Some artists take years to perfect their sound. Ju Noir—born Noe Medrano—shaped his in the chaos of trial, error, and unfiltered growth. At 13, he started with laptop mic recordings that even he admits were “ass,” but those early missteps sparked something real. Now 22, the Maryland rapper has carved a distinctive path, shaped by stoned freestyles in the woods with producer KevinO and refined through obsessive study of legends like Project Pat, Nas, and MF Doom. His latest single, “Smith & Wrangler,” is a turning point: less for laughs, more for legacy.
Ju Noir’s sound is a vintage bottle with a modern pour—BoomBap drums, Memphis horrorcore haze, and a Gen Z filter that swaps gloss for grit. Early drops like 2021’s “Back to Back” were loose and playful, but he’s since leaned into a more deliberate style. “I’m not trying to recreate the past,” he says. “I’m trying to build my own lane.” And that’s exactly what he’s doing—channeling classic influences without becoming a nostalgia act.
He’s also learned to embrace storytelling. What once was freestyling for fun is now a craft rooted in emotional clarity. Ju’s recent pivot toward vulnerability is intentional, aiming for tracks that hit with weight, not just wordplay. “I used to rap just to rap,” he says. “Now I want every bar to land like a confession.” His upcoming single digs deeper into his Maryland roots, marrying that signature Memphis-flavored bounce with something more personal.
The indie grind hasn’t been pretty. With no major label backing, Ju’s path has meant gaming the algorithm—posting snippets, studio sessions, and raw clips across Instagram and TikTok just to get noticed. But it’s working. “Smith & Wrangler” is gaining traction, proving that his DIY visuals and no-frills lyricism strike a chord, especially with fans craving substance in a scroll-heavy world.
What’s next? More music, live shows, and an EP by 2025. Ju Noir isn’t just another rapper paying homage to the ’90s—he’s part of a new school that gets its hands dirty. His journey is the blueprint: fail, repeat, evolve. Somewhere between the cringe laptop recordings and the current momentum, a real artist emerged.
Stream “Smith & Wrangler” now and follow me on Instagram @ju_noir69 ‘and on TikTok @junoir_1 music for his upcoming single, where confessions hit harder than punchlines.