All Or Nothing
By
Jay-Lee
This week my listening takes me back to Scotland and the
debut release from Jay-Lee, titled All or Nothing.
Jay-Lee Hails from Govan in Glasgow and is an emcee/producer
with a rap style that is thought-provoking, harsh, and thoughtful at times.
His lyrics reflect the way he lives and the surroundings he was brought up in.
Along the way he has played at the Lindisfarne festival alongside Farma G, and
supported the likes of Mobb Deep, Onyx, Obie Trice, and Huey Morgan (FLC). He
has had plays from Absolute Radio and BBC Introducing and also featured on two
albums from Steg G (sadly, not ones that I have reviewed).
All or Nothing is fully produced, recorded, mixed and
mastered by Jay-Lee himself (aside from the title track). Which, these days, is
impressive for a solo artist.
He also has one other distinction worth noting here. In the
two EPK’s that I have for Jay-Lee, the photos used for those bits of promos
(and the album cover too) feature photos of him wearing a jacket with a reversable
design by artist Keith Haring. The same jacket that I also own and never
thought I’d see anyone else wearing. Just a little aside there that made me
grin.
Anyway, I digress, and it’s time to get into All or Nothing…
The album kicks off with Mirror which has this sound
of drum beat backed by keys. The two elements seem at odds with each other as
the drums are upbeat while the keys are laid-back. It gives this one a sound
that grabs your attention while keeping focused. Jay-Lee pulls no punches with
this track that immediately immerses you into the violent and gritty events
that has shaped him through his life. It brings to life the enormity of
real-life influences that he has experienced. Piano notes bring in Stuck In
Time, when the beat drops in, it does not overpower things but, allows the
piano to stay in the forefront, giving a reflective edge to this one. That
reflective edge is exactly what Jay-Lee brings here as he reminisces on how
things have changes so much as time has gone by. Friends who have passed, been
jailed, or just lost touch with. These are things so many of us experience in
our lives, but here Jay-Lee brings a deep personal edge that hits in a
different way. Next up is Canny Forget which has a big electronic edge
with high paced elements that test your nerves. Jay-Lee delivers his vocals
with pace too, on a track that hits different and focuses on the mental health
aspect of life. He delivers vocals that hit hard and show the very real and
personal depth of the struggles he has lived through, but more than that it
shows how these events have affected him mentally, even now, years later the
effects still linger and touch the present…
Nae Hame brings in organ notes, electronic elements
and more head nod beat, but all merged together it brings a sound that plays
with your nerves and, when the vocals drop, plays with your emotions too. Here
Jay-Lee focuses on how it can feel like a lonely place when you are pushing
towards your goals. You might not be alone in the physical sense but, when you
have a vision, that is yours, and yours alone, it might seem to be a lonely
place. This is especially so, when you may be the only one who understands
those goals and the road to achieve them. Never Again brings a sound of
keys, bass, and a more modern sound with that high paced element. The message
in this one really seems to be aimed at never making the same mistakes again.
It’s like looking back at all the important moments that have defined your path
to this point and looking at those mistakes that were not your best and making
a conscious decision never to do that again. It’s all about learning from your
mistakes. As those thoughts tumble through your mind, Now A Know takes
us to the mid-point of the album with a sound that has piano notes, a heavy
beat, and guitar elements that all come together to take you back once more.
This one looks at the younger person who didn’t really understand all the
things that their journey put before them, but now, and with hindsight, those
moments become clearer and the you who stands here in the present moment, now
understands what those past moments did for you and prepare you for what was to
come.
Late Night Call once more brings that more modern
high paced element, alongside synth elements and a beat that, almost
unconsciously, has your head nodding. This one is the kind of situation that we
might have found ourselves in at some time. When a number you don’t know calls
you and you and you question whether you should answer or not? After that,
which was almost an audible pallet cleanser, Cold Stare brings a sound
that has electronic elements over a hectic drum sound. It brings a vibe that
seems to have a John Carpenter inspiration. There is a very relatable focus in
this one as Jay-Lee looks at those who bring that look to a situation where
they are only seeking to lie and change the situation to fit their own
narrative. Many of us will have seen this, even if we were not aware of the
persons intentions at the time, but sooner or later we realise and understand
exactly what’s happening, and trust is lost. Why? Has a beat that is a
little more relaxed and is underpinned by keys that bring a sound that seems to
test your nerves with each note. This sound is very appropriate as this one
looks at all the things around us that have us questioning exactly why these
things are happening. So much, in society, is designed to go in favour of those
in a place of power and wealth while the rest of us carry it all on our
shoulders, constantly let down and belittled by those who are supposed to have
our best interests at heart.
You’ll Never Know has an electronic sound that mixes
that high paced element giving this a grimy vibe that gives a focus to the
vocals. This one is all about giving advice and having faith in yourself. It’s
all about trusting yourself enough to take that step and push yourself in
reaching out for your goals. If you don’t take that extra step, you might never
know what you are actually capable to doing. Others might be able to see that
you have that potential, but only you can have the strength to know you can do
it. The penultimate track is the album’s title track, All or Nothing,
which is the only track not fully produced by Jay-Lee as it features Jam
Harvie. The sound on this one has pounding beat, which is almost softened into
the background by the electronic elements, which seems to have this infectious
edge to it. Here Jay and Jam go all is about the fact that if you are going to
achieve your goals, then you need to go all in, there is no half-hearted
attempts. The minute you don’t put you all in, you will struggle to reach those
dreams. The album ends with Somewhere, which has synth elements and an
overall sound that has an upbeat edge to it, giving you a sense that the sun
will make it through the clouds. This one is all about a special someone in
your life, someone you feel a special connection to. When a person like this
comes into your life, they have a huge impact and when you have finally let
that person go, you have a realisation that one day, you will see them again,
and it is that realisation that helps as you move forward with your life’s journey.
There are times, as a reviewer, that you think to yourself
‘if only every review was this easy to write to’ and this was one of those
days. Every track just seemed to speak to me in some way, and in such a way as
to give me in immediate impression of what I was listening to and the potential
message within; and that is something that I feel will really connect to every
listener.
Now, All or Nothing was released back in August 2025,
which means that it has taken a while to get to me and so there will be a great
many out there who have heard this one; which is especially so as I received it
back in February but, life being life has meant that it’s taken me this long to
get round to it. So, my apologies to Jay-Lee on that one.
What I feel, overall, on this one is that there is a lot to
like here, when you listen to the content production wise and lyrically it does
say a lot to you. There is a rawness to the sound that does help the personal
nature and the depth of the message hit that little bit harder. Jay-Lee has a
great wordplay skill with lyrical content that is not overly complex in nature,
which a feel is right for this kind of album as the messages need to be heard
in a way that they can be easily understood and received. The production is
spot on and really gives the vocals a solid platform. While I am not a fan of
those grimy high paced cymbal, ticking elements, this is modern rap and Hip Hop
which means it is not always going to sound the way some of us old skool heads
like to hear, but there is plenty here for all us heads to get into and enjoy,
in fact, as you listen to the words and the messages, some of those elements
you might not be a fan of, just seem to soften into the background and you just
get immersed into the tracks, as a whole.
This is, without a doubt, an impressive debut, especially
since Jay-Lee has done the lion’s share of production and everything else
himself. You can’t help but, be impressed in my opinion. So, I would recommend
that anyone who has not heard this yet, give it a go because it does a cracking
job of marrying the roots of the Hip Hop sound with a more modern vibe that
draws inspiration a number of areas. It also has a deep impact from a personal
aspect, but also one that hits in a relatable way that touches the listener.
All or Nothing is out now and I give my humble thanks to
Jay-Lee for giving me the chance to bring you my thoughts on this one.
I’ll see ya next time.
Steve.
LINKS
Grab you copy here:
https://jayleecctv.bandcamp.com/album/all-or-nothing
Jay-Lee Linktree:
VIDEOS
Canny Forget
No comments:
Post a Comment