Some artists start out seeking a career, while others simply need to find a way to say what they carry inside. Lil Jey's story belongs much more to the second category.
From Santiago del Monte, La Unión, Cartago, Costa Rica, Juan José Rodríguez Peralta began experimenting with music when he was just 14 or 15. He did it from his bedroom, recording his first ideas in Rap, Reggaeton, and Dancehall.
There was no large studio or professional equipment. There was curiosity, a desire to learn, and, above all, a need to express himself.
Although those first recordings had technical limitations and no longer exist, they were the driving force that showed him he could turn his experiences into art.
"Sigues Aquí": the song that changed everything
Between 2016 and 2017 came one of the moments that would leave the deepest mark on Juan José's life. At E.J.C Productions, in Barrio Cuba, San José, under the production of Di Fyah, he recorded "Sigues Aquí" with The Talent, a song dedicated to his brother Alexander, who died in 2016 at the age of 17.
For Juan José, that song came from a very personal place. It was his way of expressing what he felt, remembering his brother, and keeping his memory alive through music.
"Sigues Aquí" ended up connecting with many people and received support from the Movimiento Urbano Costa Rica community. For Lil Jey, it meant discovering that a song born from such a personal experience could also touch someone else's life.
Then came "Ya Entendí", "Freestyle" and "La Promesa". However, that moment was also difficult to process, and over time Juan José decided to step away from music temporarily.
Returning, changing, and finding Lil Jey
After a pause he needed to heal, he returned to music with a renewed identity: Lil Jey. This name is a direct tribute to his brother, who was a big fan of trap artists such as Lil Quil. "Jey" comes from the initial letter of Juan as pronounced in English. It is not just a stage name; it is a promise of life under the motto ElDeLaJota.
Being a solo artist is not easy. As he himself says, he has to be the captain of his own ship. The first time he stepped onto a stage, he felt great pressure being alone in front of the audience, but when he saw people connecting with his message, that vulnerability became his greatest strength.
Currently, his music moves between Dancehall, Reggaeton, Rap, and Trap, seeking a sound that can make people dance, but never loses the personal side that has accompanied his story from the beginning.
His own sound and the future of his music
Today, Lil Jey's creative process is more focused than ever. Working as a team with producer Hemkel at Zona Gris Studio, he has achieved an urban sound with plenty of personality: music that makes you dance, but with real and profound lyrics.
He is currently working with great excitement on his upcoming single "Gimmy Pum Pum" (2026) and is laying the foundations for what will be the biggest project of his life: his first full album, called "Wiki Nigts", planned for 2027.
As he puts it himself, his mission is clear:
"Music is my way of transforming what I have lived through into something that can inspire others. Each song is not just a release; it is a promise fulfilled and the voice of those who, like me, find in art the strength to keep moving forward." – Lil Jey.
Since then, there have been losses, pauses, lessons, stages, and many changes. A new identity, new sounds, and a clearer way of understanding what he wants to tell through his music also arrived.
Today, under the name Lil Jey, he continues building that path.
And perhaps the most interesting thing is that, after everything he has lived through, his story is still being written. Learn about his upcoming releases and discover his music; you can follow him on social media and digital platforms.
📘 Facebook: JJRP Música
📸 Instagram: @liljey_cr
🎵 TikTok: @liljeycr
▶️ YouTube: Lil Jey
🎧 Spotify: Lil Jey on Spotify
