In Loving Memory of J Stalone

Julius E. Barreto also known as J Stalone or Juice was born on May 17, 1991 to Julio Barreto and Nora McDougal. He was raised by his aunt on his father’s side, Margarita Barreto for the majority of his early life in (Brownsville) Brooklyn, NY. When he became a teenager, he moved to Hartford, CT where he could be closer to his parents and other family members.

After graduating high school, Julius decided to move to upstate New York. He then enrolled to North Country Community College. While maintaining a successful GPA, he was also a leading member of the basketball team there. He represented Jersey number 35 and was one of the highest scoring players on the team. In the season of 2011-12 alone, he played in eight games. He ended that season having attempted 25 jump shots and successfully making 18. Not to mention 28 excellent rebounds. And while his height gave him an advantage in the game, it was his intelligence, kindness, and love that made him stand out from those around him and successfully complete his studies.

In 2010, Julius met Alison and soon after they began their beautiful family. Together they had five marvelous children. Laela who is the oldest. Then Juliet and Jaxine, who are twins girls, and finally Lucia and Julius II, who are also a set of twins (girl and boy). He was a devoted father, a caring partner, and a genuine kind soul. As an active member of his community, he was the basketball coach for Keene Central School. In his role there, he inspired the young men to try their hardest, help them gain confidence in themselves, and be the very best they can be.

Although he was very passionate about sports such as basketball and skiing, music captivated his interest above all. Growing up it was a way for him to express himself through his flow of words and emotions. The majority of his lyrics are based on things that either happened in his life or things that resonated with him.

Julius originally chose the artist name “Juice” but not to be confused with other artists with similar names like Juice WRLD or Juicy J he decided to change it. Julius chose the name “J Stalone” after being inspired by Sylvester Stallone’s role as Rocky Balboa. He mentioned that one of the quotes that resonated with him most was “You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!” It was the resilience, strength, and willingness to never give up that Balboa demonstrated throughout the film that truly inspired Julius as a person and an artist. Proud of the new name he chose for himself, Julius in his last few years began referring to himself as the artist J Stalone. A unique and strong name that stands out and will last over a lifetime.

Sadly, Julius passed away on January 9th 2023. While his sudden and unexpected cause of death remains unknown, he will never be forgotten. He lives on through his words, his music, and his kids. This was his legacy, and J Stalone will forever be a legend.