, Doe973 is a representative of both environments and forging his personal path in it.

Doe’ manages much of his own promotion, features, and public image. That kind of hustle shows up in the music as well, with less gloss of a major label and more raw authenticity.

Doe973 is a strong example of an independent artist who has work ethic and a growing body of work. that crafts his identity. For fans of authentic, hip hop, Doe973 is someone to keep on your radar.

ARTIST, RAPPER, SINGER, SONGWRITER

DOVER, NJ

J.R. Prince is an example of an independent artist building from the ground up. With roots in New Jersey and a growing catalogue of singles, he has the foundation and momentum to break further. For fans of fresh voices who haven’t yet hit mainstream, J.R. Prince is worth watching.

From Dover, New Jersey, J.R. Prince is the kind of artist who’s quietly building a body of work and a local following while staying true to the grind. Listen to Prince and you’ll hear a blend of street honest bars, determined hustle anthems, and party bangers. He drops singles and videos that touch on ambition, loyalty, and the everyday pressures of building a name independently. He is quickly building a name and lane. Only time will tell how long it takes until hear of J.R Prince in every corner of the globe.

HIP HOP, R&B ARTIST

ORANGE, NJ

KarmahKarmz is an independent artist active in the New Jersey music scene, whose story is one of hustle, resilience, and carving space for herself as an independent voice. Her home base of South Orange places her in a region with rich musical history.

Often feeling overlooked and misunderstood Karmah uses music as a way of expressing what life has shown her. Through hosting and performing, she builds moments in the local music scene rather than rely solely on big labels.

Karmah Karmz embodies the independent artist spirit. She’s self-driven and aims to make music that reflects her truth. While she may not yet be a household name, her performance energy, authenticity, and engagement, positions her for growth.

ARTIST, GO GETTER

LONG ISLAND, NY

Gatormoney is a rising independent artist with a clear vision, exploring hustle, value, and motivation through music, much like in the earlier days of Jeezy. Gator’s music and influence has the authenticity and momentum that many artists never achieve. He’s an artist to keep an eye on if you haven ‘t already. if you’re looking for hip-hop with substance, Gatormoney is the artist to watch.

RAPPER, ARTIST, SONGWRITER, COSPLAYER

NEWARK, NJ

Hailing from Newark, New Jersey, Have A Sip is part of a wave of artists carving out their lane in hip-hop. We that the New Jersey scene is fertile with energy, and Have A Sip is positioned to tap into it.

Have A Sip blends street wise storytelling with melodic hooks and an emotional undercurrent. His tracks hint at vulnerability: the “sip” becomes metaphorical—taking in life, processing pain, ambition, and relationships. When it comes to writing, delivery, and production choices, C&C often stands out.

I get it, the rap world is saturated, but there’s always hunger for fresh voices with authentic stories. New Jersey, despite its proximity to major markets, still holds unique and undiscovered talent. Have a Sip has positioned himself as one of those caught after voices from his region.

ARTIST, SINGER, SONGWRITER, MODEL

CAMDEN, NJ

Camden’s music scene keeps producing bold, authentic talent, and Lola is one of the newer voices carving her lane. A singer and model who reps Camden, NJ, Lola has begun building a local footprint through interviews, live performances and a strong social media presence that shows her talent and personality.

She is an artist with a story, a voice, and an intention to be heard beyond local open-mics. In her first ever interview on the Live On 1 & 9 show she delivered an a-capella performance, signaling that her voice, not just production, is central to her appeal. Fans responding on social platforms expressed their love of Lola’s intimacy, delivery, confidence and artistry who relies on talent rather than relying only on heavy production.