Jai Paul – Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones)

Elusive and influential producer Jai Paul has returned following a lengthy absence from the spotlight. His hiatus came after the 2013 leaking of his debut album that was to follow his breakout demos titled BTSTU and Jasmine, which received widespread acclaim and praise. On this formerly leaked, newly released album, Paul gives listeners a glimpse into the bright future of “pop” music. Combining elements of numerous genres into his production, including electronic, R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and funk, Paul weaves unique webs of sound unlike anything in existence. He is a sidechain aficionado with a powerful kick cutting through most layers of each track and driving the beat and rhythm of each song. Synth breakdowns, stuttering plucks, and harmonious layered vocals like those included in 100,000, Baby Beat, Desert River, BTSTU, and others define the sound of the album and are likely to shape a generation of pop music that follows. The fact that a majority of the tracks on this project are considered “Unfinished” or a “Demo” in the eyes of Paul speaks to his raw talent and songwriting/producing ability. Jai Paul is absolutely a force to be reckoned with and I, for one, am ecstatic he’s back.