Jay Electronica has yet to release a full-length album but has released two official singles to date, "Exhibit A" and "Exhibit C," which won a Sucker Free Summit Award for Instant Classic. His music so far has been made available through the internet, either through being leaked to what URB magazine describes as "obscure web forums", or through an appearing and disappearing MySpace page (currently two seem to be in existence, at /jayelect and at /jayelectronica). Erykah Badu has questioned whether he ever will release, in her words, "actual albums". From New Orleans, LA he has lived in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Denver, and Detroit, where he recorded his Style Wars-era music with several J Dilla beats, meeting the producer subsequently to ask for permission to use the recordings as a demo. Detroit is where Electronica met producer/engineer Mike "Chav" Chavarria, who introduced him to both J Dilla and Mr. Porter, and who is now a regular collaborator.
Jay Electronica first gained significant attention through Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge), made available on a MySpace page in 2007. It is 9:13 continuous minutes of music, without drums, built from Jon Brion's soundtrack to the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. There are five segments or movements, marked by changes in music and mood, raps by Electronica, and occasional snippets of sampled dialogue (children arguing in Kurdish, Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka). The first segment is spoken word by Just Blaze and Erykah Badu describing the artist over piano music. The nature of the piece of music, along with the nature of its appearance, led to a slow build-up of interest in Electronica as an enigmatic figure. Songs circulating online as the Style Wars EP gained wider circulation, and other songs, such as the dream-inspired "Dimethyltryptamine", soon appeared. In January 2008, Gilles Peterson's 90-minute Gilles Peterson Worldwide was devoted to the rapper. Hiphopdx.com in 2008 called him "arguably...the most talked about new emcee last year ... at times...more like a myth or urban legend than an actual rapper", and URB ran a cover story on the artist under the banner "Jay Electronica: A Spotless Mind:: An MC’s mystery revealed", which referred to his wanderings as his being "like some sort of hip-hop Jack Kerouac".
Jeff Weiss' piece for the L.A. Weekly, "Jay Electronica: Much Better Than His Name Would Suggest", acknowledged that the rapper could be fairly described as "one of the most buzzed about rappers of 2008", but attempted to temper the hype somewhat, describing Act 1... as "ambitious, wildly original, if not slightly pretentious", while endorsing only to an extent the comparisons URB had made (referencing an "abstract rhyming style") to rappers like Nas and Pharoahe Monch.
According to URB, Act II: Patents of Nobility will feature Nas, and will be the second of a putative trilogy. URB also reported that digital EPs with both Guilty Simpson and producer 9th Wonder were planned. His most recent music as of November 2008 is the Just Blaze-produced track "Exhibit A (Transformations)".
According to a Filter TV interview, Jay Electronica has partnered with Decon to release his debut project. It is being described as a multi-media release and footage from the project which was partially shot in Nepal and Dubai has begun to surface online. The first clip to leak is titled "Dear Moleskine" and can be found on YouTube, the track was produced by Just Blaze and the clip was directed by Jason Goldwatch from Decon. In June of 2009, Decon and Jay's "The Dogon Society" released "Exhibit A" digitally. "Exhibit C" was released on iTunes December 16, 2009 and quickly shot to the top 10 of the iTunes Hip-Hop charts. The following week it was chosen by Hot 97's DJ Enuff as the Heavy Hitter pick of the week. On February 9, 2010, it was announced Jay Electronica will appear at the 2010 Bonnaroo Music Festival. Further proof of the continuing buzz about this artist saw On Jay Electronica sell out 2 nights at the Jazz Cafe Jazz Café, London (UK) on Feb 17, 2010.
Jay Electronica continued his scattered release practice, dropping "A Million In The Morning" on April 4, 2010. The song features a weary Electronica trying to keep himself awake to escape his nightmares.
On April 30th, Jay Electronica debuted "The Ghost of Christopher Wallace" via his Twitter. The song features P Diddy and is produced by London beatsmith Quincey Tones, who is known for producing such acts as Young Jeezy and Royce da 5'9".
On 12th November 2010, Jay-Z announced that Jay Electronica was officially the newest member of his own 'Roc Nation' record label/management company, which boasts such acts as J. Cole and Willow Smith.
Jay has been travelling the world and was in London, United Kingdom for an extended period of time completing his debut album 'Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn)'.
Jay Electronica and Erykah Badu have a child together, a girl named Mars Merkaba, born on February 1, 2009.
Hagler
Jay Electronica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I banged a lot of shakers
And no I don't spit scratch raps just know that my hands exchanged a lot of paper
I lived a lifetime for most of 'yall by twenty-one
Same Spades game, different player man plenty come (plenty go)
Twenty-four inch gleamers on the Benz
Might thicken up your friends
Thicken up your hens
But you can see like Stevie do by looking at your kin
Family tell a story
Neglect the ones you love the most
Scramblin' for your glory
Looking like Robert Horry
Trying to hit that clutch three with seconds on the clock
Viewing things rather poorly
Those that were before me
Tried to school me well but the wisdom only bored me
I never lost yet but if I did it would be sorely
Therefore I implore thee
Never come before thee
Champion of men
The beginning and the end
(Che Grand)
Whether enemy or friend above the rim like Leon
My blood color neon, my soul age eons
My first name will be on the Nobel list
For now I`ll settle for a Grammy on a track like this
Learn it, I used to rap with the Kool G lisp
Citizenship is British red snapper cook the fish
After grub we hit the club and walk away with medallions
Came a long way but fuck it homey we back again
Whatever when I made it through the worst of 'em
I can dodge drops in the hurricane the rain never touches 'em
You got guts running through your veins get freedom to spook
The set by the door you ain't even seen 'em
Cleaning guns in the back serial numbers they key 'em
They want half I only need ten for my per diem
And you don't need no fucking wristband to come and meet 'em
You can say you part of my band the Grand Union yeah
The lyrics to Jay Electronica's song Hagler can be interpreted as a reflection of his life experiences and how he has come to view the world. In the first verse, he talks about his successes and how they have come from hard work and determination. He mentions the luxuries he has acquired, like expensive cars, and how they can change how people treat you. However, he also cautions against neglecting familial relationships and the people who matter most. He recognizes that he has been influenced by those who came before him, but he also has his own unique perspective on life. He ends the verse by asserting his dominance and his position as a leader, "Champion of men/The beginning and the end."
In the second verse, Che Grand touches on similar themes of perseverance and overcoming adversity. He talks about his aspirations for success, like being on the Nobel list, but acknowledges that he is content with achieving smaller accomplishments in the meantime, like winning a Grammy. He has faced obstacles and challenges, but he has come out on the other side stronger. He describes his ability to navigate dangerous situations and his fearlessness in the face of danger. He also talks about the importance of loyalty and sticking together, referencing his band, the Grand Union.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the ups and downs of life, the pursuit of success, and the enduring importance of family and loyalty.
Line by Line Meaning
I banged a lot of shakers
I have been with many women
And no I don't spit scratch raps just know that my hands exchanged a lot of paper
I don't rap about nonsense, but I have made a lot of money
I lived a lifetime for most of 'yall by twenty-one
I have experienced more than most people do in their lifetime by the age of 21
Same Spades game, different player man plenty come (plenty go)
Life is like a game of spades, people come and go
Twenty-four inch gleamers on the Benz
My car has shiny 24-inch rims
Might thicken up your friends
My success might attract fake friends
Thicken up your hens
My success might attract gold-digging women
Make you feel like Charles Dickens dippin' with your pen
My success might make you feel like a famous writer
But you can see like Stevie do by looking at your kin
You can tell the character of a person by their family
Family tell a story
Your family history can tell a lot about you
Neglect the ones you love the most
Success can make you neglect the people who were there for you from the beginning
Scramblin' for your glory
Trying to achieve success at any cost
Looking like Robert Horry
Trying to be the hero in a situation like basketball player Robert Horry
Trying to hit that clutch three with seconds on the clock
Trying to make a last-minute move to achieve success
Viewing things rather poorly
Having a negative perspective on things
Those that were before me
The people who came before me
Tried to school me well but the wisdom only bored me
I was taught by wise people, but their advice didn't interest me
I never lost yet but if I did it would be sorely
I haven't failed yet, but if I did, it would hurt
Therefore I implore thee
I ask you
Never come before thee
Don't put anything before what's most important
Champion of men
A leader of people
The beginning and the end
In control of everything from start to finish
Whether enemy or friend above the rim like Leon
I am above my enemies and friends, like the character Leon from the movie Above the Rim
My blood color neon, my soul age eons
My blood is bright and vivid, while my soul is ancient
My first name will be on the Nobel list
I will win a Nobel Prize
For now I`ll settle for a Grammy on a track like this
For now, I will aim for a Grammy award for this song
Learn it, I used to rap with the Kool G lisp
I used to rap like Kool G Rap, with a lisp
Citizenship is British red snapper cook the fish
I may have British citizenship, but I know how to cook red snapper fish
After grub we hit the club and walk away with medallions
After eating, we go to a club and win prizes like medallions
Came a long way but fuck it homey we back again
We have come a long way, but we are back again
Whatever when I made it through the worst of 'em
No matter what, I will persevere through the hard times
I can dodge drops in the hurricane the rain never touches 'em
I can avoid trouble even in difficult situations
You got guts running through your veins get freedom to spook
If you have the courage to take risks, you will achieve success
The set by the door you ain't even seen 'em
The weapons are hidden and you wouldn't even notice them
Cleaning guns in the back serial numbers they key 'em
We clean our guns in the back and keep track of the serial numbers
They want half I only need ten for my per diem
People want half of what I earn, but I only need ten percent for my daily expenses
And you don't need no fucking wristband to come and meet 'em
You don't need a wristband to meet us
You can say you part of my band the Grand Union yeah
You can say you are part of my group, the Grand Union
Contributed by Eliana I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nuri Dickson
The day I heard this, years and years ago, is when I knew Jay Electronica could be huge. He just needs to drop that album!! Been waitin too long
la
Fn bullshit
Nrv seen an artist bs ppl so much
Creighton Wallace
Denaun Porter killed this one! Cuz is hella underrated.
Creighton Wallace
But hell he's under the Shady Aftermath umbrella so i'm sure he rich. He made hits when rap still paid millions. Lol!
Ro Ki
The lyricism of both of these guys is incredible
beautifully202
Underrated Artist!
la
beautifully202 def not underrated but most def under something since dude ain’t fucking drop shit
Nuri Dickson
I agree wholeheartedly,. he's my favorite rapper out there, never thought I'd find someone who could take DOOM's spot in my mind. Jay is what the games been needing, bringin life back into Hip Hop.
whackpiktures
Damn i love this beat i always repeat it over and over
Umar Iqbal
Coming back after 12yrs and it's still effortless