'TJ’- Thomas Earl Jones

By Monte Hailey
Guest Writer

Nothing warms the heart like seeing a frightened boy come up out of the projects and make it to college with dreams bigger than life.

That’s Thomas Earl Jones, 20, a gifted rapper who learned to transform his anger at living on the rough streets of southeast Raleigh by putting it all into his music.

Rapping for Jones is therapeutic and during his spare time between college and acting he writes music and then records it in the studio.

Jones, also known as TJ, is a sophomore at UNCP majoring in broadcasting and minoring in acting.He plans on pursuing his dreams of the big screen with his own sitcom or some big movie roles.

“If rapping doesn’t work I’m definitely going to further pursue my acting career, but I’d rather do both- rap and act,” Jones said.

TJ appeared in numerous plays in high school and had his own TV show called “What’s it all About,” a school sponsored show about how students talk and react in situations when teachers are not around.

TJ plans to try out for some UNCP production plays this semester.

TJ has been rapping for a year and a half, acting for over four years and plans on taking his unique hard-hitting rap style/ acting ability off the streets and into mainstream entertainment. He has appeared on a couple rap mix tapes in Raleigh and his fan base is steadily growing.

TJ is currently working on his first album entitled “the book.” The name of his album comes from his rap name Book-er T and is expected to hit the streets this January.