Meet Justin Chris

We were lucky to catch up with Justin Chris recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I found my purpose through creating music. At first I was just telling my story, expressing what I felt, but over time I realized that my words were impacting people in a positive way, often without me even trying. That subconscious connection sparked something deeper: a love for helping and motivating others through music. It eventually expanded into a passion for innovation and creating opportunities in my community. Music brought everything full circle for me. It highlighted what truly makes me happy, brings me peace, and gives my life meaning. It also led me to build organizations that provide platforms for creatives, as well as a nonprofit that supports mental health, further extending the impact beyond the music itself.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Formerly known as Jus10, I am Justin Chris, an artist born in Washington, DC and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

My music has always been about keeping it real. I just tell my story the way it is, and somehow that has helped people connect, grow, and feel seen. I have a certain tone and delivery that cuts through. Some say it is stern, but it is honest. That is just how I approach life, and I bring that same energy into the music. For me, it has always been about pushing the culture forward by staying true to myself.

I started writing back in middle school, just messing around with songs and figuring out my voice. Since then, I have never looked back. In 2025, I switched my name from Jus10 to Justin Chris because I had grown, and my music had too. It just felt right. As I have grown, so has my audience. And along the way, my story has helped other people navigate theirs, which is one of the things I am most proud of.

Since I started, I have dropped 7 mixtapes and 6 studio projects, and I have had the chance to perform mostly around the DMV. Every time I touch a stage, I bring that same message of love, truth, and connection. I don’t take a listener or supporter for granted as my message grows.

In 2016, I founded Creative Minds at Frostburg State University to give other creatives a platform to express themselves. And in 2025, I officially became a business owner, launching Uplift and Shift, a nonprofit organization focused on mental health and uplifting communities throughout the DMV. These are not just titles or accomplishments, they are part of my purpose.

I move with intention in everything I do. Whether it is a music release, an event, or a community initiative, it always has meaning behind it. Right now, I am working on a new project called Should’ve Prayed Harder, a body of work that is rooted in prayer, faith, and trusting in God. This project, like everything I create, is bigger than just music. It is about healing, reflection, and reminding people that their story still matters.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities for me have been trusting myself, having drive and dedication, and learning from my mistakes. Trusting myself has helped me take risks and keep moving forward even when things felt uncertain. Drive and dedication keep me grinding day after day no matter the obstacles. And the knowledge I have gained from learning from my mistakes has made me stronger and more focused on what really matters.

My advice for anyone early in their journey is simple: always go with your gut and do not overthink it just do. I feel like so many people waste time waiting for the right time or the perfect moment but before you know it you are 25 and still waiting. Dreams do not chase themselves and goals do not get checked off on their own.

Also, be your authentic self in every room you enter. Own who you are, embrace it fully, and if people do not like you for being you, then move on and keep pushing. Staying true to yourself is what will set you apart and keep you moving forward.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Honestly, before March of this year, I did not really read books like that. I would read articles on my phone and stuff, researching things, but actual books? Nah. I am a fan of the Pivot Podcast and they had Mel Robbins on in January. She was talking about her new book called Let Them, and I got intrigued by how she was describing the impact it made on people’s lives.

The book talks about letting go and allowing people to be who they are, controlling your emotions, your anger, and watching what you say, stuff like that, you know? I picked it up and read it, and it helped me control all those things. It humbled me to the point where I really do not care what people think anymore. It also helped me let people move how they move without it affecting me.

That has helped me be more carefree and more authentic with myself. It also taught me not to force people to be what I wanted them to be in my life or fit into my ideas of who they should be. Everyone grows at different rates and everyone is on their own race.

The book also gave me a lot of perspective and frame of reference. It made me more open to seeing how others view things, even if I am wrong. Now I am using the book’s practices and applying them to my life, and you can hear that growth in my new music too. Real dope read.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://itsunclejus.com
• Instagram: itsunclejus
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@unclejus10