This is a very special edition of Jasper Jams for two reasons: it’s a part of the special issue and it’s in print!

Manhattan College being in the Bronx is great for students looking to explore the music scene that New York City has to offer. There are endless small venues, coffee shop or bar concerts, park performances and even huge venues like Barclays and Madison Square Garden to explore. Any type of music you like can be found somewhere in the city, all you have to do is look.

However, many people here at MC forget that the Bronx has its own wealth of music to share with the world and students at MC should start exploring it more. In fact, some big names in the music industry from years ago and today were born and raised in the Bronx.

This edition of Jasper Jams will focus on artists who were born and raised in the Bronx. For this column, where they made it big doesn’t matter as much as their origin story because that means us Jaspers can claim them as basically one of us.

Some recognition should be given to artists who did not make the playlist because they were not quite born and raised in the Bronx but do have a strong connection to the Bronx; these artists include but are not limited to Cuban Link, Regina Spektor, Billy Joel, and Mary J. Blige, among many others.

This playlist is comprised of some of the biggest or most iconic hits these artists have given us this far. Who knows what some of them will make next and who knows what currently no-name artist from the Bronx will make it big next?

Jenny From The Block – Jennifer Lopez “JLo” 

This song was released in 2002 on JLo’s third studio album “This Is Me…Then” and is in fact, about the Bronx. The old school hip-hop and R&B tune is about her claiming that she’s still the same person she was from the Bronx, despite her rise to fame. Since this release, her music, career and lifestyle has changed in many ways but as far as we’re concerned, she’s still Jenny from the block.

Corazon Sin Cara – Prince Royce (Geoffrey Royce Rojas) 

Prince Royce released his eponymous debut studio album in 2010 which featured this song which went on to hit number one on the US Hot Latin chart. His music is all primarily in the Spanish language but he also released an album in English. While he hasn’t released anything of his own since 2015, he’s still been busy with other things, including a tour with Pitbull.

Conceited – Remy Ma

While Remy Ma has had some past legal trouble and some major controversies, Remy Ma is one of our own. This song was released in 2006 on her debut studio album “There’s Something About Remy” which was her first solo project after being in the hip-hop collective Terror Squad.

Don’t Deserve – Tony Sunshine 

Tony Sunshine was born and raised in the Bronx. He made it big for his singing on work released by Terror Squad, the hip-hop collective that Remy Ma was also in. Tony Sunshine left the collective to pursue a solo career which has given the world music that we just don’t deserve.

Make It Rain – Fat Joe feat. Lil Wayne (Joseph Antonio Cartagena) 

Fat Joe started his career as a member of Diggin’ In The Crates Crew and then went on to have a solo career and also started Terror Squad. He’s made a wide range of music, starred in films and now has a podcast on Tidal. He has a new album titled “Family Ties” slated for release later this year.

Be Careful – Cardi B 

Cardi B is the newest Bronx born and raised musician to make it big in the music scene and she’s actually already been featured in a Jasper Jams before. This song got social media buzzing about her relationship with Offset and then a short time later, she revealed her pregnancy on SNL. Cardi is just getting started; this is her world and we’re just living in it.