Rayven Justice

If Rayven Justice’s music sounds like a mix of West Coast cool and Southern boom, it might have something to do with the singer/rapper’s upbringing and how it involves two of hip-hop’s most influential cities, Oakland and Atlanta. A self-supported underground artist who cites Bobby V and Chris Brown as influences, he made his solo debut with Both Sides of the Tracks (2010), saw his profile raise with the varnished slow jam “Between Your Thighs” (2016), and opened up his sound on ESO (2019).
Born in Oakland, raised in Atlanta until he was 10, and then returning to Oakland, Justice began making music in the Bay Area with his brother Raymel. Taking the name the Justice Brothers, the two took music seriously enough, but when Raymel was tragically killed in a shooting, Rayven considered it his duty to carry on in his brother’s name. A minor breakthrough came in 2010 when he joined rapper Kafani on the track “Throw the Cash.” In 2012, Justice signed with the Ice King label and released his debut album Both Sides of the Tracks. He soon opted to start his own label, starting with 2014-2016 studio projects such as I Have a Dream and Do It Justice, the latter of which featured one of his biggest singles, “Between Your Thighs.” After two volumes of Wavy Justice were offered during 2017 and 2018, Justice put together his most ambitious release, ESO — with Too Short, Waka Flocka Flame, and TeeFLii on the long list of guest artists — and issued it in 2019. ~ David Jeffries