Milwaukee’s J.P. pivots to R&B on ‘Took a Turn’ EP

Milwaukee artist J.P. is using his new project to pivot from the city’s lowend rap to contemporary R&B. The EP, “Took a Turn,” is slated for release Friday, Aug. 22, via Roc Nation Distribution. Led by the singles “Serenity” and “My Peace,” the release emphasizes layered harmonies, falsetto passages, and slower tempos that have been emerging in recent performances. 

The shift builds on a year where J.P. broadened his profile beyond the dance-heavy, clap-driven lowend sound that helped him break out. He made his national TV debut Nov. 15, 2024, on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” performing the title track from last fall’s “School Dance,” and followed with “The Groove,” a live, band-backed EP that highlighted his vocals. Those steps, paired with recent open-mic sets, set the stage for a project centered on singing as much as rap.

“Took a Turn” arrives as J.P. leans into the R&B elements long present in his music. He previewed the title track on TikTok and returned to Genius’ Open Mic to perform “Serenity,” underscoring the project’s slower, melodic palette. The move also reflects his roots: local coverage has described Milwaukee’s lowend as a bass-forward, handclap-heavy style that spread on TikTok, while national outlets have documented the scene’s evolution and J.P.’s role in it.

Even with the stylistic turn, the project follows a breakthrough stretch in hip-hop. J.P.’s viral single “Bad Bitty” and its NLE Choppa remix helped put him on the national radar and led to profiles and playlist placements; a Genius “Verified” segment and From the Block performance further amplified the track. Those releases provided a runway for this R&B-forward chapter without distancing him from the audience that discovered him through Milwaukee’s “lowend” wave.

J.P. has also picked up hometown recognition along the way. HYFIN, Radio Milwaukee’s Black-led platform, introduced him on social media as its Anti-Gala “Musician of the Year” awardee, aligning the rising artist with one of the city’s marquee cultural events.