Our song of the week!
Jae5 is a master of concocting various elements. His beats, highly sought-after and euphonious, incorporates a host of influences: Afrobeats, r&b, hip-hop and dancehall amongst others. It’s little wonder he’s been severally credited as one of the pioneers of Afroswing, the popular UK genre that blends the riddims of dancehall with the silver-toned melody of Afrobeats. Since his early days with J.O.A.T (Jack Of All Trade) music group, he’s slowly honed his idiosyncratic style, one that elevated fellow label-mate J Hus’ debut full-length Common Sense to platinum status. It’s the same signature style that has earned him several plaques, production credit with some of the biggest names in music ー Dave, Burna Boy, Gunna, Koffee ー and has also influenced a host of producers around the globe.
The MOBO-winning producer is undoubtedly one of the hottest beatsmiths in the world at the moment. He’s, however, transcended simply being an unknown figure behind the board. Now he’s morphing into a curator of some sort, stepping into the light and releasing singles of his own. His first official single “Dimension” came in early 2021, pairing Rema’s celestial melodies with Skepta’s buttery flow over his soothing, mid-tempo beat. “Propeller”, his second single which arrived last week is classic Jae 5. It features British rapper Dave and Nigeria’s hottest hookman Bnxn who do justice to the 30-year-old’s slow drums and floating synths. “Been a long time since I learned to put rhymes together / Spin round your back I’m your big propeller / Came with my team, I came with my bruddas” Bnxn sings sonorously on the hook, creating a smooth anchor for the record. Dave is Dave, following punchlines with smart wordplays in his characteristic sleek flow.
While “Propeller”, in truth, might not be the most explosive track, it has all the makings of a slow burner that’ll eventually creep up on many. It’s a lustrous offering that builds on Jae5’s slowly growing personal catalogue and one that’s perfect for warm, relaxing settings.
