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Emmy Award-winning actor, Jharrel Jerome has just released his debut single, “For Real” featuring Bronx rapper, Kemba.

Jerome took it to Instagram to share his love for music before stepping into the acting scene.

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Before I became an actor, hip hop was my first love. I grew up listening to everything old school, from Slick Rick, to the Tribe, to Big Pun. I was the one spitting off top at the lunch table in the sixth grade. If there was a freestyle cypher happening at the park, I was there. Being from the BX, rap was in my blood whether I knew it or not. Before my life changed, I had no idea I’d want to turn rap from a hobby to a career. But given my acting platform and these unbelievable blessings through the past few years, I decided to hone in on my music. Since 2016, I’ve been putting all the bank I’ve made from my films into studio sessions and recording equipment; trying to find my sound, my voice, my cadence, and my style. 4 years, 600 sessions and 80 songs later, I think I’ve found it. After countless nights of figuring out how I want to package my music, I decided to start small. My first single “For Real” is just a glimpse of who I am as an artist. To my core fans, I am a mysterious figure on social media. So this record explains my fear of social media and allowing people in. Although i’m able to carry an air of confidence with me at all times, I still trap myself inside of a shell. Hiding from the praise. Hiding from the attention. Hiding from the expectations. It’s due to a question I constantly ask myself now, amidst all the panic, change, and outside terrors: “How do I stay real?” —————————————————Listen to the world premiere of my first single, ‘For Real’, featuring my dog @kembaland and produced by my boys @takeadaytrip on @applemusic with @zanelowe tomorrow between 9:30 and 10am PT.

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Jharrel Jerome’s “For Real” was directed by Spence Hord.

“For Real” is now streaming on all platforms.