Conversations with Jabari “SOLO” Jones

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jabari “SOLO” Jones

Hi SOLO, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Waddup Doe

My name is Jabari “SOLO” Jones, a Detroit,MI native that will be gracing your Silver Screens and Stages soon. Since the age of 8 I have dreamed about becoming a star in the field of entertainment. I took much joy in Acting and Dancing that those around me (Mom, Friends) including myself realized i have a talent for it. I grew up watching plenty of stars that inspired me to believe i could obtain the level of stardom they achieved. From Usher, Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Omarion, to Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, and Samuel L Jackson. I grew up in a time where I was taught to become a real star you had to be multi-facted & multi-talented. So i began to nurture my God given talent and cultivate it towards achieving that dream.

Funny thing is Usher- “You Dont Have To Call” is the music video that lit the flame under me to Dance, while everything Will Smith touched made me want to become an actor.

At 9 i received my first opportunity of a life time, the audition that could’ve catapulted me to those aforementioned dreams. Lion King on Broadway was holding auditions in Detroit to find 4 kids (2 boys & 2 girls) to play Nala and Simba. I made it through all the rounds and at the end there was 3 boys and 2 girls so 5 of us. Just to find out that they kept me to the end because they enjoyed the talent i possessed but because of my age (9) legally i couldn’t perform on Broadway (Child Labor Laws) until i was 10.
They broke the news to my mom all while I was celebrating with the other 4 kids. Then my mom proceeded to pull me to the side to tell me the news that they didn’t want to tell. Man, i was crushed. My first major audition and my first NO, i cried like a baby! However, that lit the fire underneath me to want to become what i dreamed even more.

Fast forward one year later…I became 1 of 2 kids to represent Michigan in the 79th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This became my first Major Opportunity. From this moment in 2005 I began to train in Acting and Dance (and even singing when i was kid) in local Detroit training programs like “Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit” and enroll in acting programs at Marygrove College. As a kid, i secured a major midwest talent agent and started to focus more on Print Ad Modeling and Acting.

I began booking print ad jobs for brands like “Fathead”, “Chrysler”, and “Saturn”. I also was featured in independent films and Detroit PBS shows like “Think Squad” “One Nation Two Worlds” “MOOZ-LUM” “Game of Death” and more.
All while pursuing the acting I was no slouch in the dance department neither. I was majority self taught until i became an adult but i did get to become a dancer for and even help with the choreography for the artist Lil Elijah J. Funny thing is at the time i was 16/17 and he was fresh off from playing Simba in the Lion King on broadway and Vegas so it was like a full circle moment for me as he became like my lil brother. He now plays Michael Jackson in the “MJ the Musical” on Broadway.

So my youth was filled with opportunity and I have to thank my Mom and God for all i have and achieved early on. I know i would’ve been further and possibly a child star if i would’ve been more disciplined but im thankful for my mom pushing me even tho i was unfocused alot.

At 17 I began my collegiate journey at the illustrious Morehouse College, where i also became a member of the greatest fraternity in the world… Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. While there I secured a role in the hit web series “College Boyfriends” as the character Loy. I continued my studies and graduated in 2017 with my bachelors in English.

After graduating I refocused my attention to get back into the arts, with my first opportunity joining the cast of the premier dance company dedicated to the art form of Stepping….”Step Afrika!”
I toured nationally with them for 3years, totaling to performing in over 46 states and several countries including Dubai, Bolivia, Poland and more.
After a small tenure with “Step Afrika” I went on to book jobs to be featured in music videos with artist like Missy Elliot, Casanova, Rick Ross, Lil Baby….and to be featured in TV shows including “Wild N Out” “Sisters Circle” “American Soul” “BIGGER” and “ESPN”.

I also performed on Off Broadway and toured with the award winning talent from Americas Got Talent “iLuminate”, as i played the characters Michael Jackson and Willy Wonka.

And more recently I have been able to finally perform at an award show “2024 BET Hip Hop Awards” with the west coast legend E-40 and modern Hip Hop pioneer Soulja Boy!

I’ve been blessed and i can say God really made me for this craft I am pursuing….but I’m just getting started. Freshly moved to LA, and I’m only picking up steam. I look forward to creating new opportunities with my focus being more in the field of acting as I have enrolled into Howard Fine Acting Studio. However, don’t worry i’ll always be on someone stage, you can count on it. I can’t tell you the future but remember my story here, because soon i’ll be inspiring the masses like always dreamed i could with my talent. Amen

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I did give examples in my overall life story, but no it hasn’t been smooth at all.

I’ve been turned down plenty of times. The first Talent Agency that I submitted to, i was actually turned down 2 to 3 times before they finally added me to the roster. However, that and my heartbreak story of my first major audition (Lion King) helped prepare for the unforgiving field of entertainment.

I have been type casted against, told i need to physically look different, ran into gate keepers, seen the cliques get opportunities i thought i was more than credible to receive, but all in all….to put it simple…I AM STILL HERE!

No one can stop me. No matter who career took off before or after me, or even reached heights i wished i could reach/pass, I stay committed to focusing on my own journey. For what GOD has for me, no one can take away. Besides comparison is the Thief of Joy.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an Actor and Dancer but all around a creator.

I write poetry, i creatively direct my own projects, I love strolling and stepping ( repping my org). Theres just so much to me.
I believe what makes me different is my natural niche to performing. I’ll bring to life anything that i take interest into. Also culturally i feel like my well roundedness of Hip Hop has helped me in so many ways when dancing and presenting someones culture on stage. From Stepping, to South African Gumboot. From Dancehall, AfroBeats, Zulu, to the different styles in Hip Hop i feel like it all helps me stand out. I am naturally a character and love to showcase that on stage or set. That what makes me most proud, that being myself and never folding….can inspire others.
And never giving up!

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Remember the name

Jabari “Solo” Jones
#SOLOmovement

Imma be at the top one day.
And remember….You don’t have to be famous to feel Phamous ~ “Born Phamous”

Follow on IG @6_Solo

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6_solo/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@solomovement6392