Listen to Charlotte’s new unofficial hip-hop theme song
Charlotte just got a new hip-hop anthem. The final round of the Sounds of the Queen City competition, announced by Mayor Jennifer Roberts in February, took place on Tuesday to determine Charlotte’s unofficial hip-hop theme song.
And the winner is: Jason Harkless.
Harkless, 32, known artistically as J Quin, was selected by a panel of judges after performing his song, “Charlotte Anthem,” at The Underground. Hear it now:
“I want it to mean everything to the city, something that you and I can call our own,” he said. “I want to give the city hope and I want to inspire everyone that they can do anything they want to if they put their mind to it.”
The Sounds of the Queen City competition was intended to engage people from diverse backgrounds in our city’s civic life, celebrating what is great about Charlotte. Mel Silas was the runner up and the popular vote went to “Big Red,” or Willis Draughn.
As for Harkless’ background, he manages a business by day, but his deeper passion is his work as an independent music artist/all-genre songwriter. He writes hip-hop, R&B, rap, Gospel, country — you name it.
He credits his cousin Warren McCall for pushing him to enter the competition — which he didn’t even know about until two days before the deadline — and to his Quintessential Sound team for inspiring him to do what he does with music.
“This is my dream that I’m chasing,” said Harkless, who managed to write the anthem in three hours.
Though he just moved to Charlotte about a year ago, he has been visiting family and friends in the city for 15 years.
“I thought about everything I knew about Charlotte and then I started writing,” said Harkless, whose lyrics take the listener to familiar places like Cabo Fish Taco in NoDa, Spectrum Center in Uptown and Carolina Place Mall in South Charlotte.
As the competition winner, Harkless will get to enjoy prizes like an invitation to perform at the National League of Cities meeting in November 2017, a photo shoot with “Spread” magazine and two hours of stage training by JR Adduci.
“It puts me to closer to my goals,” Harkless said. “I always said I want to be one of the greatest rappers in the world. … It’s not impossible.”
Maybe one day he can say it all started with his “Charlotte Anthem.”
“This is our song,” Harkless said.
Charlotte Anthem
Chorus:
Somebody tell me who you do it for? “Charlotte!”
Game time who you rooting for? “Charlotte!”
Big city bright lights, this is? “Charlotte!”
Hands up everybody scream “Charlotte!”
Verse 1:
I coming straight up out of the Carolinas, Queen City where ya’ll can see him
Bringing the crowd like the Bojangles’ Coliseum
I might catch a hockey game to see the Checkers play
In February it’s the CIAA
1768 that’s when it started
R.I.P to the late great Sophia Charlotte
Epicentre tryna’ to find myself a bar
but it’s gonna take 30 minutes ya’ll know I’m coming from Albemarle
You know that uptown traffic stay live
coming from (hwy) 85, 77, 485
bumper to bumper you know it’s 5 o’clock
bumping power 98 & 92.7 da block
Navigating through Tryon switching lanes
Speeding like I’m in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Win or lose Carolina Panthers roar
We in the Spectrum Arena just to see the Hornets score
Chorus (2x)
Verse 2:
SouthPark, Northlake, Concord but that ain’t all
Carolina Place, do ya’ll remember Eastland Mall?
A lot of shopping trying to catch the right sale
No car so you gotta catch the Lynx light rail
Super stars from the city on the Gram
Home of Anthony Hamilton & Billy Graham
Mecklenburg County banking district making quota
Cabo Fish Taco you can catch me out in NoDa
Shout out to the Mayor, I know the City see me
JCSU, UNCC, CPCC
Fahrenheit if you want me to wine and dine ya
if not then we can hit that Midnight Diner
Either one I can afford
Moving through Beatties Ford
No matter if you’re in a Bentley or a Honda Accord
When you ready to go, just tell me when
I signing off yours truly …. J Quin
Chorus (2x)
Photo: Vintagelife Production
This story was originally published April 27, 2017 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Listen to Charlotte’s new unofficial hip-hop theme song."