Butla Jones

“Everybody keeps trying to recreate the wheel. Just make a wheel and let it roll,” drawls Butla Jones. The Carencro, Louisiana native’s emphasis on originality informs not only his music but his approach to life in general. Coming up in a small city nestled near Lafayette, he’s always had the desire to stand out–especially when it comes to music. “I try to do it so differently, cause I know everybody's sound. I could literally mimic anybody's sound that I want to. I've learned how to master it. But I still be trying to find my own sound. I still give it my own swag,” Jones says.


Born Marquis Simmons, Butla Jones was not immune to the serious trials and tribulations that many young black men in Louisiana have endured, but he managed to survive with his freedom and, most importantly, his mind intact. “Believe it or not, as much violence as it is back home, the love from your family and your friends? It triples that,” he says. Now, helping others is what fuels him. “This tree is not just for my shade.” Music is his chosen medium to affect change.