Picture this: The sun is setting and you are in the golden hour, and in this picturesque moment you are surrounded by water and a tranquility that is out of this world.
This is the picture seasoned rapper Jay Jody painted when he took us on his journey of putting together his first body of work in the music industry.
He is finally venturing into his solo project and released Sunset Stories from the newly-formed label Revenge Club Records .
"I started recording music professionally when I was 17 and I've always found myself being in groups, but my plan was to be a solo artist. I wanted it to be the right time. What I wanted to do for the B3nchmarq brand, the duo I was in, was to fulfill and finish that. I didn't want to leave something that we started, I wanted to see it through," he told TshisaLIVE.
He said the name was inspired by the beat he received from his producer.
"Sunday Beats is like the last of the dying breed. He is a producer who actually produces and not just a beatmaker. To me it felt like I had this condition they call synesthesia, and this sound produced by Sunday Beats took me to the golden hour where you are in the sunset, especially when you are near water.
"I'm a Cancerian so for me when I see water I'm fine. I feel tranquility and I feel everything is on point and is aligned, so it made me feel like that."
Jay is no newbie in the industry but took his time to release a solo project because, like a sponge, he wanted to absorb all he could.
"I feel like I wasn't ready at the time because there was a lot had to learn about the industry and about being an artist professionally. It was the best way for me to learn through being in a duo, and also musically I wanted to grow.
"B3nchmarq was the best outlet for me to do that. I'm a feeler, so I wanted to feel I'm in the right space mentally and I can do this."
Jay said he didn't know rap music until 1997 when his father started playing late American rapper Tupac's music.
"This is something people close to me know. I didn't want to be a rapper. In my mind I was going to be Usher. I always considered myself as more of a musician than just a rapper.
"I've even delved into producing, which I'm thinking of going back to as well. I would also love to write music for other genres and artists. I think that's how I'll jump into this other genre thing."
Jay is rapper A-Reece's brother and the pair recorded Blue Tape, which was an ode to their father who had recently passed away.
"With Reece, it's very simple in the house. I'm the one who caught the rapper bug first and I would be in my room rapping using the computer. I was producing and collecting rap music, being a proper student of the game, and he became fascinated. Next thing he was writing secretly.
"He said all the verses to me and I thought there's potential. So me being the big brother I needed to make sure this guy explores the potential, I need to put him out there. I've always wanted it for him and he also wanted it for me. He even initiated the whole Blue Tape thing."
Jay Jody on going solo and A-Reece: ‘I caught the rapper bug first’
Image: Supplied/ Sheila Afari
Picture this: The sun is setting and you are in the golden hour, and in this picturesque moment you are surrounded by water and a tranquility that is out of this world.
This is the picture seasoned rapper Jay Jody painted when he took us on his journey of putting together his first body of work in the music industry.
He is finally venturing into his solo project and released Sunset Stories from the newly-formed label Revenge Club Records .
"I started recording music professionally when I was 17 and I've always found myself being in groups, but my plan was to be a solo artist. I wanted it to be the right time. What I wanted to do for the B3nchmarq brand, the duo I was in, was to fulfill and finish that. I didn't want to leave something that we started, I wanted to see it through," he told TshisaLIVE.
He said the name was inspired by the beat he received from his producer.
"Sunday Beats is like the last of the dying breed. He is a producer who actually produces and not just a beatmaker. To me it felt like I had this condition they call synesthesia, and this sound produced by Sunday Beats took me to the golden hour where you are in the sunset, especially when you are near water.
"I'm a Cancerian so for me when I see water I'm fine. I feel tranquility and I feel everything is on point and is aligned, so it made me feel like that."
Jay is no newbie in the industry but took his time to release a solo project because, like a sponge, he wanted to absorb all he could.
"I feel like I wasn't ready at the time because there was a lot had to learn about the industry and about being an artist professionally. It was the best way for me to learn through being in a duo, and also musically I wanted to grow.
"B3nchmarq was the best outlet for me to do that. I'm a feeler, so I wanted to feel I'm in the right space mentally and I can do this."
Jay said he didn't know rap music until 1997 when his father started playing late American rapper Tupac's music.
"This is something people close to me know. I didn't want to be a rapper. In my mind I was going to be Usher. I always considered myself as more of a musician than just a rapper.
"I've even delved into producing, which I'm thinking of going back to as well. I would also love to write music for other genres and artists. I think that's how I'll jump into this other genre thing."
Jay is rapper A-Reece's brother and the pair recorded Blue Tape, which was an ode to their father who had recently passed away.
"With Reece, it's very simple in the house. I'm the one who caught the rapper bug first and I would be in my room rapping using the computer. I was producing and collecting rap music, being a proper student of the game, and he became fascinated. Next thing he was writing secretly.
"He said all the verses to me and I thought there's potential. So me being the big brother I needed to make sure this guy explores the potential, I need to put him out there. I've always wanted it for him and he also wanted it for me. He even initiated the whole Blue Tape thing."
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