# Justina Valentine
**Justina Valentine** (born 1987) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and television personality from [Passaic County](https://www.edgepedia.org/passaic-county), New Jersey, best known as the longest-running female cast member of MTV's improvisational comedy series *Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out* and for her independently released mix of pop and trap-style hip-hop.[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/justina-valentine/umc.cpc.6j3d8s77qodtinubnud8z6lwv) Of Italian descent and raised in a musical family, she built her recording career independently before television made her nationally recognizable.[3](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/justina-valentine-net-worth/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987, Passaic County, New Jersey; Italian-American, raised in a musical family[4](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine) • [3](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/justina-valentine-net-worth/) |
| Occupations | Rapper, singer, songwriter, model, actress, host[4](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine) |
| Breakout single | "Candy Land" featuring Fetty Wap (2015), which received national radio play[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) |
| Studio albums | *Scarlet Letter* (2016), *Favorite Vibe* (2019), *Infrared* (2020)[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) |
| *Wild 'N Out* | Joined in Season 8 (2016); longest-running female cast member, continuing through Season 21[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) |
| Freestyle landmark | In 2018 became the first woman to complete Sway Calloway's Five Fingers of Death challenge on SiriusXM's *Sway in the Morning*[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) |
| Label | Much of her catalog released through her own Justina Music imprint, with some projects through independent distributor EMPIRE[3](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/justina-valentine-net-worth/) |
## Early life and music career
Valentine grew up in northern New Jersey in a family of musicians; her father is a vocalist and musician. She studied theater and dance as a child and developed an interest in hip-hop and R&B.[3](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/justina-valentine-net-worth/) • [5](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/justina-valentine.html) She began recording her own material, a mix of pop and trap-style hip-hop, in 2006.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/justina-valentine/umc.cpc.6j3d8s77qodtinubnud8z6lwv)
**Independent releases.** Rather than waiting for a major label, she built a following through local performances, mixtapes, music videos, open mics, and touring.[3](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/justina-valentine-net-worth/) Her first mixtape, *Route 80*, arrived in 2012 and included the songs "Bubble Gum" and "Hip-Hop Joan Jett."[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/justina-valentine/umc.cpc.6j3d8s77qodtinubnud8z6lwv) • [6](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/justina-valentine) That year she joined the Vans Warped Tour, where her performances drew acclaim.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/justina-valentine-mn0003423792/biography) • [4](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine) Her debut EP, *Valentine* (2013), reached number 38 on the iTunes R&B charts.[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) A second mixtape, *Red Velvet* (2014), featured New York rapper Maino, and the 2015 singles "Faded" and "Candy Land," the latter featuring fellow Passaic County performer [Fetty Wap](https://www.edgepedia.org/fetty-wap), followed.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/justina-valentine-mn0003423792/biography) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/justina-valentine/umc.cpc.6j3d8s77qodtinubnud8z6lwv)
Her debut studio album, *Scarlet Letter* (2016), was anchored around "Candy Land."[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/justina-valentine/umc.cpc.6j3d8s77qodtinubnud8z6lwv) In 2017 she released the mixtape *Feminem*, described as a homage to the rapper Eminem, in which she remixed Eminem's classics; it was released free on the website DatPiff.[6](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/justina-valentine) • [4](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine) The album *Favorite Vibe* (2019) debuted in the top 30 of the hip-hop charts and gained over one million streams in its first two weeks, and *Infrared* (2020) debuted in the top 5 on the iTunes charts.[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) In later years she shifted toward releasing singles, which she writes herself and distributes independently through Justina Music.[8](https://www.blacknews.uk/justina-valentine-revealswild-n-outsecrets-if-nick-cannon-has-more-kids-coming) • [3](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/justina-valentine-net-worth/)
## Wild 'N Out and freestyle reputation
In 2016, host [Nick Cannon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-cannon) discovered [Valentine](https://www.edgepedia.org/valentine) through her freestyling videos online and invited her to join *Wild 'N Out* for Season 8.[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) The show, running since 2005, combines improvisational comedy games, insult battles, and freestyle rap, and became the defining platform of her career.[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) • [3](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/justina-valentine-net-worth/) She distinguished herself in Wildstyle battles, the show's signature game in which performers spontaneously create rhymes while roasting opponents, and gained recognition as the "Wildstyle Queen" in Season 10.[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) • [4](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine) By Season 17 she had become the longest-running female cast member in the show's history, a distinction she maintained through Season 21, and she served as a team captain in Seasons 20 and 21.[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) • [4](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine)
Her freestyle ability extends beyond the show. In 2018 she became the first woman to complete the [Five Fingers of Death](https://www.edgepedia.org/five-fingers-of-death) challenge on *Sway in the Morning*, improvising over five consecutive beats without preparation.[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) She also writes all of her own music and performs "off the top of the head" freestyles using words supplied by the audience.[9](https://www.digitalmusicforum.com/speaker/justina-valentine/)
## Television and film work beyond Wild 'N Out
Valentine's hosting roles draw on her improvisational background. In 2018 she co-hosted the revived MTV dating show *[Singled Out](https://www.edgepedia.org/singled-out)* alongside fellow *Wild 'N Out* cast member Conceited, hosted the digital series "Your Life in Rhyme" on the show's YouTube channel, and appeared on MTV's *The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars*, which premiered on November 21, 2017.[4](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine) • [1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) She hosted *Lip Locked* (2019) and *How Far Is Tattoo Far* (2019) for MTV, and created her self-titled talk show *The Justina Valentine Show* in 2020.[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine) • [10](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-justina-valentine-2020/) From 2021 she appeared weekly on Nick Cannon's syndicated daytime talk show during "The Rap Up" and other segments, and in February 2022 she became a co-host, with B. Simone and Vena E., of the podcast *MTV's Women of Wild 'N Out*.[4](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine) In 2024 she launched the cooking comedy series *What's Cookin' Good Lookin'* with Conceited.[1](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine)
In December 2022 she starred in the VH1 original Christmas film *Fuhgeddabout Christmas*, which also featured fellow *Wild 'N Out* cast members; she wrote, co-directed, and executive produced the film as well.[4](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine) • [3](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/justina-valentine-net-worth/)
## Touring and reach
Valentine has toured extensively with *Wild 'N Out Live* and opened for [Mike Stud](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-stud) on his Relief Tour in 2013 in 28 cities.[3](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/justina-valentine-net-worth/) • [5](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/justina-valentine.html) She has also toured with Mike Stud on his "Stud Summer" tour, and her music has been featured on shows such as *[Mob Wives](https://www.edgepedia.org/mob-wives)*, *Running Russell Simmons*, and *True Life*.[4](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine) Her original music has been featured on NBC, VH1, MTV, Oxygen, and CW, and she reports more than two million Instagram followers.[11](https://open.spotify.com/artist/6rPgMyrhTQgfLkTQF4JRtk) • [12](https://www.bandsintown.com/a/7277130-justina-valentine)
## References
1. [Justina Valentine, The Improv Archive](https://improvarchive.org/people/justina-valentine)
2. [Justina Valentine, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/justina-valentine/umc.cpc.6j3d8s77qodtinubnud8z6lwv)
3. [Justina Valentine Net Worth, Celebrity Net Worth](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/justina-valentine-net-worth/)
4. [Justina Valentine, Wild 'N Out Wiki](https://wild-n-out.fandom.com/wiki/Justina_Valentine)
5. [Justina Valentine, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/justina-valentine.html)
6. [Justina Valentine, VALÉORINE](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/justina-valentine)
7. [Justina Valentine Biography by David Jeffries, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/justina-valentine-mn0003423792/biography)
8. [Justina Valentine Reveals Wild 'N Out Secrets, Black News](https://www.blacknews.uk/justina-valentine-revealswild-n-outsecrets-if-nick-cannon-has-more-kids-coming)
9. [Justina Valentine, Digital Music Forum](https://www.digitalmusicforum.com/speaker/justina-valentine/)
10. [Interview: Justina Valentine (2020), Sidewalks Entertainment](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-justina-valentine-2020/)
11. [Justina Valentine, Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/6rPgMyrhTQgfLkTQF4JRtk)
12. [Justina Valentine, Bandsintown](https://www.bandsintown.com/a/7277130-justina-valentine)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Transnational genre scenes › Hip hop scenes worldwide › Artists, groups, and people: Hip hop scenes worldwide › East Coast rap (New York and Philadelphia)*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license