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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 18, 2026) – Viral country/hip-hop artist Lil Man J interpolates the popular 2010 B.o.B track “Airplane,” reimagining it into his own unique take on his brand-new single “Strangers,” out today.
Listen HERE.
Written by Lil Man J with Kendall Goodman, Sebastian Garcia, and Carlo Colasacco, “J” sings about wishing he could be strangers with someone he once loved, just for one night, free of everything that came between them. The writers captured the struggle of being without that person and the lengths one goes to to numb the pain. Goodman’s publishing company presented a list of cleared songs to interpolate, and B.o.B’s was the clear favorite among the group, especially for J, who grew up listening to it. He teased the songs to his over 4.5 million followers the next day, and got an overwhelmingly positive response with over a million views on each platform. The process of clearing the interpolation with the original writers took months and was completed in August.
“There was something special in the room writing this song. ‘Airplanes’ was one of the earliest songs I remember hearing, so building around something already tried and true was a blast,” said Lil Man J, adding, “thanks to B.o.B and all the original writers for letting us put this one out!”
Lil Man J started teasing this song again earlier this week. It’s already garnered over a million views on multiple platforms and has even garnered attention from B.o.B’s himself:
“Dis 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 tho 🖤!!” – B.o.B.
This track will be featured on Lil Man J’s debut album, The Underdawg, releasing on October 16. Featuring evocative ballads, feel-good anthems, and high-energy beats, the 11-track project is an honest look into Lil Man J’s grit and determination that continues to lead him to success.
Pre-save The Underdawg HERE.
Fans are raving about “Strangers” on social media:
“Plz release this! It’s fire 🔥”
“🔥🔥🔥🔥 Keep The Heat Comin”
“RELEASE IT NOWWWWW! This had me right into my own feelings instantly!!”
“This will be the song of the year!”
Currently, he’s on the road opening for Jay Webb’s The Homesick Tour through November and opening shows for Dax. See dates below. The independent musician has grown a massive following through high-energy performances and a charismatic online presence.
The Underdawg Tracklist:
1. “I Plead The 5th”
2. “Working On Me”
3. “Black Dirt Red”
4. “Strangers”
5. “Bad & Ugly”
6. “Who’s Laughing Now” w/ TAELA
7. “Too Far Down”
8. “Keep Breathing”
9. “Barefoot Running (Hallelujah)”
10. “I Can’t Help”
11. “Comin’ In Hot” w/ DJ Paul
Tour Dates:
September 18 – Saint Louis, MO – Delmar Hall w/ DAX
September 19 – Alamo, GA – The Office Venue
September 20 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues w/ DAX
September 25 – Evansville, IN – Ray Leo’s at Lamasco
September 26 – Centralia, IN – Castle Ridge Event Center
October 3 – Alexander, AR – Carter Off-Road Park
October 13 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads Saloon w/ Jay Webb
October 15 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater w/ Jay Webb
October 16 – Grand Junction, CO – Warehouse 25 Sixty-Five w/ Jay Webb
October 17 – Laramie, WY – Cowboy Saloon w/ Jay Webb
October 19 – Boise, ID – 9th St. Parallel at Knitting Factory w/ Jay Webb
October 20 – Spokane, WA – District Bar w/ Jay Webb
October 21 – Seattle, WA – Hidden Hall w/ Jay Webb
October 23 – Portland, OR – Ponderosa at Jubitz w/ Jay Webb
October 24 – Bend, OR – Silver Moon Brewery w/ Jay Webb
October 25 – Reno, NV – The Alpine w/ Jay Webb
October 27 – Morro Bay, CA – The Siren w/ Jay Webb
October 29 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy and Harriet’s w/ Jay Webb
October 30 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues Anaheim (The Parish) w/ Jay Webb
November 1 – Tucson, AZ – 191 Toole w/ Jay Webb
November 3 – Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar (Music Hall) w/ Jay Webb
November 4 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf w/ Jay Webb
November 6 – Las Cruces, NM – Whiskey Dick’s w/ Jay Webb
November 7 – Lubbock, TX – Jake’s Sports Café w/ Jay Webb
November 8 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street Collective w/ Jay Webb
About Lil Man J
Independent Country, Hip-Hop, and Pop artist Lil Man J (Jackson Benfield) is a 21-year-old viral musician and social media personality from Lake Wylie, South Carolina. Since emerging on the scene with his breakout debut “It’s Just The Beginning” (2019), he’s grown into one of the most popular artists in today’s entertainment scene. With over 250 million streams to date across platforms, Lil Man J is resonating with audiences worldwide and capturing the attention of today’s musical giants: J Balvin, Jelly Roll, Lana Del Rey, Post Malone and Teddy Swims. He debuted at CMA Fest 2026 on the Wrangler stage and performed on the sold-out, national Lonely Dirt Road tour with fellow collaborator Dax last winter. In addition to his larger-than-life presence and optimistic personality, “J” is a prominent advocate for the disabled community as he’s struggled with major physical disabilities throughout his own life. His career is an inspiration to others, proving that no obstacle is too great to overcome. “J” has defied the odds and continues to grow stronger through adversity. With notable press mentions from XXL Magazine, MusicRow, and Taste of Country, he’s living a life that cannot be replicated. Lil Man J plans to release his debut album this year, featuring cross-genre bangers and his signature charisma.
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