BJ So Cole’s Bounce Roots Land in Megan Thee Stallion’s “Lover Girl”

When Megan Thee Stallion previewed “Lover Girl” on Instagram in 2025, fans were quick to react to her bars and visuals. But in New Orleans, something else stood out. The beat carried a familiar bounce rhythm and a recognizable voice that belonged to BJ So Cole, a Kenner-born artist who has spent over a decade shaping his lane in the genre.

The record, which officially dropped this week and went to #1 on iTunes, contains a vocal sample from an old BJ So Cole freestyle that traces directly back to the roots of New Orleans bounce.

From Susan Park to the Bounce Stage

BJ So Cole grew up in Susan Park, a small community in Kenner City known for its deep ties to local music. His cousin, KC Redd, was part of Take Fo’ Records, the legendary label that helped define bounce music during its rise in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

While BJ was growing up, bounce culture was everywhere around him. He recalls watching figures like Magnolia Scooby, a neighborhood pioneer who used early YouTube uploads to spread bounce music before social media even existed. Scooby’s influence inspired BJ to take the mic himself, carrying on that same creative spirit after Scooby’s passing.

Learning the Craft with Hasizzle

BJ’s evolution accelerated when he started working closely with Hasizzle, one of the city’s most respected voices and often called the King of Bounce. Together, the two recorded a song called “Ready Ready”

That record represented a turning point in BJ’s journey. During those sessions, Hasizzle taught him how to scat (improvised jazz singing in which the voice is used in imitation of an instrument), and how to let the flow move naturally instead of forcing it. The lesson stuck. From that point forward, BJ approached bounce as a feeling, not a formula.

I remember when I was a recording Hasizzle stopped me. And said, BJ stopped thinking, and just rap, because it’s a feeling. You don’t think, you just go because it’s natural, it’s culture.

A Freestyle That Traveled the World

Not long after that, BJ recorded a freestyle referencing Hasizzle’s hit “Bounce It Biggity.” He was just playing around in the studio, unaware that the moment would come back years later. That freestyle clip circulated through DJ sets and producer loops across the local scene.

When Megan Thee Stallion previewed “Lover Girl” on Instagram, BJ immediately recognized his own voice in the sample. Shortly after BJ and Hasizzle worked out the business side, the song officially dropped and hit the top of the iTunes charts.

“I saw it like everybody else,” BJ explained in his Newtral Groundz interview. “I knew it was me right away. I was excited about it. I just wanted it handled respectfully because artists from New Orleans deserve acknowledgment. We’ve been building this sound for decades.”

Recognition and Respect

For BJ, the moment is bigger than a single credit. It represents validation for the entire bounce community. The sample connects three generations of the culture:

“I never thought, ten years later, that they would use that particular sample out of everything I’ve done,” BJ said. “Of all the songs I’ve made, that was just a freestyle. I appreciate it, and I want to give a big shout out to the King.”

• Magnolia Scooby, the early YouTube-era pioneer who showed BJ the path.
• Hasizzle, the King of Bounce who taught him the art of rhythm and delivery.
• BJ So Cole, the bridge to the mainstream audience now hearing bounce in one of the biggest songs in the country.

This collaboration-by-way-of-sampling shows how authentic bounce continues to reach new platforms without losing its roots. It also highlights the ongoing need for credit, collaboration, and respect as regional sounds travel worldwide.

What’s Next for BJ So Cole

BJ isn’t slowing down. He is already working on new collaborations with major bounce artists and preparing to release new music that showcases his versatility. Outside the studio, he continues his work in the community, staying connected to schools and youth programs while representing the positive side of the New Orleans creative scene.

“Bounce is worldwide now,” BJ said. “But it still starts here. I’m just proud that my voice and our culture are part of that story.”