Jade Smith aka Queen JD Embraces Her Ambition on Debut “Do What I Gotta”

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Jade Smith and her confidence did not come from having everything figured out in her life. It came from learning how to keep moving when things did not go as planned. After years of singing, acting, dancing, competing for film and commercial roles, and performing on Broadway, the young artist better known by her stage name Queen JD has witnessed the excitement and pressures that come with pursuing an entertainment career. Those prior experiences now shape her music, including her new release, “Do What I Gotta.”

This song reflects the attitude of a singer who won’t allow herself to wait until she gets an opportunity. That is exactly what the title of the track reflects. Once she makes up her mind to achieve something, there is no going back.

Using Challenging Moments As Strengths

Queen JD has had her fair share of moments that have threatened her self-confidence. Participating in acting competitions and studying at a performing arts school in New York City meant being surrounded by other talented people competing for the same roles. On top of that, she has faced experiences beyond professional competition, including unexpected criticism and friendships that changed over time. 

Those moments “showed me that I was a lot tougher than I thought,” she explains. That became the basis of “Do What I Gotta.” The record demonstrates the determination Queen JD developed during those challenging moments and reveals her competitive side. She knows talent alone isn’t enough because so many people are competing for the same opportunities. “Nobody is going to give it to you,” Queen JD says. “So I’m ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals.”

This adds the necessary edge to the track. “Do What I Gotta” is not just about ambition but about someone who has been through years of hard work, competition, taking criticism, improving, and getting back on their feet.

A Sound That Refuses to Stay in One Box

While the message of “Do What I Gotta” is direct, Queen JD’s approach to music is anything but. She describes her sound as genre-bending, edgy, and soulful, drawing inspiration from artists like SZA, Doechii, Drake, and Ariana Grande. Her interests also stretch into older music, including the work of Michael Jackson and Tears for Fears.

“I never say any style is off limits,” she says. “I have a lot of interests and style range.”

In “Do What I Gotta,” her versatility becomes more apparent with an aggressive, assertive character that shines through. The song gives the artist room to embrace the intensity she feels when she is focused on a goal, highlighted by one lyric in particular: “Boss mode: I’m on it!”

A New Chapter for Queen JD

While Queen JD has had plenty of experience performing in acting and singing roles, creating music feels much more personal. Music-making has been a part of her life for years; however, now she has finally found her heart in writing and singing.

“I’ve never put myself out there like this, but I’m ready,” Queen JD mentions. “Do What I Gotta” serves as an introduction. She wants listeners to understand that the person creating is not limited to one role or one expectation. Queen JD sings, raps, dances, and acts, and she wants the freedom to explore all of those abilities as her career develops.

She also hopes her music encourages other young people, particularly young women, to resist being defined by someone else’s expectations. “Don’t let anyone put you in a box. Use your voice,” she says. 

With a music video on the way featuring the high-energy hip-hop dance style she loves, Jade Smith, aka Queen JD, is continuing to show audiences that there is more than one way to define her. “Do What I Gotta” is her statement of intent: she has big goals, she knows the work ahead will demand a lot from her, and she is ready to meet it head-on.

Listen to Queen JD’s “Do What I Gotta” out now: