Meet JoeJas: Architect of His Own Universe

JoeJas has built a world of his own—one as colorful, chaotic, and imaginative as the artist himself. The multi‑talented rapper, producer, and visual creator, originally from Atlanta and now based in London, has been making music “since he was a little jit.” At ten years old, he wrote his first rap and performed it at his school talent show. The rhyme was simple—“cat, hat, bat, crack”— the audience didn’t quite know what to make of it.

“They were just awkward and staring at me,” he remembers. 

But even that early moment of uncertainty didn’t shake his confidence. Instead, it became the first step towards his musical career. 

Some fans know him as JoeJas. Others know him as Hairymuffinman— his producer alias,  inspired by the aliases of Earl Sweatshirt and Mac Miller. Being his own producer, videographer, and creative director gives him full control over the world he’s building. Many others also know him as the Fat Llama; a name that randomly appeared out of the blue one day.

After adopting the name, he bought a camera and began shaping the visual side of his artistry, drawing inspiration from Pharrell Williams, “Mr. Skateboard P”, and Tyler the Creator.

“Not letting your inner child die is a big part of my brand and my music,” he says.  

He also pulls inspiration from the storytelling of cartoons, like One Piece and Regular Show. His music is also a combination of multiple music genres, pulling inspiration from hip-hop, soul, r&b, and jazz. 

One of the most recognizable characters in the Fat Llama’s world is The Bandit, the persona he embodies when wearing his colorful fuzzy mask.  The mask is a nod to skate culture - a scene that deeply shaped him. Skate culture is abundant in Joe’s music videos and viewers can often find him at a skatepark in some of his videos. When Joe first started skating he felt like “another world had been opened” for him, which he then incorporated into the theme of his music style. 

Now living in London, Joe surrounds himself with creative people who push boundaries in the city’s underground scene.

 “I feel like there’s a feeling in which from recent times, like in the past two years, there’s been a birth field in the underground scene that is really inspired by rage and jerk music.” 

But his journey wasn’t always smooth. Early on, he was often told his music was “too weird,” and some venues refused to book him. Instead of shrinking himself, he built his own lane—and then held the door open for others.

“I wanted to make it a space where creatives can feel comfortable to create their own music,” he says. 

Every summer, Joe hosts a Fat Llama pop‑up shop—a mini‑festival with live music, merch, and a laid‑back atmosphere.

“I don’t really care about people buying,” he says. “It’s about taking the time to relax and enjoy yourself. I want people to feel comfortable.”  

He also books and hosts his own shows across London. Last year marked his first official tour, and more are on the way. Doing things independently has helped him reach the audience that always existed for him—they just needed a place to gather. 

After making his own path, people began to respond: “This is pretty sick!” His advice to other creatives is simple: “Don’t let other people’s opinions dishearten you. Just keep grinding. It might take a while, but enjoy the journey.” 

Joe recently released his newest track, “WiiZARD POOLS,” a song about refusing to suppress your inner child for outside approval. It’s a message that resonates deeply in a creative landscape where authenticity can feel risky.

For JoeJas, staying true to himself isn’t just a brand—it’s the entire universe he’s built.