These last few years have seen a shift in rap's balance of power from hardcore street thugs to more poetic, and less violent rappers. This has led to a rap itself questioning where its headed. The wheels of change are in motion, and some rappers are choosing to stick to their old methods, while others are embracing raps new direction, and are even branching out into other genres of music (808's and Heartbreak, Rebirth). A new rapper to enter the foray is Jay Elctronica, a rapper, who in my opinion, as far as sheer creativity and drive go, has no peer. Jay Electronica is enigmatic, making no major public appearances, few photo's and no albums......but plenty great mixtapes. Nobody really knew who he was until after he released two tracks,Exhibit A and Exhibit C, and by then, Jay's music was already well known. What separates Jay Elec from other contemporary artists is his hard edge, deeply religious undertones, his use of old school beats, and finally, the fact that he was actually at one point homeless. Often, Jay Electronic's songs are on him finding his way to where he is now, and how he wants to change rap.
Try one of his mix-tapes such as Attack of the Clones, but make sure to get Exhibit A, Exhibit C, Holiday featuring Mos Def, and My World.
Here's Exhibit C which samples the song "cross my heart" by Billy Stewart
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