My Story
From the depths of addiction to becoming a voice of hope—this is the journey that shaped the music.
The Beginning
Jacob Kline—J-Kline—was born February 21, 1991, in Battle Creek, Michigan. Raised by a single mother who worked factory nights and attended nursing school during the day, he learned early what sacrifice looks like. What fighting for something looks like.
Resilience. That's the one word."
— J-Kline
Finding My Voice
His brother, 13 years older, became his gateway to hip-hop. Wu-Tang. Dr. Dre. Eminem. 2pac. By first grade, J-Kline told his teacher he wanted to be an actor. By sixth grade, he was a hip-hop head writing his own rhymes—finding words for feelings he couldn't speak. At 14, he stepped into a studio for the first time, and something clicked.
Into The Darkness
The loss that would shape everything.
The Struggle
Then came the loss that would shape everything. At 11, J-Kline lost his father to addiction. The pain carved deep. By senior year in 2009, anxiety and depression had taken hold. He started using to cope—a temporary fix that became a nine-year sentence. Jails. Rehabs. Homelessness. Fentanyl. The cycle seemed unbreakable. In 2013, he moved to Austin hoping for a fresh start. It didn't work. Not yet.
My mission is to be a voice of hope, courage, and strength. That no matter what you're going through, you can make it out, you can bounce back, and it's never too late."
— J-Kline
The Comeback
April 2018: J-Kline got clean. After five years away from music, he picked up the pen again. He started building something real in Austin's hip-hop scene. Then March 2020 hit—pandemic, job gone. But the worst was coming. In June 2020, he lost his best friend in a tragic lake accident. The grief was unbearable. He relapsed.
Today
Every bar carries the weight of experience. Every word is proof that you can come back from anything.
The Mission
November 2022: He got clean again. This time, he hasn't looked back.
J-Kline channeled everything—the pain, the loss, the lessons learned the hard way—into "Lost In Austin," his debut album released through College of Hip-Hop Knowledge Records and Sony-Orchard. Now he's working on "The Redemption Tape," his second album and most personal work yet.
But music is only part of the mission. As a certified life coach, motivational speaker, and recovery advocate, J-Kline uses his platform to reach those still struggling. Every bar he writes carries the weight of experience. Every word is proof that you can come back from anything.
Life & Performances
Moments captured on the journey.
More Than Music
A mission to inspire change.
In The Press
Sharing the story across platforms.
I Am Passion
Fentanyl Addiction & Homelessness to Hip-Hop & Recovery
An in-depth conversation about J-Kline's journey from the depths of fentanyl addiction and homelessness to becoming a voice of hope through hip-hop.
March 2025
ShoutoutHTX
Meet J-Kline: Hip-Hop Artist, motivational speaker, and recovery advocate
J-Kline shares his story of resilience and how he turned his struggles into a platform for helping others.
January 2024
Voyage Austin
Conversations with J-Kline
J-Kline opens up about his mission to be a voice of hope, courage, and strength for those facing their own battles.
April 2022
The Mission
To be a voice of hope, courage, and strength—proving that no matter what you're going through, you can make it out, you can bounce back, and it's never too late to turn your life around.
You're Not Alone
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. Recovery is possible—I'm living proof.
Free • Confidential • 24/7 • 365 days a year
Treatment referrals and information in English and Spanish