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.
better in tune w the infinite
Jay Electronica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's hard to trust enough to undress yourself
To stand exposed and naked, in a world full of hatred
Where the sick thoughts of mankind control all the sacred
I pause, take a step back, record all the setbacks
Fast forward towards the stars in a jetpack
My feet might fail me, my heart might ail me
The synagogues of Satan might accuse or jail me
They might defeat the flesh but they could never ever kill me
They might can feel the music but could never ever feel me
To the lawyers, to the sheriffs, to the judges
To the debt holders and the law makers
Fuck you, sue me, bill me
That name on that birth certificate, that ain't the real me
The lies can't conceal me
The sun rise and the moon tides and the sky's gon' reveal me
My brain pours water out my tear ducts to heal me
My Lord's too beneficent
The message grab a hold to every ear it get whispered in
The waters in the bayous of New Orleans still glistenin'
The universe is listenin', be careful what you say in it
My grandma told me every bed a nigga make, he lay in it
The church you go to pray in it, the work is on the outside
Staring out the windows is for love songs and house flies
I've got somethin' to say
I, I've got somethin' to say
Yesterday, yesterday is gone
Tomorrow, tomorrow is on the way
You don't have time to waste
Gotta get it right
Yesterday, yesterday is gone
Tomorrow, tomorrow is on the way
You don't have time to waste
Gotta get it right
Yesterday, yesterday is gone
Tomorrow, tomorrow is on the way
In the opening verse of Jay Electronica's song "Better in Tune with the Infinite," the artist delves into themes of self-expression, trust, exposure, and vulnerability. He reflects on the difficulty of being authentic and standing naked in a world controlled by the sick thoughts of mankind. He acknowledges the setbacks he's faced but chooses to fast forward towards the stars, regardless of whether his feet or his heart fail him. He then speaks about the possibility of being accused, jailed, or even killed by those who oppose him. Despite the threats he faces, Jay challenges his oppressors and declares that his birth certificate doesn't define his true identity. He recognizes the healing power of music and nature and exhorts the listener to be careful of what they say in the universe, as it is always listening. He concludes the verse with the affirmation that every person must accept the consequences of their actions and not look for love or answers by staring out the window.
The chorus of the song repeats the theme that yesterday is gone, but tomorrow is on the way. The repetition of this message underscores the importance of living in the present moment, staying focused, and not wasting time. The second verse of the song shifts the focus from personal struggles to the world at large. Jay highlights issues such as war, poverty, and climate change and emphasizes that the world can't keep functioning in the same way. He calls out politicians and their policies that benefit only the rich and oppress those who are already marginalized. He emphasizes the importance of taking action and not just sitting idly by. He concludes the verse by encouraging people to connect with each other and see beyond differences such as race or religion.
Overall, "Better in Tune with the Infinite" is a powerful song that touches on various profound subjects. The lyrics carry a message of hope, resilience, and perseverance in the face of adversity. The song challenges listeners to live in the present, see beyond societal barriers, and strive to make the world a better place.
Line by Line Meaning
It's frustratin' when you just can't express yourself
The inability to express oneself can be frustrating
And it's hard to trust enough to undress yourself
It can be difficult to trust someone enough to reveal oneself
To stand exposed and naked, in a world full of hatred
To be vulnerable in a world filled with hate
Where the sick thoughts of mankind control all the sacred
The corrupt thoughts of humans have power over what is considered sacred
I pause, take a step back, record all the setbacks
Reflecting on failures and setbacks can help bring clarity
Fast forward towards the stars in a jetpack
Looking towards the future with ambition and drive
My feet might fail me, my heart might ail me
Physical and emotional challenges may arise
The synagogues of Satan might accuse or jail me
Those aligned with evil may try to persecute or harm me
Strip, crown, nail me, brimstone hail me
Even in the face of torture and punishment, my spirit cannot be destroyed
They might defeat the flesh but they could never ever kill me
My soul cannot be killed, even if my body is destroyed
They might can feel the music but could never ever feel me
Others may connect with my art, but cannot truly understand me as a person
To the lawyers, to the sheriffs, to the judges
Addressing those in positions of power and authority
To the debt holders and the law makers
Also directing a message towards those with financial control and legislative power
Fuck you, sue me, bill me
Resisting the attempts of those with power to control or harm me
That name on that birth certificate, that ain't the real me
My identity is not limited to the name given to me at birth
The lies can't conceal me
No amount of falsehoods can hide my true self
The sun rise and the moon tides and the sky's gon' reveal me
Nature will ultimately unveil who I truly am
My brain pours water out my tear ducts to heal me
Crying can be a therapeutic release for the mind and emotions
My Lord's too beneficent
My faith in a higher power gives me strength and hope
The message grab a hold to every ear it get whispered in
My message will reach those who need to hear it
The waters in the bayous of New Orleans still glistenin'
Despite hardship and struggle, there is beauty in the world
The universe is listenin', be careful what you say in it
Our words have power and impact beyond what we can immediately see
My grandma told me every bed a nigga make, he lay in it
Actions have consequences, and we must take responsibility for our choices
The church you go to pray in it, the work is on the outside
True spirituality involves action and work outside of religious institutions
Staring out the windows is for love songs and house flies
Idle daydreaming is not productive or useful
I've got somethin' to say
A declaration of intent to speak truth and share one's message
Yesterday, yesterday is gone
Leave the past behind and focus on the present
Tomorrow, tomorrow is on the way
The future holds potential and opportunity
You don't have time to waste
Time is valuable and should be used wisely
Gotta get it right
Strive for success and do one's best
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind