According to The Cut, Jason tried to have a rap career of his own prior to posting videos of Lil Tay online. He managed a YouTube channel with little success, under the rap name Rycie. The publication suggested that Jason was the mastermind behind Lil Tay’s persona. He coached her into making vulgar statements on camera.

Lil Tay had a controversial run on social media, which started in 2018. Claire Hope, commonly known by her rap persona Lil Tay, gained popularity after videos emerged showing the then-9-year-old in expensive cars and even more lavish homes. Her flashy lifestyle, combined with the use of explicit language, made Lil Tay a popular face online. However, her rise to viral stardom was met with a slew of criticism.

Many, including hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg, slammed Lil Tay’s parents and suggested that the pre-teen should “be in school learning how to be a little girl not a dumb a-- grown person.” Snoop implied that Jason was behind Lil Tay's internet persona. Jason never responded to the claim.

In May 2018, a video emerged online showing Lil Tay being coached by a male voice that never appeared on camera. And while the identity of the person behind the camera was never revealed, some believed it was Jason.

Shortly after the incident went viral, Lil Tay’s Instagram account was wiped clean. A spokesperson for the rapper’s family later told BuzzFeed that the Instagram grid was cleared because Lil Tay was reshaping her public image. “I am rebranding Lil Tay ... stay tuned,” said talent manager, Diomi Cordero.