Until Further Notice
Kendall Lewis
Music Analyst - Notoriety
Atlanta's holding it down, thanks to an epic threshold ushering in a new wave for millennial listeners. California and New York are always holding it down, period. The Miami-Dade area is constantly producing chart-topping hits, and people are riding around banging the material from Memphis in their trunks. However, there's still some hope for the Lone Star State. Travis Scott, Post Malone and the Sauce Twinz are definitely doing their thing; but something's missing.
When people ponder about the music scene in Texas, Houston's always the first thought. Dallas had a strong period during 2006-10, but it's sharply declined. The city of Austin is the state's capitol, and is home to two of the best music festivals each year (SXSW and Austin City Limits). However, it's NOTORIOUS for it's country music scene... NOT rap. Well, that's not the case anymore because an unknown talent has changed that perception.
Enter Jay$ee: an independent artist from Austin who's changed the way people will perceive the city's rap scene in a couple of years. With help and guidance from GhostBoyMafia's CEO De'vante Harris (New Orleans Saints), the 23 year old should have a breakout claim to fame in Summer 2017. The G.H.O.S.T. in GhostBoyMafia stands for "God's Human Outlawz Striving Together." The two have been a close knit unit for years, and money isn't the only thing that's falling in their laps. That's not what they're purpose in the spotlight is for...
Power.
In order to get on the map, one must know how to simply get out. The tide turned after self-funded networking exposure trips in Dallas, Miami and New Orleans. Learning more about that South, and how to market in the major markets was a critical step towards improvement. However, there's one more thing that he understood along the way.
It's not about what you know, who you know... it's all about who knows you.
In 2016, he finally started getting noticed by important figures in the game. Sonny Digital is one of the premiere individuals from Atlanta, and he even cosigned on his work after hearing the 2016 breakout single Hit Me a Lick. Many professional and collegiate athletes are also on the bandwagon now, and that's helping more people support the music.
On April 4th, Jay$ee released his anticipated third project titled Until Further Notice. The EP contains four songs produced by FreeBandHunter. On this project, the versatile rapper mixes hard heavy lyrics with catchy hooks that make a person feel like they're watching old school BET movies while listening to each track.
The intro "Influences," is an anthem for anyone that lives an Alpha in a world surrounded by Betas. The first minute is a "Veteran in the game... Never been a fan, always been a leader." There's a reason why people were creating buzz about this song on Twitter. Every line in that song should resonate in millennials heads because being a follower in society halts success and never gets people anywhere. "Never had sorrow, still praying for tomorrow. On my own, don't borrow. Knew that I'd be a star though." The delivery personifies his winning attitude, confidence in his own sound and it's letting the competition know that he's here win.
The EP definitely starts to get interesting when "Numbers," makes that transition after the intro. Jay$ee immediately gets it going with a hook that will resonate throughout the summer. "Do it big like Harambe, b**** bad like Beyoncé! Young n**** talking gunplay, fly N***** on the runway." It's incredible, because it makes individuals escape a chill mindset... no matter where they're at. Rookie rapper $upreme might have laid down one of the best verse's of 2017 so far after the bars that he recited in the second verse:
- She can't have a penny
- Seven hunnit horses
- N***** love to hear me
- Seven hunnit b*****
- I just checked the DM
- If a n**** wanna see 'em
- Then he wanna be him
- Automatopia
- I just caught a breather
- Heard a n**** schemin'
- Everybody heard it, Aint nobody see it!
The East Texas flavor was dished out when $upreme goes nuts, and it was reminiscent of some hip hop heavyweights that can flow quickly (i.e. Big Sean). This is a track that will make people release bands at a strip club, and throw money all over a strip club. It's also shut down previous his sold out shows at The University of Texas, Texas State University Texas A&M University and had people going crazy during spins in clubs on the world famous Sixth Street.
"Finessed," is track that really showcases Jay$ee's ability to showcase that versatility in his craft. Another gift from God is being blessed with the ability to sing. He brings it throughout the whole track, and forces listeners ears to focus on his mesmerizing vocals and doubles. "You've got everything that I need, I need you to dip and come with me. Mama told me don't trust in these fiends, these b***** be lyin' through they teeth." This is going to be a wild music video when it's released to public viewing outlets. The story is about how a typical one night stand can turn into trouble. He brilliantly takes listeners on a wild journey through a trip to the club with consistent imagery. Meeting a woman while being faded, and rushing home with her to close the deal is normal. However, the story takes a twist shortly afterwards.
"Ended up asleep, she stayed awake. This might be, a big mistake. Damn, I'm waking up... I look up to my wrist and I see handcuffs. I'm yelling WTF!" It was a crazy plot twist, but the plot is excellent because similar situations like this happen everywhere. One would think that the director of Focus (starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie), wrote that script. The love for that song will progress, because it will allow people to be more aware of how to prevent that type of situation from ever happening.
The closing track off of the EP is called "Married to Money," featuring crafty rapper Travis Miles. These days, a lot of people get stuck between a rock and a hard place whenever priorities aren't on point. Careless spending, associating with the wrong crowd and attention towards nightlife are tendencies for the weak. Jay$ee immediately makes a statement about being driven towards success. He's hungry to make it to the top, instead of being thirsty for conniving women and other distractions.
"Early in the morning gotta get to the money. In the nighttime slaying n***** like Buffy. Better not trust me, I am not your buddy. I'm married to money, I get in her tummy." It's an important anthem that will motivate many in society to simply lock in, grind and focus on manifesting revenue. It parallel to what the living legend Gucci Mane once said: "you aint got no sauce, then you lost, but sometimes you can get lost in the sauce."
He's doing something that the #1 city has never believed would happen. It's truly a sight to see, Austin finally has it's ticket into the rap game. He's already becoming a legend there, but the next step is helping usher his territory back to the top. And after that, who knows... only time can tell. Regardless, the world will just have to wait and see what he can really do in the future.
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