On April 2008, the girls starred in the reality television show Prima J: Inside Out, as shown in the Latino community cable network Mun2. The song gathered 20 million views online, 166,000 song downloads, 30,000 ringtone downloads, and stayed at the Billboard Pop 100 at number 93 for one week. The girls also had a cameo on Bratz as auditionees for the school’s talent show. On July 31, 2007, the girls released their debut single, “Rock Star”, the bouncy lead track of the Bratz: Motion Picture Soundtrack album. Signed to Geffen Records, Prima J debuted in 2007 starting with the song “Gotta Lotta” as part of the soundtrack of the Disney Channel television film “Jump In!”. Stefanie helped develop the girls’ stage acts and was impressed by their talent that she brought them to Ron Fair, a veteran artists and repertoire (A&R) executive who helped the big names in the industry reach stardom such as Ashlee Simpson, Christina Aguilera, the Black Eyed Peas, Wild Orchid to name a few. On April 04, 2006, the girls were referred by Jorge Hernandez, another talent manager, to Stefanie Ridel, a former member of the all female band Wild Orchid. Their rise to fame started when Jessica stumbled upon talent manager Bruce Johnson listening to a song she wrote and recorded. Prima was the Spanish word for cousin while the J was derived from the first letter of their names.

Deciding that they needed a name, the two came up with Prima J as their stage name. The pair cited their influences being Aaliyah, Gwen Stefani, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, and TLC, plus inspired by the on-stage performances of the Black Eyed Peas and the Spice Girls. As they grew up they let their skills in singing and dancing shine at carnivals, cheerleading, dance competitions, fairs, and talent shows. At the tender age of four they always performed their own cheerleading and dance numbers during the halftime of the weekly Dallas Cowboys football games in front of their large families. The cousins both grew up in Rosemead, California, a primarily Latin-American suburb.Ĭoming from musically-inclined families, the pair were encouraged to cultivate their talents in the same field at an early age by their incredibly supportive parents. Janelle “J-Nelly” Martinez was born on August 26, 1988, and Jessica Martinez was born on May 25 in the same year.

Prima J – J-Nelly & Jessica Martinez in her Youth

Taking Time Off for Janelle & Jessica Martinez.

Prima J – J-Nelly & Jessica Martinez in her Youth.

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