Josh Atkins is simply getting into his senior 12 months at Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central College, however he's already making a reputation for himself within the music world.
As a 16-year-old Christian rap artist, Atkins has carried out greater than 70 exhibits, shot two music movies, and plans to launch his first official album this fall.
The album Atkins is at present engaged on is named Reflections.
“It's principally a mirrored image of myself,” Atkins mentioned. “All of us have our obstacles in life that we battle with, and that's what makes us all totally different.”
As a Christian rapper, Atkins goes by the title Jk.A. His stage title means “Jesus knocks the reply”.
Atkins mentioned his stage title was initially created with the initials of his title, Joshua Karl Atkins. Nevertheless, after considered one of his first performances, his step-grandfather mentioned that his stage title ought to imply “Jesus Knocking Reply”. Atkins determined to call this present primarily based on Revelation 3:20.
“That type of grew to become the theme round which I centered the music,” he mentioned. “All of the songs type of observe the message of knocking on the door.
Atkins performs Friday on the Reaching the Unreached competition in Buffalo. He not too long ago put collectively an unofficial album of his greatest songs that he might be promoting on the competition forward of the autumn launch of his first official album.
As an artist, Atkins hopes to encourage folks to observe their goals and be their greatest.
“One other objective of music,” he mentioned, “is to permit folks to see how nice God is and to permit them to see what He has executed in my life and what He can do of their lives.”
Music could be very private to Atkins as a result of it has influenced his life.
“To some extent, I might say that music saved my life,” Atkins mentioned. “I struggled with psychological well being and music was my means out.
Atkins mentioned his greatest songs had been written throughout instances when he was actually struggling along with his psychological well being.
“To sum all of it up, a whole lot of my music is nearly psychological emotions,” he mentioned. “Lots of my songs are about my psychological well being and my stroll with God.
Atkins began rapping on the age of 6 or 7 and launched his first unofficial album within the fourth grade. Atkins mentioned he rapidly grew to become some of the common children in elementary college and even auditioned for America's Bought Expertise. Regardless of gaining recognition at such a younger age, Atkins mentioned it was actually fairly faux.
Whereas Atkins gained early assist for his music, he mentioned his recognition started to say no considerably as he aged.
“It was fairly a realization for me in my life,” he mentioned.
The breakthrough for Atkins' music got here when he started sharing reside freestyle movies on the favored app TikTok and gained an viewers.
“My profession, my life, every little thing modified drastically as a result of I obtained on TikTok,” Atkins mentioned. “I do know for certain that God was the one pushing me to do it as a result of it undoubtedly obtained me to the place I’m now.
The subsequent huge enhance in Atkins' music profession got here at his college expertise present. Regardless of his doubts that individuals had been listening to his music, the viewers began singing his lyrics, chanting his title and forcing an encore efficiency.
“I believe as soon as I get the hold of it, I'll actually look again at once I did the expertise present and once I began TikTok as a result of these had been two large altering moments. My perspective has modified,” he mentioned.
After these two milestones in his music profession, Atkins noticed a dramatic enhance in his fan base. His music is now out there on Spotify and Apple Music the place he continues to realize assist for his music.
At 16, fame was an inner battle for Atkins. Being within the public eye pressured him to mature quicker as a result of he began at such a younger age.
As his recognition grows, he typically wonders how a lot of it’s actual or if persons are simply making an attempt to make use of him for his fame.
“It actually made me understand that I don't care what folks suppose,” he mentioned.
Whether or not folks love or hate his music, Atkins desires to deal with making music out of his love for God and his need to proceed his music profession.
“The principle message is that Jesus is knocking on the door of your coronary heart and it’s as much as you to reply,” he mentioned.