Jayaire's Journey: RESPECT. Talks To Jayaire Woods About His New EP

Image credit: Soundcloud/Jayaire Woods

Jayaire Woods is a Chicago-born rapper, blessed with one of the more distinctive voices in today’s hip hop. He has backed his blessing up by turning into one of the most distinctive writers, as well.

Though his raps may ring off as a run-on sentence at times, every bar spewed is heavy and fruitful.

His lyrics carry a certain amount of vulnerability–arguably difficult to find in most of Jayaire’s peers–that makes him respectable as a writer, equally as much as it makes him enjoyable as a rapper.

Melody isn’t a problem for Woods either. Prior to the release of his first tape, titled Trees42morrow, Jayaire earned a chunk of fans through his single “2 Shoes.”

“2 Shoes” was a product of sing-songy rapping coated in impassioned lyrical depth. Similar to many discernible directors first films, you could hear the seeds of all of Woods there, in “2 Shoes’” two verses and chorus.

The lyrics were substantial. The delivery was raw. “I been tryna smoke all my pains away // lost my bigger brother yesterday,” he raps on the song.

Then, the following bars introduced every other element that would proceed to exist in his first two tapes: finances, family, women, and Chicago.

Also, its melody was infectious enough to turn it into one of the most talked about songs at that time. It earned him coverage in all the notable websites covering hip hop culture, heightening the levels of anticipation for the mixtape.

Alongside earning him a devoted fanbase, “2 Shoes” also was rather the perfect introduction to the artist that went on to give us Trees42morrow and Freethefall; Two tapes best described as melodic introspection.

Trees dealt with Jayaire’s life prior, and during his transformation to an established rapper. A Chicago citizen full of dreams, trying to deal less with poverty, toxic affairs, and more importantly, death. “I got some money in my mental // liquor in my system // I can’t die with this potential,” Jayaire raps on a personal favorite from Trees, titled “onnaway.”

His motives were made clear already.

His second mixtape–Freethefall–is similar in many ways, albeit far more assertive.

This time around, he’s signed to QC and has one of his most successful labelmates–Lil Yachty–as a feature. Woods’ voice now exhibited a lack of patience in terms of dealing with situations that his newfound success has forced him to deem pointless. It also exhibited his hunger, and passionate desire of proving the world he can rap his ass off.

The content Jayaire has given to his fans so far, has all been rather satisfactory.

Though the music we’ve heard until today contains lyrical and emotional depth, Woods and his team promise that–in comparison–BIGWOOD will be far more loaded.

Woods and his team have stated that this project finds the artist focusing on his surroundings, and Chicago–the city he grew up in–moreso than himself exclusively. Jayaire is highly skilled at giving his raps life, so it seems logical for him to showing us the city through his lens.

In addition to that, Woods appears to have approached this tape with more security, and more seriousness in his grind. The beats sound accurately depictive of the aura he grew up around, and his gained experience from the previous tapes has lead to even cleaner flows to accompany those instrumentals.

In one of the cuts, Jayaire boasts “I’m antisocial I don’t fuck with you;” A statement directed to the people we’ve heard him deal with during previous mixtapes. One that–accompanied by “not too good at sharing my thoughts” from his single–proves Jayaire Woods is closing off on people, and opening up to his fans.

If that’s a sentiment the future holds for him, we’re in for a treat.

Below, you can read our interview with Jayaire Woods concerning his new EP, as well as listen to said EP.

RESPECT.: Why did you choose “Off The Clock” as a single?
It’s one of the earlier ones that I made that stuck with me on the Ep. It was some fun shit, summer shit.

RESPECT:. On “Off The Clock” you sound more laid back and less aggressive — at least in comparison to a majority of the cuts from your earlier content, is that on purpose? If yes, why is that?
I don’t know, growing up type shit probably. Maturing in rap, thinking about the whole song more.

RESPECT:. Both Trees42morrow and Freethefall proved that you’re a very insightful rapper, what makes you say “I’m not too good at sharing my thoughts,” in the new single?
A lot of girls wanna know how my mind work these days and I’m guarded in real life. Private. The music is just where I can tell all and feel better about it.

RESPECT:. How does BIGWOOD differ from the first two projects?
Just bigger sounds bro. Bigger thoughts, better flows. The past year been crazy so I just tried to give a preview sample of that since it’s the EP.

RESPECT:. What was the recording process like for this EP?
It was like 4 months of work bro. Grind season, all spring I worked to get this shit popping so now Ima just water it.

RESPECT:. What are some of the feelings you’re experiencing before this release, and why?
I been keeping my head down and working bro. Real focused lately. Happy as hell this shit dropping then it’s back to work.

RESPECT:. Do you have any expectations for it? If yes, what are they?
I expect certain things but I aint gone speak on em lol

RESPECT:. Are there going to be any shows once BIGWOOD drops?
Yeah, got a show in Miami June 29th and then ima work on some headlines.

RESPECT:. Are there going to be any other features besides Sean Deaux, and what other producers will be part of the project?
I got a lady named Klevah on one song, as far as producers there’s a few. Vzn of course, Canis major, Nubia and Kid Ocean.

RESPECT.: Can you explain to us the meaning behind the EP’s cover?
The meaning behind the cover art is that’s my house that I grew up in and it’s a tree growing out of it because that’s what I am and I’ve branched out and done so many things growing up from right there in that house and it’s a younger version of myself trying to give me a pen because he want me to keep going. Keep growing.